IPL 2019 playoffs scenario: How five teams can qualify for two spots
The league stage of IPL 2019 is nearing its end, with six games remaining and five teams in contention for the two remaining playoff spots.
The wash-out in Bangalore on Tuesday in match 49 gave one point each to Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals, which means that RCB are out of the playoffs hunt.
With 11 points, Rajasthan Royals remain in contention but a poor net run-rate means that their last match against Delhi Capitals – with Chennai Super Kings, the other team to have qualified for the playoffs – as a must-win.
Six teams could finish with 14 points or more, which leaves Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab, Sunrisers Hyderabad and RR in contention.
This is how the IPL points table stands as of May 1:
Let’s look at the IPL 2019 playoff scenario:
MUMBAI INDIANS
Matches left: 2 (vs SRH at home & KKR at home)
The Rohit Sharma-led team have 14 points and a good net run-rate of 0.347. If they win one of their remaining two home matches, they will stay in the top four and progress to the playoffs. Even if they lose both matches, Mumbai Indians could qualify on net run-rate if it remains higher than Rajasthan’s, Kolkata’s and Punjab’s.
Should MI win both matches left, they could finish in the top two.
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD
Matches left: 2 (vs MI away & RCB away)
Beating KXIP by 45 runs on Monday has boosted Sunrisers’ playoffs hopes. That victory has kept them in the top four, and if they win their next two matches it would give them 16 points. Should SRH lose on of their remaining fixtures, a very good net run-rate (0.709) should be enough to take them forward on 14 points.
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS
Matches left: 2 (vs KXIP away & MI away)
KKR have to beat KXIP in their next game to avoid slipping one place lower on the points table. Beating MI kept KKR in the playoffs race, but the best they can finish with is 14 points and that does not guarantee them a place in the playoffs.
KKR also have a lower net run-rate than SRH and MI, which does not help their chances.
KINGS XI PUNJAB
Matches left: 2 (vs KKR at home & CSK at home)
Losing to SRH has dented KXIP’s chances of progressing to the IPL playoffs. They now have to win both remaining matches to get to 14 points, as well as boost their net run-rate. They will also have to see other results got their way – that is, SRH will have to lose their last two games and Rajasthan need to be beaten by Delhi.
If this happens, no team with 12 or less points can make it to the playoffs. A very poor net run-rate of -0.296 does not help KXIP, but if RR lose their last game it would help.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS
1 match left: (vs DC away)
Despite having a lower net run-rate (-0.321) than KXIP, Rajasthan could still finish ahead if they win their last match at the Feroz Shah Kotla. This would give them 13 points, and then they would need KKR and KXIP to lose their remaining matches. The match against DC is a must-win to stay in contention for the playoffs.