IPL 2016: How can your team reach the last-4? Qualification scenarios explained

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 favourite team can enter the last four.

1. Sunrisers Hyderabad

Remaining Matches: Kolkata Knight Riders (Away, May 22)

How they can qualify

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

Prediction: With their current position and a healthy NRR, SRH would most probably finish in the Top 2.

2. Gujarat Lions

Remaining Matches: Mumbai Indians (Home, May 21)

How they can qualify

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.

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.

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

Remaining Matches: Sunrisers Hyderabad (Home, May 22)

How they can qualify

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.

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)

A. If they win their last game against Gujarat, they will finish on 16 points, the same as Gujarat but with a better NRR and thus will make it through.

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.

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. 

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.

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

For the first-time in the IPL, MS Dhoni will not feature in the playoffs. They have played 13 games, and have only won four times. Pune became the first team to miss out on the playoffs this season after Delhi Daredevils won their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Hyderabad. 

Remaining match: Rising Pune Supergiants vs Kings XI Punjab( May 21)

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