IPL 6: Road to Top 4 - Play-off scenarios
With only ten matches to go in the league phase, none of the teams is mathematically certain of a place in the knockout phase. However, given the poor Net Run Rate (NRR) of Sunrisers Hyderabad, all the top three teams – Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals – are almost assured of a place in the next round. So, let us look at the odds of all the teams that are still in with a possibility of securing the last remaining spot in the top four.
With both remaining matches at home, RCB are in the pole position to clinch that last remaining spot. In addition, they have a far superior NRR compared to other teams remaining in the fray. This is what they need to do/hope.
a) Score more points from its last two matches than SRH OR
b) Score at least the same points from its last two matches as SRH AND
i) Win atleast one match OR Hope
ii) Both KXIP and KKR lose at least one match OR
iii) Both KXIP and KKR finish with lower NRR
Sunrisers Hyderbad (SRH)
It’s very straightforward for SRH. There is just one option left for them: Score more points from its last two matches than RCB.
a) If RCB wins none, SRH has to win at least one;
b) If RCB wins one match, SRH has to win the rest of its two matches;
c) If RCB wins both their matches, then SRH is out.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
There are mountains to climb for KKR and KXIP, the two other teams that are remaining in the fray. But, we have seen strange things happen in the past (Remember how CSK sneaked through last season).
a) Win both its matches AND hope
i) RCB & SRH lose both their matches and finish with lower NRR AND
ii) KXIP loses at least one match OR finishes with lower NRR
a) Win all its matches AND hope
i) RCB & SRH lose both their matches and finish with lower NRR AND
ii) KKR loses at least one match AND finishes with lower NRR.