The IPL 2024 season is nearing its climax, with teams battling for a place in the playoffs. With Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants already out of contention, the remaining teams are fighting hard to secure their spots.
RCB’s resurgence and KKR’s uncertain path
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans have recently boosted their chances of qualifying. Conversely, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) now face an uphill battle, as their fate depends on other results going their way. KKR’s defeat has stopped their winning streak and now completely puts their fortunes out of their hands. At best, they can finish on 15 points, which can be simultaneously surpassed by six teams. They can go through with 13 or 15 points, should other results come in their favour.
Two wins in Raipur rounding off their home fixtures have put RCB in good stead going into the final leg of the league phase. If they beat PBKS on Sunday, they will get to 18 points that assure them of a playoff spot. If they lose to PBKS, they could still get knocked out on NRR even if they beat SRH in the last match, as CSK, RR and GT could tie them with them on 18 points and PBKS reach 19. They can even go through with two defeats should other results come their way, but that will most likely deprive them of a top-two finish.
Gujarat Titans in a strong position
Gujarat is the form team in the tournament at present on a five-match winning streak and is superbly placed for a top-two finish. A win in both their remaining matches assures them of a top-two spot. If they beat CSK and lose to KKR, their progress is confirmed but if those two results happen vice versa, they could still miss out as five teams can get to 18 points or higher. They can even go with two defeats, if every other result falls in place.
Sunrisers Hyderabad face tough challenges
The defeat in Ahmedabad has pushed Hyderabad to the third place and they have two tough games in hand – against CSK in Chennai and RCB at home. If they win both, they are assured of a playoff spot and possibly a top-two finish, though the latter will be dependent on their margin of wins after the drubbing at the hands of Gujarat that shaved off a good chunk of their positive NRR. If they win only one out of the two, they will ideally want it to be against CSK, making sure CSK can’t surpass them on points. They can qualify with 14 points, if several results pan out in their favour and can keep the NRR handy even in two defeats.
Punjab Kings’ slide and remaining fixtures
After wading through unbeaten in the first half of the season, Punjab is on a downswing with four defeats on the bounce that has pushed them to the fourth spot. There’s a scenario where each of GT, RCB, and SRH keeps winning and all the teams below Punjab do not add to their current points.
With the league phase approaching its conclusion, each match carries immense weight as teams fight for a place in the playoffs.