41 matches done, 15 to go and all 8 teams in contention to make it to the final four, the IPL has witnessed all the drama with the battle further intensified following impressive wins for fourth-positioned Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and KL Rahul-led Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) on Saturday (October 24).While the table-toppers and defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI), Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) already have one foot in the playoffs, the likes of KKR, KXIP and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are fighting a tough battle for the fourth spot. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are pretty much out of contention.
Here's what holds for each team to make it into the playoffs
Kolkata Knight Riders
Eoin Morgan & Co. have fate in their hands as if they can win all three of their remaining matches, they will sail ahead and, may be, even finish in the top two. If they face a blip further, they would hope for either of KXIP or SRH to not win all their remaining games. After KXIP's win over SRH, KKR will be eager to beat KXIP on Monday as they would then breathe a sigh of relief. Their other remaining games are against CSK and RR.
Kings XI Punjab
Winning two of three remaining matches, getting to 14 points and hoping neither SRH nor KKR to get 16 points, KL Rahul & Co. can make it further. In the case of a tie, as every equation is possible for KXIP in IPL 13, they will hope to sneak ahead through NRR. However, SRH still remain in a good position courtesy their NRR.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Winning all their 3 remaining matches, getting to 14 points, 2016 champions will also hope to and go ahead through their good NRR. In comparison to the other teams, SRH are ahead in terms of NRR but have tough games left where they face the top-three sides of the competition at present.
Rajasthan Royals
Winning each of their three remaining games, getting to 14 points and hoping for the rest of the pack to finish with 12. Here’s what needs to happen for that: KXIP will need to beat SRH and KKR and lose to both RR and CSK; SRH will have to lose 2 of their last 4 remaining matches; KKR will have to lose 3 of their 4 remaining games.
Chennai Super Kings
Unfortunately for CSK, there is only one feasible scenario through which they can progress through to the playoffs. After their drubbing on Friday, here’s what needs to happen for CSK to qualify for the next round: CSK need to win each of their remaining 3 matches by humongous margins; KKR will have to lose each of their four remaining games or all their games barring the Delhi clash; SRH will have to beat KXIP and lose their bouts versus DC, RCB and MI; KXIP will need to beat KKR and lose their encounters versus RR, SRH and CSK; RR will have to beat KXIP and KKR and lose their fixture versus Mumbai. Should all these results come to fruition, CSK will be tied on 12 points with RR and/or KKR, after which they could hope to progress via NRR
