IPL 2018: What MI, KXIP and RR need on the last day to qualify for the playoffs
After 54 league games, the 2018 Indian Premier League is set to enter its final day in the league phase and unlike the previous seasons, the four teams that will be playing in the playoffs are not confirmed of their places.
As many as three teams are in contention for a place in the next round and both the matches on the last matchday of the league stage still hold relevance.
Sunrises Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders have already sealed their place in the playoffs while Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore are already knocked out of the tournament leaving Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab fighting for the remaining one spot in the playoffs.
Let us take a look at what the teams should do to book their playoff berth going into the final day of the league stage.
Mumbai Indians:
A win for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Daredevils will all but seal their place in the playoffs. Their playoff berth might be in jeopardy if Kings XI Punjab win their match by over 230 runs while defending and chasing the target for Kings XI is out of the equation. This means Mumbai Indians are through to the playoffs if they beat Delhi Daredevils in their next match.
Rajasthan Royals:
Rajasthan Royals, with their win over Royal Challengers Bangalore, have jumped to the fourth position with 14 points and a NRR of -0.250. The Royals can qualify only qualify if both Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians lose to Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils respectively. Even if KXIP beat CSK, it has to less than 53 runs while defending and less than 38 balls to spare while chasing down a target for Rajasthan to book a place in the next round.
Kings XI Punjab:
Kings XI Punjab overtaking Mumbai Indians' NRR is almost impossible. So, a loss for Mumbai will be the ideal scenario for Kings XI. Adding to that, they need to leapfrog Rajasthan's NRR to finish fourth. For that to happen, Kings XI should beat CSK with at least 53 runs and with at least 38 balls to spare.
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Kolkata Knight Riders have already sealed their place in the playoffs. But, they are still in the hunt to finish second in the points table and play in the qualifier. For that to happen, Chennai Super Kings should lose to Kings XI Punjab by at least 76 runs while chasing or with at least 50 balls to spare while defending.
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