IPL 2016: How can your team reach the last-4? Qualification scenarios explained
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The ninth edition of the Indian Premier League is slowly approaching the business end of the season with six teams still vying for a place in the playoffs. MS Dhoni missed out on the last four for the first time in the IPL, while his former CSK team-mate Suresh Raina looks set to make the last four ninth time in a row. With a lot of permutations and combinations on offer, here is how your
Note: The scenarios are based on the IPL standings after the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Daredevils.
1. Sunrisers Hyderabad
Inspite of a last-ball defeat to Delhi Daredevils in Raipur, SRH are still sitting pretty at the top of the table with 16 points from 13 games. With one more game in hand, SRH have all but booked their place in the playoffs.
Remaining Matches: Kolkata Knight Riders (Away, May 22)
How they can qualify
A. With a win against KKR, Sunrisers Hyderabad will finish with 18 points and they will qualify for playoffs, avoid the eliminator, and most certainly finish as table toppers. Gujarat Lions is the only other team that can finish on 18 points and will need to drastically plug the NRR gap of 0.834 with SRH to topple it.
B. Sunrisers will most likely qualify even with a defeat in their last game owing to them having the second best NRR of 0.355 going into the last round of matches. For them to not qualify, the following should happen
i) Mumbai Indians beat Gujarat Lions and
ii) NRR of SRH should fall from 0.355 to below -0.479 of Gujarat Lions, which means SRH has to lose by approximately more than 200 runs in their last game, which seems highly improbable.
Prediction: With their current position and a healthy NRR, SRH would most probably finish in the Top 2.
2. Gujarat Lions
The newbies in the IPL are now in second place after last night's win, and with eight wins from 13 games, they look set to be heading into the next round
Remaining Matches: Mumbai Indians (Home, May 21)
How they can qualify
A. Win the last match, and go through to the playoffs with 18 points and finish on Top 2 and avoid the Eliminator.
B. If they lose their last match, Gujarat could still make it only if KKR lose their last match.
Prediction: Having their last game at their foster home, Gujarat would be in a strong position to make the playoffs. With KKR facing SRH, Gujarat will make it to the last 4.
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore
Virat Kohli has done everything in his powers to take the team to the strongest possible position, and now they sit third with an amazing NRR that could come handy if things didn't go their way. Also, RCB's match is the last league game of the season and they would know exactly what to do to qualify.
Remaining Matches: Delhi Daredevils (Away, May 22)
How they can qualify
A. If they win their last game, they will finish with 16 points and with the best net run rate of all teams they'll be through, and could even be a top-2 side if Mumbai beat Gujarat or, SRH lose their last game.
B. If they lose their last match, they will still qualify if the following happen - Gujarat Lions beat Mumbai (and) SRH beats KKR
Prediction: RCB have regained control of their fate with some massive wins and will knockout Delhi in the last game of the campaign, to seal a playoff berth.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders
The two-time champions have 14 points from 13
Remaining Matches: Sunrisers Hyderabad (Home, May 22)
How they can qualify
A. If they win their last game, they will qualify for the playoffs as their NRR is above Gujarat.
B. If they lose their last game, they will be in a very very tight spot and would be banking on both Gujarat Lions beating Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore beating Delhi Daredevils to qualify.
Prediction: Having won just two out of their five home matches, KKR will have to step up their performances at Eden in the last home match to make it through. The Kolkata team will miss out on a last-4 berth.
5. Mumbai Indians
Although they defeated Delhi Daredevils, with only one match to play, Mumbai need to get a win to stand a good chance to make it to the final four.
Remaining Matches: Gujarat Lions (Away, May 21)
How they can qualify
A. If they win their last game against Gujarat, they will finish
B. If they lose their match against Gujarat, they will need KKR to lose big in such a way that their NRR goes below that of DD and RCB to beat Delhi in their last game.
Prediction: With a massive clash against Gujarat coming up and MI regaining form, they are likely to sneak into the top 4.
6. Delhi Daredevils
Delhi Daredevils had been the surprise of the season after winning six out of their first 10 matches with a new-gen team. But with the season heading into its business end, Delhi have got back to winning ways with a thrilling win over table-toppers SRH.
Remaining Matches: Royal Challengers Bangalore (Home, May 22)
How they can qualify
A. If they win their last game, they will qualify for the playoffs with 16 points,as their NRR will be above Gujarat.
B. If they lose their last game, they will have 14 points - they will need both SRH to beat KKR and GL to beat MI alongwith NRR improvement for themselves.
Prediction: The game against Bangalore will be tough, but at least Delhi Daredevils will be at home for the last game. With other teams catching fire just at the right time, Delhi's hopes of a playoff spot will soon be quashed.
7. Kings XI Punjab and 8. Rising Pune Supergiants - the 'BIG' battle to avoid the wooden spoon
The Punjab side changed the captain
For the
Remaining match: Rising Pune Supergiants vs Kings XI Punjab( May 21)
Prediction: RPS are on a winning streak after their clash with DD and also KXIP require adequate time to recover after Maxi and Stoinis are ruled out.
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