IPL 2024 Qualification scenarios: How can RCB qualify for playoffs after their nine-wicket win over GT?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) thumped Gujarat Titans (GT) by nine wickets in match number 45 of IPL 2024 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, April 28. In a thoroughly dominant performance, RCB gunned down a target of 201 with four overs to spare.
Asked to bat first by Bengaluru, Gujarat put up a competitive 200-3 as Sai Sudharsan starred with 84* off 49, while Shahrukh Khan (58 off 30) notched up his maiden IPL fifty. In their chase, Royal Challengers Bengaluru romped home in 16 overs as Will Jacks clobbered 100* off 41, while Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 70 off 44.
Despite the thumping win on Sunday, RCB remain last in the IPL 2024 points table. They have six points from 10 games, with a net run rate of -0.415. While Bengaluru have won two straight matches, their qualification for the playoffs looks highly unlikely.
Since the IPL became a 10-team event in 2022, franchises have needed a minimum of 16 points to finish in the top-four. Royal Challengers Bengaluru only have four league matches left. Even if they win all the games, which is a tough proposition in itself, they will end the league stage with 14 points.
RCB only have a slim mathematical chance of making the IPL 2024 playoffs. Apart from finishing on 14 points and boosting their net run rate significantly, they also need other results to go their way. For Bengaluru to enter the playoffs, the top three sides will have to finish with more than 16 points, while the other six sides must not end with more than 12.
If the highly unlikely above scenario plays out, Bengaluru will enter the IPL 2024 playoffs as the fourth-ranked side. Meanwhile, if multiple sides finish with 14 points, RCB will have to ensure that they have the best run rate among the sides vying for fourth place in the points table.
RCB's remaining matches in IPL 2024
Following their brilliant triumph over Gujarat Titans on Sunday, RCB face the same opponent at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on May 4. They then take on Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on May 9.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru end their league campaign in IPL 2024 with two home games. They take on Delhi Capitals on May 12 and Chennai Super Kings on May 18.
May 4: Bengaluru vs Gujarat, M Chinnaswamy Stadium (7:30 PM IST)
May 9: Bengaluru vs Punjab, HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala (7:30 PM IST)
May 12: Bengaluru vs Delhi, M Chinnaswamy Stadium (7:30 PM IST)
May 18: Bengaluru vs Chennai, M Chinnaswamy Stadium (7:30 PM IST)