Astoundingly, following 59 enthralling encounters in the IPL 2024 group stage, no team has yet inscribed a victorious ‘Q’ beside their appellation. Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings have both been relegated with two matches remaining, while the remaining eight teams linger in contention, grappling with varying degrees of adversity in their quest for progression.
Here’s the current standings after Gujarat Titans secured victory over Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad on Friday:
Teams | Matches Played | Matches Won | Matches Lost | Points | Net Run Rate (NRR)
—|—|—|—|—|—
Kolkata Knight Riders | 11 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 1.453
Rajasthan Royals | 11 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 0.476
Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 0.406
Chennai Super Kings | 12 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 0.491
Delhi Capitals | 12 | 6 | 6 | 12 | -0.316
Lucknow Super Giants | 12 | 6 | 6 | 12 | -0.769
Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 12 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 0.217
Gujarat Titans | 12 | 5 | 7 | 10 | -1.063
Mumbai Indians (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 8 | -0.212
Punjab Kings (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 8 | -0.423
Now, let’s delve into what each team needs to secure qualification:
16-pointers: Kolkata Knight Riders & Rajasthan Royals
Sitting atop the table, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals find themselves in the most auspicious position, with one foot already in the playoffs. A solitary victory in any of their remaining three matches would suffice to solidify their position. Should they clinch two victories, it would virtually guarantee them a spot in Qualifier 1, as none of the other eight teams can surpass 18 points. Indeed, one of these two teams is destined to reach 18 points, as they clash in the final league match. Even in defeat, the losing side could advance with 16 points, provided their Net Run Rate doesn’t suffer greatly from three consecutive losses.
14-pointer: Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s resounding triumph over Lucknow Super Giants has rejuvenated their flagging campaign and bolstered their Net Run Rate. Winning both of their remaining matches would secure their qualification and even afford them a remote chance at a top-two finish. A solitary victory would likely suffice, provided it doesn’t significantly dent their Net Run Rate, currently a comfortable +0.406. They could even advance with two losses, should they outpace other teams reaching 14 points on Net Run Rate, contingent upon Chennai Super Kings dropping a match or the victor of Delhi Capitals versus Lucknow Super Giants failing in their other fixture.
12-pointers: Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals & Lucknow Super Giants
A mid-table conundrum ensues among Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants, each boasting 12 points from as many games, separated only by Net Run Rate. Among them, Chennai Super Kings are most favorably positioned, boasting a superior Net Run Rate (+0.491) compared to Delhi Capitals (-0.316) and Lucknow Super Giants (-0.769). Their fixtures are marginally less daunting than their counterparts, with one match at home against Rajasthan Royals and another against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, a side and venue they have historically dominated. Two victories should secure Chennai Super Kings a playoff berth, provided either Sunrisers Hyderabad loses both their remaining matches or the winner of Delhi Capitals versus Lucknow Super Giants falters in their other fixture. Alternatively, it could culminate in a Net Run Rate showdown among two or three teams on 16 points (Chennai Super Kings, the winner of Delhi Capitals versus Lucknow Super Giants, and Sunrisers Hyderabad if they secure only one victory), with Chennai Super Kings well positioned on Net Run Rate, poised for further enhancement with two additional victories.
Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants clash on Tuesday (May 8), with only one team able to amass a maximum of 16 points. Given their inferior Net Run Rates, the optimal scenario for both would be to triumph in both matches, reaching 16 points, and hoping that at most one of either Sunrisers Hyderabad or Chennai Super Kings reaches 16 points. Theoretically, they could advance with 14 points, but this seems improbable given the current circumstances.
10-pointers: Royal Challengers Bengaluru & Gujarat Titans
These two teams harbor only a slim chance of playoff qualification. They must secure victories in their remaining two games, reaching 14 points, and rely on at least two of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, and the winner of Delhi Capitals versus Lucknow Super Giants failing to surpass 14 points. Under such circumstances, up to six teams could be deadlocked on 14 points, with Net Run Rate becoming the decisive factor. Gujarat Titans are in the least favorable position, with a Net Run Rate of -1.063, necessitating victories by significant margins to elevate it into positive territory. Even if both Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans reach 14 points, they could still be ousted if Sunrisers Hyderabad defeat Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants overcome both Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians.
