IPL 2023: As the Playoffs race heats up, here is a look at the qualification chances and scenarios of each of the 10 teams.
The IPL 2023 Playoffs race is hotting up, with all 10 brigades still in contention heading into the final fortnight of the league stage.
With 18 matches remaining, certain brigades have been suitable to consolidate a stable position in the standings while the others are scrabbling to fix their straits and make one final drive to qualify for the last four.
The league stage ends on May 21, with the playoffs beginning in Chennai on May 23. The final will be played in Ahmedabad on May 28.
Here is a look at the playoff scenarios for all teams:
Gujarat Titans ( 11 matches, 16 points)
The defending champion Gujarat elephants has formerly again surfaced as the platoon to beat with a clinical performance in the league stage. While it has lost three matches, all at home, Hardik Pandya’s men have reached the 16- point mark in 11 matches. In IPL 2022, 16 points( eight triumphs) were enough for the top four brigades to qualify. still, with a stiff battle brewing between the brigades this time, the elephants may need to go one step ahead and seal their playoff spot with a ninth palm.
Chennai Super King ( 11 matches, 13 points)
Four- time winner Chennai Super lords snapped a three- match victory band with a palm over Mumbai Indians last week. MS Dhoni’s men consolidated their position in the standings with their sixth palm. While rain snared full points in a game against the Lucknow Super titans, CSK is still poised to make the playoffs with three games in hand. CSK will need to win at least two of its three games to officially seal a top- two Playoff spot. The Super lords have two home games before their final game down against the bottom- placed Delhi centrals. Indeed if it slips up, CSK could also hardly make the playoffs with 15 points, as brigades placed incontinently below them on the points table will face each other in the forthcoming games, the results of which may also reduce the cut- off mark.
Lucknow Super Giants ( 11 matches, 11 points)
While it made the playoffs easily last time, the Lucknow Super titans has endured a bumpy lift this time after winning only one of its last five matches. LSG is placed third with 11 points and three games to go. LSG can confirm qualification with three triumphs. Lucknow plays one game at home and two down, and it could miss out on the last four if it loses at least one match, finishing with a outside of 15 points.
Rajasthan Royals ( 11 matches, 10 points)
Despite recording their fifth defeat in six matches against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Jaipur, the Rajasthan Royals have managed to cleave onto the fourth spot thanks to the brilliant launch of their crusade, where they won five of their first six games. With 10 points and three games remaining, Sanju Samson’s men have been forced into an uphill task to qualify for the playoffs.
While the route may be grueling , the Royals can take out their direct rivals to make the playoffs. Rajasthan faces Kolkata( 8 points) next before hosting Royal contenders Bangalore( 10), before closing its league stage down against the Punjab lords( 10). With three triumphs, the Royals would have assured that at least three brigades were out of the race, and the last two spots could effectively boil down to a case of net run rate( NRR) between four to five brigades.
Royal Challengers Bangalore ( 10 matches, 10 points)
Royal contenders Bangalore, like Rajasthan, finds itself with 10 points but with four games in hand. Faf du Plessis and Co. can dream of a playoff spot if they manage to get the job done over direct rivals in the first three of their remaining fourmatches. However, RCB would bear the calculators to be out again before fractional NRR differences could see one platoon qualifying over the other, If it drops points along the way.
RCB can not go further than one defeat in its remaining matches. Its challenge is also heightened by the fact that it has to play three consecutive down games before the league stage clash in Bengaluru.
Mumbai Indians ( 10 matches, 10 points)
Despite a largely lacklustre crusade, the Mumbai Indians is alive in the playoff race due to its fur depth. While a palm over CSK could have boosted its chances, the five- time champion now finds itself in the thick of the competition, participating the 10- point mound with three brigades.
With four triumphs from then, MI can indeed target a top- two finish. Three triumphs could also hold it in good vantage during the final stage. still, Rohit Sharma’s men must do well to ameliorate on their NRR in case the playoffs boil down to that.
Punjab Kings ( 10 matches, 10 points)
Punjab lords ’ form sizzled out after its positive launch under new captain Shikhar Dhawan this season. With 10 points from as numerous matches, PBKS shares analogous enterprises with RCB and MI. With four games in hand, the lords can indeed target 18 points as its remaining games are slotted with brigades who are on same points or below it on the points table.
Still, PBKS has two down games in Kolkata and Delhi before hosting RR and DC in Dharamsala where it’s yet to play a game this season. With three triumphs, PBKS can formerly again find itself locked with at least three brigades at 16 points, a mark where the NRR could be the separating factor.
Kolkata Knight Riders (10 matches, 8 points)
Two- time winner and 2021 runner- up Kolkata Knight Riders ’ iffy crusade has placed it on the point of an early exit. At best, KKR can reach 16 points with four triumphs in its remaining games. KKR hosts three brigades placed above it on the points table at home while travelling to Chennai. A loss before its final round would effectively help KKR from indeed entering the NRR contenders at 16 points.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (10 matches, 8 points)
Sunrisers Hyderabad has dramatically kept itself alive in the race after a stunning last- ball palm over RR in Jaipur. SRH, like KKR, is one loss down from losing out on the playoff race. The 2016 winner can effectively be the party- pooper for LSG, MI, and RCB while setting itself up for a 16- point finish, beyond which the NRR computations may decide the third and fourth spots on the standings.
Delhi Capitals (10 matches, 8 points)
With eight points from 10 matches and a negative NRR, there are many realistic targets that the Delhi centrals can aim for from then. DC only plays two opponents in its last four rounds two grueling matches against CSK and two versus PBKS. A string of surprises may propel it to 16 points. still, DC needs to win big in all these games to ameliorate its NRR. A defeat will knock David Warner’s side out of the playoff race. Know More Latest IPL News…
