Mumbai Indians became the first team to qualify for IPL 2020 playoffs but RCB, DC, KXIP, KKR, RR and SRH are still in the hunt for remaining three spots.
Mumbai Indians have become the first team to qualify for the IPL 2020 playoffs after Chennai Super Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The result has put Kolkata Knight Riders in trouble as their direct chances of qualification are over and they will have to depend upon other results for their progress. The biggest beneficiaries of this result are Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. For Kings XI Punjab, this result has opened their door for direct qualification and they will be hoping to seal their playoff spot by winning their last two games.
Not just Kings XI Punjab, the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals have gotten a big relief by Kolkata Knight Riders’ loss. However, if Kings XI Punjab win big against Rajasthan Royals, then Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer’s teams will also be worrying, in particular Delhi Capitals as their last two games are against Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Here are the playoff scenarios for the remaining six teams
Royal Challengers Bangalore (Position 2)
M – 12, W – 7, L – 5, Points – 14, NRR (0.048)
Games remaining: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (October 31), vs Delhi Capitals (November 2)
What they must do: If Royal Challengers Bangalore win one game, they will be through to the playoffs. However, if they lose both, then they will have to hope Kings XI Punjab loses to Chennai Super Kings and KL Rahul’s beat Rajasthan Royals. They will be hoping that Sunrisers Hyderabad lose one of their games in order to seal their qualification.
Delhi Capitals (Position 3)
M – 12, W – 7, L – 5, Points – 14, NRR (0.030)
Games remaining: vs Mumbai Indians (October 31), vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (November 2)
What they must do: Delhi Capitals are the most vulnerable in their quest for the playoffs as they face the top two teams in their last two matches. If they lose both and Kings XI Punjab win big against Rajasthan Royals, they will have to hope Kolkata Knight Riders lose to Rajasthan Royals. If Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals in their last group game and Kings XI Punjab win against Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals will be eliminated.
Kings XI Punjab (Position 4)
P – 12, W – 6, L – 6, Points – 12 (NRR -0.049)
Games remaining: vs Rajasthan Royals (October 30), vs Chennai Super Kings (November 1)
What they must do: The equation is simple for Kings XI Punjab after Kolkata Knight Riders’ loss. If they beat Rajasthan Royals, then Steve Smith’s team are out of the playoff race. If they win against Chennai Super Kings, they will seal a playoff spot. If they lose both games, they are out. If they win only one out of their remaining two games, they will have to hope Kolkata Knight Riders or Rajasthan Royals do not win by a big margin as their net run-rates are poor as compared to Kings XI Punjab.
Kolkata Knight Riders (Position 5)
P – 13, W – 6, L – 7, Points – 12 (NRR -0.467)
Games remaining: vs Rajasthan Royals (November 1)
What they must do: They have to win against Rajasthan Royals. If they lose, they are out. If they win against Rajasthan Royals, they have to hope Kings XI Punjab beat Rajasthan Royals and they lose to Chennai Super Kings by a big margin.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (Position 6)
P – 12, W – 5, L – 7, Points – 10 (NRR 0.396)
Games remaining: vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (October 31), vs Mumbai Indians (November 3)
What they must do: If they lose one game, they are out. If they win both their games, they have to ensure that Kings XI Punjab loses both games to Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings and that Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by a small margin.
Rajasthan Royals (Position 7)
P – 12, W – 5, L – 7, Points – 10 (NRR -0.505)
Games remaining: vs Kings XI Punjab (October 30), vs Kolkata Knight Riders (November 1)
What they must do: If they lose to Kings XI Punjab, they are out. If they beat Kings XI Punjab and KL Rahul’s team lose to Chennai Super Kings, then the game against Kolkata Knight Riders is a virtual shootout for the third or fourth spot. They will also benefit if Sunrisers Hyderabad lose one of their games
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