Kolkata Knight Riders beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in the rain-hit match played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday (May 11) to become the first team to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs.
Shreyas lyer’s men have 18 points from 12 matches played so far, and they are almost certain to finish in the top two as well, thanks to their superior net run rate of +1.428. But the remaining three playoff spots are yet to be decided, and as many as seven teams are still in contention.
Here’s a look at what the seven teams-the Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Gujarat Titans-need to do to qualify for the playoffs.
Rajasthan Royals: The Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals sit in No. 2 position in the IPL 2024 points table with 16 points from 11 matches played so far. The Jaipur-based franchise will qualify for the playoffs if they win any of the remaining three league stage matches against CSK, Punjab Kings (May 15).
- Current position: 2 (16 points)
- Remaining matches: CSK (May 12), PBKS (May 15), KKR (May 19)
- Maximum points: 22
Sunrisers Hyderabad: SRH have won seven out of 12 matches played so far, and with 14 points, the Men in Orange are in 3rd place. The Pat Cummins-led side will qualify for the playoffs if they win their remaining two league stage matches against the Gujarat Titans (May 16) and Punjab Kings (May 19). SRH will finish in the top two if they win both matches and RR loses their next three games.
Current position: 3 (14 points)
- Remaining matches: GT (May 16), PBKS (May 19)
- Maximum points: 18
Chennai Super Kings: With 12 points from 12 matches, CSK is in 4th place as of now and will qualify for the playoffs if they beat Rajasthan Royals (May 12) and RCB (May 18), and LSG and DC lose one of their remaining two league stage matches.
- Current position: 4 (12 points)
- Remaining matches: RR (May 12), RCB (May 18)
- Maximum points: 16
Delhi Capitals: Delhi Capitals is fifth in the points table with 12 points from 12 matches played so far, and the Rishabh Pant-led side will qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs if they beat RCB (May 12) and LSG (14) and CSK lose one of their remaining two league stage matches. If CSK wins both games, then DC will have to hope that SRH loses both of their matches. In that case, DC and CSK will finish in the top four.
Current position: 5 (12 points)
- Remaining matches: RCB (May 12), LSG (May 14)
- Maximum points: 16
Lucknow Super Giants: LSG’s qualification scenario is also very similar to CSK. KL Rahul’s men have 12 points from 12 matches played so far. LSG will progress if they beat the Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians on May 14 and 17, respectively, and CSK loses at least one of their remaining two matches.
Current position: 6 (12 points)
- Remaining matches: DC (May 14), MI (May 17)
- Maximum points: 16
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: RCB is in 7th place as of now with 10 points from 12 league stage matches played so far. RCB will qualify only if they beat DC (May 12) and CSK (May 18) by a very big margin; LSG loses against MI on May 17; and GT loses at least one of their remaining two fixtures. In such a situation, RCB, LSG, DC, and CSK can have a maximum of 14 points, and the team with a better net run rate will progress.
- Current position: 7 (10 points)
- Remaining matches: DC (May 12), CSK (May 18)
- Maximum points: 14
Gujarat Titans: Like RCB, GT also have 10 points from 12 matches, and the Shubman Gill- led side will qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs if they beat KKR (May 13) and SRH (May 16) by a very big margin, and CSK, DC, LSG, and RCB lose at least one of their remaining fixtures by a big margin. In such a scenario, CSK, DC, and LSG will have a maximum of 14 points like GT, and by virtue of a better net run rate, GT can finish in 4th place.
•Current position: 8 (10 points)
- Remaining matches: KKR (May 13), SRH (May 16)
Maximum points: 14
Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings are already eliminated from the tournament as they can’t finish in the top four now