ANALYSIS
Follow UsNever before in an IPL season have all teams ended with 12 points or more. This is how close IPL 2020 has been. Now, with two games remaining, there are still three spots up for grabs with four teams competing for a place in the playoffs.
Here is what each one of them need to do to ensure they do not miss out.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Current Points: 14
Remaining Fixture: v DC, Abu Dhabi, Nov 02
RCB did themselves severe harm by losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad by a big margin in their 13th match of the season. That loss pushed their Net Run Rate in the negative category. Now after Kolkata Knight Riders have handed Rajasthan Royals a thumping, they have propelled their NRR to near RCB’s.
For RCB, none of this will matter if they win their game against Delhi Capitals. A win will place them number two on the points table. However, if they lose there will be two scenarios in which they can qualify.
If they lose by a margin of 22 or more runs or 16 or more balls to spare, then their NRR will be lower than KKR’s. In that case, if SRH beat MI in their last game, RCB will finish at number five and will be out of IPL 2020. Hence, either they should lose by a narrower margin or hope that MI beat SRH in the last game of the season.
Delhi Capitals
Current Points: 14
Remaining Fixture: v RCB, Abu Dhabi, Nov 02
The case for DC is a carbon copy of that of the RCB. The only difference is that they have a lower NRR.
If they beat RCB, they will finish at number two. However, if they lose, the margin for defeat for them should be even more constrained. If they lose by 13 or more balls to spare or 19 or more runs, then their NRR will be lower than KKR’s. In that case, if SRH beat MI in their last game, DC will finish at number five and will be out of IPL 2020.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Current Points: 12
Remaining Fixture: v MI, Sharjah, Nov 3
Owing to their second-best NRR among all teams, the qualification scenario is the simplest for SRH.
If they win against MI, they will end at number three on the points table and will qualify to the playoffs. If they lose they are out.
KKR
Current Points: 14
After a thumping win against RR, KKR have stormed their way back into the tournament. However, they are at the mercy of other results to qualify. They need any one of the following to go in their favour-
If SRH lose their last game against MI, KKR will qualify. Or, the margin of victory in the DC vs RCB game should be in-line with the above mentioned. If neither of these two happen, KKR will be out of IPL 2020.
