The ninth edition of the Indian Premier League is approaching the business end. There are a lot of permutations and combinations on how the teams can make it to the last four. Rajneesh Gupta takes a look at each team’s chances of making it to last four.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
The IPL 2016 has been a mixed bag for Sunrisers Hyderabad. They are sitting pretty at the top of the table with 14 points from 11 games, and with three games in hand, are on the brink of assuring a place in the playoffs.
Remaining Matches: Kings XI Punjab (Mohali, May 15), Delhi Daredevils (Raipur, May 20), Kolkata Knight Riders (Kolkata, May 22)
How they can qualify
Win all the remaining matches, and go through to the playoffs with 20 points.
Sunrisers Hyderabad can also qualify comfortably by winning two out of their three remaining matches.
If they win one out of three, they will have to depend upon other results and with a strong net run rate, they might just scrape through.
If they lose all three of their remaining games, it will put them in a tight spot with four teams still able to beat them on points. Net run rate and other team’s results will then decide their fate.
Kolkata Knight Riders
The two-time champions have 14 points from 11 games, and are sitting comfortably second with two home games in hand.
Remaining Matches: Royal Challengers Bangalore (Kolkata, May 16), Gujarat Lions (Kanpur, May19), Sunrisers Hyderabad (Kolkata, May 22)
How they can qualify
If they win all their remaining games, they will easily qualify for the playoffs as the league leaders or second-placed team.
If they win two, they will qualify with 18 points.
If they win one, they will have to depend on other results and net run rate to decide their fate. They should still make it to the last four thanks to their positive net run rate.
If they lose both, things might get a bit tricky for them. They may not scrape through with 14points.
Gujarat Lions
The Gujarat are in the third place with seven wins from 12 games. However, a high negative net run-rate thanks to the drubbing they got from Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday have put them in a tricky situation.
Remaining Matches: Mumbai Indians (Kanpur, May 19), Kolkata Knight Riders (Kanpur, May 21)
How they can qualify
Two win out of two should be enough for them to seal a place in the last four.
If they win only one and lose the other, they will have to depend on the net run rate and other teams’ results to make it through to the playoffs. They may miss out on net run-rate. Their best chance remains in beating Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore losing at least one of their games.
If they lose both their games, they will end with 14 points and a very high negative net run-rate. They may not be able to scrape through in such a scenario.
Delhi Daredevils
Delhi Daredevils have been the surprise of the season after winning six out of their ten matches. They are currently fourth in the table, and they have four matches remaining.
Remaining Matches: Mumbai Indians (Visakhapatnam, May 15), Rising Pune Supergiants (Visakhapatnam, May 17), Sunrisers Hyderabad (Raipur, May 20),Royal Challengers Bangalore (Raipur, May 22)
How they can qualify
If they win all their remaining games, they will qualify for their playoffs in the top two positions.
If they lose one of their remaining four games, they would still qualify for the last four with18 points.
If they lose two games, they will have to make sure that they either Mumbai Indians or Royal Challengers Bangalore to minimise their chances of finishing above them.
If they lose three games, they will put themselves in a difficult position to make it to the last four with 14 points, and will have to depend on the other results and net run rate to make it through.
If they lose all four games, they are unlikely to find a place in last four (even though mathematically they would still have a chance with lots of ifs and buts).
Mumbai Indians
The reigning champions have won six of their 12 games and are currently placed fifth.
Remaining Matches: Delhi Daredevils (Visakhapatnam, May 15), Gujarat Lions (Kanpur, May 21)
How they can qualify
The defeat against Kings XI Punjab has put them in a tricky situation. They need to win both their remaining games. Even then, they will have to depend on other results and net run rate to enter the last four.
If they win one and lose one, they will be left with 14 points and a negative net run-rate.
MI may not be able to scrape through in that scenario.
If they lose both, they are unlikely to make it through to the playoffs.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Virat Kohli-led team are placed sixth in the table with five wins from 11 games. The royal thrashing they gave to Gujarat Lions on Saturday have boosted their net run-rate.
Remaining Matches: Kolkata Knight Riders (Bangalore, May 16), Kings XI Punjab (Bangalore, May 18), Delhi Daredevils (Raipur, May 22)
How they can qualify
If they win remaining three matches, they may qualify for the last four with 16 points and a good net run rate.
If they win two matches, they will finish with 14 points and will have to depend on other teams to lose their games to make it through.
If they lose two games or more, they are unlikely to make it to the last four.
Kings XI Punjab
Punjab team are at number seven with four wins from 11 games. Even if they win all their remaining four games, the maximum they can reach is 14 points, which may not be sufficient for them.
Remaining matches: Sunrisers Hyderabad (Mohali, May 15), Royal Challengers Bangalore(Bangalore, May 18), Rising Pune Supergiants (Visakhapatnam, May21)
How they can qualify
For Kings XI to qualify they will need to win all their remaining games and hope for other results to go their way. There is a mathematical possibility by which they can qualify with 14 points. If Mumbai Indians
However, if they lose even one game, they will be out of the playoff race.
Rising Pune Supergiants
With just three wins in 12 games, Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team are out of the playoff race. The results in remaining games don’t make any difference to their fortunes, however they can spoil the party for Delhi Daredevils or Kings XI.
Remaining Matches: Delhi Daredevils (Visakhapatnam, May 17), Kings XI Punjab (Visakhapatnam, May 21)
(The scenarios are based after the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rising Pune Supergiants on May 14, 2016)
