RCB DC PBKS race for Playoffs and Final

Following Gujarat Titans’ victory against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Sunday, three teams are now through to the playoffs – GT, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS).

This is because the two other teams which can also make it to 17 – DC and Mumbai Indians (MI) – are playing each other, ensuring that only one of those teams will eventually get to that mark.

DC’s defeat against GT also means that there will be lot riding on their next game, against MI on Wednesday. A win for MI will almost certainly ensure qualification, as DC can then only finish on a maximum on 15 points. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) can still get to 16 if they win their three remaining games, but their net run rate (-0.469) is so far behind MI’s that it is near-impossible for them to catch up: even if they win their matches by a combined margin of 300 runs and MI beat DC by just one run, MI will still need to lose their last match, against PBKS, by about 70 runs for their NRR to slip below that of LSG’s (assuming first-innings scores of 200). Plainly put, MI can consider themselves through to the playoffs if they beat DC.
If they lose, though, qualification will be out of their hands as DC can then beat PBKS and reach 17 points and clinch the fourth spot. If DC lose to PBKS then MI can still qualify with 16 points if they beat PBKS.
If MI lose both matches, they will be out.
As explained above, LSG’s run-rate is so poor – and MI’s so good – that they can’t win that battle. Hence, LSG will have to not only win their three remaining games but also hope that both MI and DC stay below 16. That’s asking for a lot, especially from a team which is struggling for form, having lost three in a row and four of their last five matches.
If one of their matches is washed out and they finish on 15, their only chance will be if MI lose both and DC finish on 15. Even then, any NRR battle is highly unlikely to go in their favour.

News Edit KV Raman