The 2023 Indian Premier League is heading toward the business end with just four matches remaining in the league stages. The race for the playoff is getting interesting with six teams battling for three places. The Gujarat Titans have already qualified for the playoff with 18 points. They have also secured a place in the top two on the table.
Meanwhile, the bottom-placed team, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings are eliminated from the race. They cannot reach the top four but Delhi and Hyderabad can spoil the chances of other teams. On that note, let’s take a look at the qualification scenario for the remaining teams who are alive in the playoff race.
IPL 2023 Playoff Qualification Scenario
Chennai Super Kings:
Remaining fixture: vs Delhi Capitals, May 20, Delhi
The Chennai Super Kings need to win their final match against the Delhi Capitals to seal a place in the playoff of the 2023 Indian Premier League. If they lose the match, they would want atleast one of Lucknow, Mumbai, and Bangalore to lose their final game. They can also secure a place in the top two by winning the Delhi game, and if Lucknow Super Giants fails to go past their NRR.
Lucknow Super Giants
Remaining fixture: vs Kolkata Knight Riders, May 20, Kolkata
The Lucknow Super Giants too need to win their final match to secure a place in the playoff. They have a similar equation to the Chennai Super Kings, that if they lose, they would want atleast one of Chennai, Mumbai, or Bangalore to lose their final game. Lucknow needs to go past Chennai’s NRR to secure a place in the top two.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Remaining fixture: vs Gujarat Titans, May 21, Bangalore
The Royal Challengers Bangalore will play the Gujarat Titans in the final match of the league stages. Hence they need to secure a win in the match to finish in the top four. Meanwhile, if the Mumbai Indians lose their final match, Bangalore will almost qualify for the playoff, given that they maintain a higher NRR than Rajasthan Royals.
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals have finished their league stage matches with a win against Punjab Kings. They need the Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore to lose their final matches. Meanwhile, Bangalore should lose by 7 or more runs, or by five or more deliveries.
Mumbai Indians
Remaining fixture: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, May 21, Mumbai
Mumbai Indians can reach a maximum of sixteen points if they win their final game. However, they would also need one of Bangalore, Chennai, or Lucknow to lose their final game. In case, all three teams win their final game, Mumbai Indians need to ensure they have a higher NRR than Royal Challengers Bangalore, which seems to be a difficult task.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Remaining fixture: vs Lucknow Super Giants, May 20, Kolkata
The Kolkata Knight Riders need to win their final game against the Lucknow Super Giants by a huge margin to better their NRR than Royal Challengers Bangalore. This will take them to 14 points, however, they would want Bangalore and Mumbai to lose their final matches.
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