To date, 50 matches have been played out of 56 matches in the group stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. Three teams (Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore) have got themselves into the playoffs but the top two facing for the Qualifier 1 in the playoffs have not been confirmed yet. Sunrisers Hyderabad is the first team to get out of the tournament.
There is still one more playoffs ticket left. But in the remaining six matches, four teams will fight for this one ticket. The four teams are Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Mumbai Indians. With 12 points from 13 matches, Kolkata Knight Riders are currently at number four in the points table. Punjab Kings are in the fifth spot with 10 points after playing an equal number of matches.
Rajasthan is in 6th place in the points table with 10 points in 12 matches. Defending champions Mumbai Indians are at number seven due to their net run rate, despite having 10 points playing an equal number of matches. In the remaining six matches, these four teams have chances of getting a playoffs ticket. The equations as of now for the stated teams to get a chance to play in the next round are described below:
Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR is in the most favorable position among the four teams due to a good net run rate (+0.294). KKR will face Rajasthan Royals in the last of their group stage match on Thursday. If KKR wins this match, they will go to the play-off due to a good net run rate. And even if they lose, they have to wait so that no other team gets more than 12 points.
Game left: Against RR (October 7)
Rajasthan Royals
The chances are more for RR, the champion team of the first edition of IPL as they will get to play 2 more matches to make it into the playoffs. The opponents of those two matches are Mumbai Indians and KKR. If Sanju Samson’s team wins these two matches, they will go to the play-off without further calculations. On the other hand, if they lose to KKR, they will be ruled out of the tournament. And if they defeat KKR and finish with 12 points, they will have to wait for the results of other teams.
Games left: Against MI (October 5), Against KKR (October 7)
Mumbai Indians
There is not enough good news for the current champions. They have two matches left. Opponents will be RR and Sunrisers in these two matches. If they win these two matches, they will have 14 points. But if KKR wins their last match, they will get 14 points. In that case, these two wins of the Indians will have to be with a huge margin so that they can go ahead with the net run rate.
Games left: Against RR (October 5), Against SRH (October 8)
Punjab Kings
On paper, there are still possibilities of PBKS to get a ticket for the playoffs mathematically. But in reality, their chances are very low. If they can beat CSK in the last match, PBKS will have 12 points. In that case, KKR, MI, and RR should not get more than 12 points. Then again they have to get a good net run rate that is practically a fantasy.
Game left: Against CSK (October 7)
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