IPL 9: Play Offs scenario – Where do the teams stand?

RCB like to keep winning momentum going. Image Source: File Pic
Royal Challengers Bangalore has surprised everyone with their brand of cricket in recent matches . Image Source: BCCI

Internet Desk: With the business end of the Indian Premier League round the corner, the fight for a place in the play offs is heating up. As many as six teams are in the fray to qualify for the play offs.  Debutants Rising Pune Supergiants and 2014 runners up Kings XI Punjab are out of the contention. But they can play party poopers and spoil the other team’s chances of qualification.

Another debutants Gujarat Lions, who started the tournament with a bang may also find themselves missing out on the play offs if they fail to win their remaining two matches against Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians . Even if they beat KKR on Thursday and go down to Mumbai Indians, they could be out as their NRR is the worst amongst all the teams.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

The Sunrisers Hyderabad find themselves in a strong position to qualify for the play offs. They have 16 points with a net run rate of +0.400 with two more matches remaining. The table toppers at the moment have two away games against Delhi Daredevils (May 20) and Kolkata Knight Riders (May 22). The David Warner led side can still manage to qualify unless they lose both their remaining matches by a huge margin. The Sunrisers can end up in top two position if they manage to win at least one match.

Kolkata Knight Riders

The two times champions Kolkata Knight Riders also have a very good chance to go through to the play offs. The Knight Riders have so far managed 14 points from 12 matches and have a healthy run rate of +0.280. But the Gautam Gambhir led side will be up against two quality opponents in Gujarat Lions (May 19) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 22). The Knights have to win at least one of their remaining two matches to qualify for the play offs. But if they lose both their matches, they will invite trouble as it will then boil down to NRR. At the same time they have a chance for a top two finish if they win both their remaining games.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

The Virat Kohli led side has surprised everyone with their brand of cricket in recent matches. Specially with the batting prowess of Kohli, Gayle and AB De Villiers, they will fancy their chances against Delhi Daredevils in the last match on May 22. The Challengers have 14 points so far with a net run rate of +0.930. It goes to be seen whether they have peaked a bit too late or not. Their outstanding net run rate bears testimony to the domination RCB has had in the last few games. If they beat Delhi, they will surely go through to the playoffs. Even if they lose their last game, they can still go through, thanks to their excellent net run rate but they would have to depend on teams not going beyond 14 points.

Mumbai Indians

The reigning IPL champions have so far managed to earn 14 points with a net run rate of -0.082. The only disadvantage for the Rohit Sharma led side is they have only one match remaining. The defending champions have their task cut out in the final game against Gujarat Lions (May 21). If they manage to beat Gujarat Lions they have a fair chance to go through. Ideally for Mumbai Indians they would want Gujarat to lose both their games and also Daredevils to lose at least one game. They will be assured of a place in the playoffs if that happens. But a loss against Lions will dash their hopes of a play offs.

Gujarat Lions

The Gujarat Lions have 14 points with a net run rate of -0.747 with two matches remaining against Kolkata Knight Riders (May 19) and Mumbai Indians (May 22). The main concern for the Lions will be their net run rate as they have the worst net run rate amongst all the teams. The Suresh Raina lead side can finish in the top two if they win both their matches. If they lose both their games, they can bid the tournament goodbye if the Daredevils or RCB win their remaining games. Even if they beat Knight Riders on Thursday and end up losing to Mumbai Indians on Saturday, they could be tied with other teams at 16 points. Their poor net run rate could hamper their progress then.

Delhi Daredevils

The Delhi Daredevils have 12 points with a net run rate of -0.125. The Zaheer Khan led side have two matches remaining against Sun Risers Hyderabad (May 20) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 22). The Daredevils will have to win big in the remaining games to garner hopes of making it to the playoffs. To make it all the more difficult, they now play the two teams in red hot form. Even if they win both the games their poor net run rate could be a factor for not giving them a top two finish.

If they lose one of the two remaining games, they will find it tough to qualify in the last four as their poor run rate will pull them back.