IPL 2016 Playoffs Schedule: Fixtures/Time Table for IPL 9 qualifier matches and final

The winning team gets $3 million in prize money

We are done with the league games of IPL 2016. The last league game was on 22 May 2016. We had two games on this day and both the games were exhilarating for these games decided the final two teams that would make it to the playoffs.

Sunrisers Hyderabad qualified for the playoffs. However, Hyderabad had to win against Kolkata Knight Riders to make it to the top-two. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders needed to win this game to guarantee their qualification. Sunrisers Hyderabad had a wobbly start to the tournament but soon found its rhythm. Meanwhile, KKR who had a decent tournament  themselves. Kolkata Knight Riders won the crucial game against SRH to make it to the playoffs.

Sunrisers Hyderabad won eight games and has 16 points. The same is the case with Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR has 16 points as well. However, David Warner’s men edged Kolkata to the third spot with a better net run-rate.

In the second game on 22 May 2016, Delhi Daredevils played Royal Challengers Bangalore. The team winning this match were to claim the final playoff spot. RCB played a controlled game against DD and clinched the final playoff spot with ease. 

Gujarat Lions had qualified for the playoffs after a win against the Mumbai Indians. Gujarat Lions leads the table with 18 points. This team started the tournament strong. While Suresh Raina and co. fumbled in few matches, the debutants qualified for the playoffs with relative ease.

After today’s win, Bangalore has 16 points as well. RCB, however, has a better net run-rate when compared with SRH and KKR. Therefore, Royal Challengers Bangalore moved to the second place displacing Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

Trivia: Since the inception of the playoffs rule, the team that finished second in the points table always went on to lift the trophy.

Bangalore’s surge into the playoffs is a perfect fairytale. The team from Bangalore was inconsistent at the start of the tournament. Virat Kohli is the standout performer for Bangalore is responsible for RCB’s turnaround.  

The playoffs start on 24 May 2016 when Gujarat Lions meet the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the qualifier at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. The winner of this game will head to the final while the loser still has another shot in the second qualifier.

Royal Challengers Bangalore will fancy their chances against Gujarat Lions in the first qualifier after thrashing the Gujarat Lions in their previous encounter. History is on Bangalore’s side. M. Chinnaswamy Stadium being their home gourd will only boost RCB’s confidence.

We will have the Eliminator on 25 May 2016 at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi wherein a repeat of today's game, Sunrisers Hyderabad will square off against the Kolkata Knight Riders. 

Kolkata Knight Riders have won both the games against Sunrisers Hyderabad during the league stage and will look to make it three in a row.

We will have the final on 29 May 2016 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore after it was moved from Mumbai. The teams that have reached the final will be just one step away from getting their hands on the trophy. This is ‘the game.’ Both the teams will give it their all and will be a treat to their fans. Moreover, any final is a visual treat for the neutral fans as well.

Here is the complete schedule of the playoffs and the final:

Date	Time	Match	Fixture	Venue
24 May 2016	8:00 PM	Qualifier One (Q1)	Gujarat Lions vs Royal Challengers Bangalore	M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
25 May 2016	8:00 PM	Eliminator (EL)	Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders	Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi
26 May 2016	8:00 PM	Qualifier Two (Q2)	Q1 Loser vs EL Winner	Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi
29 May 2016	8:00 PM	Final	Q1 Winner vs Q2 Winner	M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru