NEW DELHI: Sunrisers Hyderabad secured their slot in the IPL 2024 playoffs after their match against Gujarat Titans was washed out at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium due to incessant rain on Thursday. Both teams settled for a point each, taking Hyderabad to third spot with 15 points on the log.
Now, Gujarat Titans, who have already been eliminated from playoff contention last week after their match versus Kolkata Knight Riders has also been abandoned due to rain.
Therefore, reigning champions Chennai Super Kings currently sitting fourth and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are now leading the race for the final play-off position. Both sides are preparing themselves for a do or die encounter that could seal their fate in the playoffs.
Check out TOI’s interactive tool which shows possible playoff scenarios
The battle for play-off qualification is getting hotter as we get closer to the end of this IPL season. Here are all the possible IPL playoff scenarios with four league matches left:
* KKR are already assured of sole top spot
* If RR win their last game against KKR, they will be guaranteed sole second spot with 18 points. However if they lose it means that they remain on 16 points then SRH can overtake them by winning against PBKS. Although SRH can still qualify, they must finish in second place if RR loses
* SRH have 15 points and destiny in their hands. They either win last game and get sole second or sole third place finishing on 17 depending on result of KKR-RR match. If they lose last game, RR will be ahead and CSK can get ahead by beating RCB.They will then finish fourth
* Also at 14 CSK have their fate in their hands too. With a win over RCB they finish at 16 points worst at fourth place
* For RCB to have any chance, they need to beat CSK; one point takes them to 14 points, the same as CSK and DC behind KKR, RR and SRH. LSG too could tie at 14, but the good news for RCB is that they have a much better NRR than DC or LSG. Therefore, RCB needs to bridge the NRR gap with CSK in order to take fourth spot ahead of them. That’s a simple task. In a 200-run chase, they would need to win within 18.1 overs. If they bat first and score 200, they would need to restrict CSK to 182 or less.
* For KKR, RR and SRH are already leading; therefore DC can be counted out easily. If CSK wins against RCB also then it will overtake them on points as well. Otherwise; if not RCB will match DC’s 14 points with a superior NRR
* Theoretically LSG is not totally out of it yet. They could tie for fourth place on 14 points if they beat MI and RCB beat CSK but their NRR is much worse as compared to those of CSK’s or RCB’s
* So KKR, RR and SRH are sure to qualify while one of either Chennai Super Kings (CSK) or Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will join them in the last four (not necessarily the winner between these two).
