BCCI announced a new IPL schedule on May 12. There are only 13 matches left in the league phase. The 3 teams are out of the playoff race, while 7 teams are fighting for the top-4.
The new schedule has made the tournament even more exciting. Lucknow, Mumbai, Punjab and Bengaluru have matches in the last 2 days. All four teams are in the playoffs race and the results of the last matches will also determine the top-2 spot.
Playoff status for all teams
The current state of the points table
1. Gujarat Titans: Need more 1 win
Gujarat is in first place with 16 points in 11 matches. The team has 3 matches with Delhi, Lucknow and Chennai. Titans will win one of these matches and reach the playoffs. However, if the team wants to make it to the top-2, they will have to win at least 2 matches. GT will determine its position in Top-2 by winning all three matches.
2. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Need more 1 win
Bengaluru also has 16 points with 8 wins out of 11 matches, but the team is second due to a bad run rate than Gujarat. RCB needs only 1 out of 3 to reach the playoffs. The team is facing Kolkata, Hyderabad and Lucknow. RCB will have to win the remaining three matches to make it to the top-2.
3. Punjab Kings: Need more 2 wins
Punjab has 15 points with 7 wins and one draw in 11 matches. The team is to face Rajasthan, Delhi and Mumbai. PBKs need to win 2 out of 3 matches to ensure the location in the playoffs. If the team wants to qualify with 17 points, they will have to beat Delhi.
If Punjab conquers Capitals, only one team from Delhi or Mumbai will be able to reach the playoffs as both teams will face each other. To get a place in the Top-2, Punjab will have to win all three matches and pray that Gujarat or Bengaluru lose one match.
4. Mumbai Indians: Both have to win
Mumbai Indians won only 1 out of the first 5 matches, but the team won 6 of the last 7 matches and hoped to reach the playoffs. Mi is fourth with 14 points, winning 7 out of 12 matches. If the 5 -time champion team wants to make a place in the playoffs, they will have to win both the remaining matches against Delhi and Punjab. If a MI loses a single match, his hopes of reaching the playoffs will be left on other teams.
5. Delhi Capitals: All three have to win
Delhi started the tournament by winning 5 consecutive matches, but the team lost 4 matches in the last 6 matches. Capitals are fifth with 6 wins and 13 points to 1 draw. DC has 3 matches against Gujarat, Mumbai and Punjab, all three in the top-4. If the capitals want to qualify from here, they will have to win all three matches. If the team defeats Mumbai and Punjab, two wins will also ensure a place in the playoffs.
6. Kolkata Knight Riders: Trust of others
Defending champions Kolkata have got only 5 wins in 12 matches, the team's 1 match was also inconclusive, with Kolkata sixth with 11 points. KKR has 2 matches against Bengaluru and Hyderabad. If the team loses a single match, it will be out of the playoff. Even if KKR wants to reach the playoffs after winning 2 matches, he will have to pray for all the matches to lose Punjab, Mumbai and Delhi.
7. Lucknow Supergiants: Trust of another
Lucknow has won only 5 out of 11 and ranked 7th with 10 points. LSG's 3 matches are against Hyderabad, Gujarat and Bengaluru. The team will only reach 16 points even after winning all three matches. To qualify for again, the team has to pray that all the matches of Punjab, Mumbai and Delhi will lose.
3 teams can ruin another's game, out of the playoff
Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings are out of the playoff phase. Now all three teams can ruin the mathematics of the top 7 teams. RR and CSK also have to play matches against each other, but no one will hurt or benefit from it. On the other hand, if all three teams defeat a single team at the top-7, their hopes of reaching the playoffs may be shocked.
Playoff position will be decided in the last 2 days
The new schedule of IPL has made Playoff Qualification even more exciting, as Punjab will face Mumbai in the last 2 days and Lucknow Bengaluru. All four teams are in the playoffs race and the results of these matches will also determine the top-2 position in the points table.
- If Punjab is lost, the team can be out of top-2. If Mumbai is lost, it can be out of the playoffs.
- On the other hand, only one defeat is far from being out of Lucknow. If the RCB is lost, it can be out of the top-2 location.
Image Credit: Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).