How Rising Pune Supergiants can qualify for IPL 2016 Playoffs
The MS Dhoni led Rising Pune Supergiants are having a disastrous IPL 2016 as they currently languish at the 7th spot in the standings. They have played 10 and won only 3 in this year’s campaign and things are looking extremely difficult for them to qualify for the playoffs this time around.
MS Dhoni, who was the captain of the Chennai Super Kings, had the unique feat of qualifying for the playoffs in each and every IPL season. If Pune fails to qualify this season, then the famous Dhoni streak will be broken. Injuries to key foreign players made the predicament all too difficult for the Pune franchise.
However, the MS Dhoni-led side still has an outside chance of qualifying for the playoffs this season. Let’s look at the league table first
Also read: IPL 2016 Playoff Scenario: How and which teams can qualify
IPL 2016 Points Table
Position | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Net RR | Points |
| 1 | GL | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -0.138 | 14 |
| 2 | SRH | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +0.609 | 12 |
| 3 | KKR | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +0.206 | 12 |
| 4 | DD | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +0.309 | 10 |
| 5 | MI | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | -0.447 | 10 |
| 6 | RCB | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | +0.032 | 8 |
| 7 | RPS | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | +0.118 | 6 |
| 8 | KXIP | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | -0.567 | 6 |
RPS’s remaining games are against SRH (May 10), KKR (May 14), DD (May 17), KXIP (May 21)
Pune’s closest competitors are KXIP, RCB, MI and DD. RCB and DD both have a game in hand as they have played 9 matches so far.
KXIP’s remaining matches: MI (May 13), SRH (May 15), RCB (May 18), RPS (May 21)
RCB’s remaining matches: MI (May 11), GL (May 14), KKR (May 16), KXIP (May 18), DD (May 22)
DD’s remaining matches: SRH (May 12), MI (May 15), RPS (May 17), SRH (May 20), RCB (May 22)
MI’s remaining matches: RCB (May 11), KXIP (May 13), DD (May 15), GL (May 21)
How can the Rising Pune Supergiants qualify?
RPS have to win their remaining games. They cannot afford to lose a single one. They will reach 14 points if they win all their remaining matches. So the magic number of 16 is out of their reach and they can only qualify if other teams lose their games too which is looking rather improbable right now.
So the scenario looks like:
- KXIP has to beat MI and RCB and lose their other 2 games.
- If RCB wins only 2 of their remaining 5 games, preferably against DD and MI
- If DD also wins 2 of their last 5 games, preferably against MI and SRH only
- MI has to lose all their remaining matches.
- If all these happen then only Pune can qualify. So, things are not at all rosy for the MS Dhoni-led side.