Playoff Puzzle: CSK, DC, RCB's Exact Results to Seal Top-4

CSK, DC, RCB's Exact Results to Seal Top-4

The IPL 2024 mid-table muddle has become more intriguing as struggling Gujarat Titans beat a much-settled Chennai Super Kings by 35 runs in Ahmedabad on Friday, May 10. Even after almost 60 matches in IPL 2024, only one of the 10 teams have secured playoffs berths, and it's Kolkata Knight Riders. In contrast, Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings have been eliminated from the race after a disappointing show this year. After Gujarat's morale-boosting win in match 59, the tournament is now wide open as teams like Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Gujarat Titans still have the opportunity to finish in the top four.

Chennai Super Kings

Defending champions CSK are most comfortably placed fourth on the points table with NRR (+0.491). Ruturaj Gaikward's men are scheduled to face RR at home on Sunday, and will play their final league stage game against RCB at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, May 18. Let's have a closer look at CSK's playoff scenarios:

• CSK can reach a maximum of 16 points now. If they win both their remaining games, they will be overwhelming favourites to qualify owing to a superior NRR than DC and LSG.
• If they win only one, they can still qualify hoping that the winner of the DC v LSG game loses their other remaining fixture.
• If Chennai lose both their games, they'll be knocked out of the tournament as they will be stranded on 12 points and the winner of LSG and DC will move to 14 points and surpass them.

Delhi Capitals

Rishabh Pant's DC are currently placed fifth on the standings with 12 points and a NRR of (-0.316). Their remaining two games are against RCB and LSG. Here's DC's playoff scenarios:

• DC can reach a maximum of 16 points now and hence need to win both their games. They also need to hope that CSK lose at least one of their remaining games to secure a direct qualification.
• If they tie with CSK at 16 points, NRR will come into play, which at the moment favours the five-time IPL champions.
• If Delhi win one of the two games and get stuck at 14 points, they'll hope CSK lose both their matches and LSG lose at least one to squeeze into the playoffs.
• Lastly, If the Capitals lose both their matches, they'll be eliminated as LSG will surpass them irrespective of CSK's results.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

RCB are one of the sides with only an outside shot at IPL 2024 playoff berth. Here are RCB's playoff scenarios:

• The Faf du Plessis-led RCB can reach a maximum of 14 points if they manage to win their remaining two games. However, they also need other results to go their way to finish in the top four.
• Given RCB win their last two matches and reach 14 points, they would need CSK to lose against RR, DC to go down against LSG, LSG to suffer defeat against MI and GT to lose at least one of their remaining games.
• With this, RCB and LSG would be tied at 14 points and the team with superior NRR will go through. (RCB has the best NRR amongst them)
• However, if CSK wins both their remaining games, RCB will need SRH to lose both their games with a sizeable margin, and also need GT to suffer defeat against KKR, and LSG not winning more than one of their remaining two games.
• The above-mentioned result will lead to six teams being tied at 14 points and two teams with better NRR will go through. If this happens, RCB will have the opportunity to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs.