Last Updated on 1 year by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: IPL 2023 playoffs qualification scenarios for each team | IPL qualification scenarios: which teams will make playoffs?
The playoffs race has been heating up in the 16th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). After the 56th league game, which was between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR), only four points separate the third-placed Rajasthan Royals (RR) with the bottom-placed Delhi Capitals (DC). Rarely has the league come across such a middle muddle.
Often, one sees that franchises progress to the playoffs on the final day with what is largely perceived as an inadequate number of points courtesy other results turning in their favour and due to net run rate (NRR). For example, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) qualified to the playoffs in IPL 2019 with only 12 points to their name! Here, we take a look at the qualification scenarios for each of the 10 teams.
IPL 2023 Playoff Qualification Scenarios
1. Gujarat Titans
Played – 11, Points 16, NRR +0.951
Remaining Matches: Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore
Gujarat Titans (GT) have more or less secured qualification, having reached to 16 points already with three games in hand. Another win will most likely pave their way to the top four but the aim from here must be ensure that they do not slip down from the first two spots in the standings.
2. Chennai Super Kings
Played – 12, Points 15, NRR +0.493
Remaining Matches: Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals
Chennai Super Kings, much like GT, need another win to seal a top-four spot. They will be hosting KKR at home and then tour the struggling DC at the national capital for their final league game. As of now, two of the four spots in the points table seem to be confirmed so far.
3. Rajasthan Royals
Played – 12, Points 12, NRR +0.633
Remaining Matches: Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings
RR need to win the last two games to be sure of a place in the last four. They stormed back into form by beating KKR in style on Thursday but need to ensure that they take four points from the remaining two games to have qualms of their qualification chances.
4. Mumbai Indians
Played – 11, Points 12, NRR -0.255
Remaining Matches: Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrisers Hyderabad
Mumbai have a better prospect of making it to the semifinals as compared to Rajasthan, given that they have an additional game in hand. They can afford to lose once and still qualify by winning the other two matches. However, their NRR is a bit problematic at this stage and hence they should rely more on getting the required wins and making it through rather than ousting other teams basis NRR.
5. Lucknow Super Giants
Played – 11, Points 11, NRR +0.294
Remaining Matches: Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have 11 points in 11 matches but they can still get to 17 if they win the remaining three games. 17 will be enough to see them through to the next round as only MI can finish with more points outside of CSK and GT. However, a minor slip up in even one of the games might see them embroiled with other teams with the NRR coming into the equation in such a case.
6. Royal Challengers Bangalore
Played – 11, Points 10, NRR -0.345
Remaining Matches: Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have a tough challenge in their hands with only a victory in all of the remaining games realistically taking them through to the playoffs by their own. In any other scenario, they will need to be sure that their NRR beats that of their close competitors in the points table.
7. Kolkata Knight Riders
Played – 12, Points 10, NRR – -0.357
Remaining Matches: Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are in a precarious spot right now. Even if they beat CSK and LSG, they will get to only 14 at the end of the league stage. Their NRR is not the best right now and will need some massive victories to ensure that they get through eventually, as well as hope other results go their way.
8. Punjab Kings
Played – 11, Points 10, NRR – -0.441
Remaining Matches: Delhi Capitals, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals
Punjab Kings (PBKS) are relatively better poised than KKR to qualify. They will get to 16 in the best case scenario and they have to play the struggling Delhi Capitals (DC) twice, which can work in their favour. PBKS vs RR will be an interesting game to watch out for if both teams are still in the race for qualification until then.
9. Sunrisers Hyderabad
Played 10, Points 8, NRR -0.472
Remaining Matches: Lucknow Super Giants, Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians
Despite being at the penultimate spot in the table, SRH can very well qualify on their own as they can optimistically get to 16 points by winning the rest of the four games. It is a far-fetched thought currently as they have won only two of their last five games. However, the team should be backing themselves at this stage to do the unthinkable and roar into the top four. Such a turnaround will that be!
10: Delhi Capitals
Played – 11, Points 8, NRR -0.605
Remaining Matches: Punjab Kings, Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings
DC must win their last three games to stand any chance of a remarkable comeback. Even then, their net run rate may have taken too much of a hit to qualify with seven wins.
