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After the GT vs KKR washout at Ahmedabad, race for playoffs intensifies at IPL 2024

Soumyaroop Mukherjee

The first no-result game at the Namo stadium in Ahmedabad between Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders has intensified the race for playoffs. A washed-out result at Ahmedabad meant two things, on one hand, Shubman Gill’s side became the third side to be eliminated after Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings. On the other hand, KKR ended with 19 points which cements their position up top.

Gujarat’s exit from the playoff scenario has carved the path of resurgence for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. Let us look at the best-case scenarios for the qualification of all the teams in this rat race.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Out of all the teams who are in this cauldron of playoffs, SRH is the most secure team in this rat race. With two matches remaining for the orange army, SRH has still much everything in their own hands and does not wait for a miracle. Victories in the remaining two matches will guarantee a place in the playoffs. However, if SRH loses one of their matches and LSG win their two games, both Hyderabad and Lucknow will end in 16 points post which due to a superior NRR, SRH can fancy their chances.

But if SRH loses its remaining matches and LSG wins its remaining matches, Pat Cummins and Co. will have to wait for a favourable result from the CSK vs RCB match to see them through.

Chennai Super Kings

Other than SRH another team which has its eyes set for the playoffs are the 5-time champions Chennai Super Kings. For CSK a simple win over RCB should get the job done. In case the results go south, Gaikwad and co. can still qualify for the playoffs with 14 points against their name. In that case, LSG has to lose both their matches which will boost CSK due to a superior NRR. If LSG wins one of the two matches, CSK will still qualify owing to a superior run rate.

However, things will get tricky if LSG wins both their remaining matches while SRH lose theirs. In that case, if CSK picks up a loss against RCB, the entire thing will boil down to the run rates.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Chasing CSK in close quarters is RCB, a team which has staged a dramatic turnaround this season and is currently on a 5-match winning streak. For RCB a win is very imperative to keep their playoff chances alive. A win against CSK will ensure 14 points to RCB which will then lead to an NRR battle.

If SRH and LSG manage to win one of their matches, RCB has to outfox CSK by a huge margin to boost their NRR over CSK. For RCB, the most favourable scenario is that LSG and SRH win one out of their remaining 2 games.

Lucknow Super Giants

LSG has the toughest task cut out for them in this ladder race for playoffs. Amidst all the controversies centred around the ownership and the LSG captain KL Rahul, Lucknow must now win their remaining matches to end up in 16 points. LSG has the lowest run rate among all the teams that are fighting for the playoffs. Naturally, if a possibility arises that CSK, RCB and SRH end up in 16 points LSG will lose the fight owing to a low NRR.

The best case scenario for LSG is if SRH win both their matches and CSK loses to RCB which will gravitate them to the fourth spot. On the other hand, if SRH bottles its remaining matches, LSG will still go through irrespective of the match between CSK and RCB.

Delhi Capitals

The final team which is in the hunt for playoffs is Delhi Capitals. However, things are very grim on the Capitals’ side as they enter their final match against LSG without their captain Rishab Pant. In the absence of Pant, Axar Patel will lead the side. For Delhi, the best-case scenario is to win their last remaining match to end up at 14 points and then hope for results to turn in their favour.

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