New Delhi, The final week of the league phase of IPL 2023 has begun and so far only the table toppers Gujarat Titans have qualified for the playoffs. There are still three teams to qualify for which a fierce battle is going on between the teams.
On the other hand, the match between Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians on Tuesday has made this playoff race more interesting. Super Giants created a sensation by defeating Mumbai by 5 runs. Let it be known that currently every team except Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad can qualify for the playoffs. Three teams are yet to qualify for the playoffs, for which seven teams are fighting.
Any three teams from the second-ranked Chennai Super Kings to the No. 8 Punjab Kings can qualify. Chennai Super Kings need to beat Delhi Capitals in their last league match to qualify for the playoffs. Lucknow Super Giants have to beat Kolkata Knight Riders in their last league stage match to qualify. If this happens, KKR will also be out of the playoff race.
Mumbai Indians will have to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad with a better run rate in their last league match to enter the playoffs. This would mean that if Bangalore and Punjab reach 16 points by winning their last two matches, their run rate will be lower than Mumbai’s.
On the other hand, if Punjab and Bangalore get 16 points along with Mumbai and both have a better run rate than Mumbai, then Mumbai can qualify only after losing the last match to Lucknow and Chennai.
Royal Challengers Bangalore must win both their remaining matches. With this, RCB will come to 16 points. Notably, if Mumbai and Punjab also reach 16 points, RCB will need a better run rate than both the teams to qualify.
On the other hand, if Chennai and Lucknow lose their last matches, all three teams with 16 points can qualify for the playoffs. To take Rajasthan Royals to 14 points, they have to win the last match against Punjab Kings with a good run rate.
With this he will have to hope that Mumbai do not win their last match. On the other hand, none of the teams from Bangalore, Kolkata and Punjab have managed to reach 14 points and if they do, their run rate will be lower than RCB’s, then Rajasthan will be able to book their place in the playoffs. Kolkata Knight Riders need to win their last match to reach 14 points. Also, they will have to win this match with a good run rate, so KKR’s run rate should be better than all other teams if they have a chance to qualify for the playoffs on 14 points.SS1MS