Chennai Super Kings beat Kings XI Punjab in the first game on Sunday to eliminate them from the tournament. Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by a big margin to eliminate them out of the tournament. This leaves four teams including KKR to qualify for the IPL 2020 playoffs.
KKR are on 14 points at number four. However, they have a negative net run-rate (-0.214). Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders are dependent on plenty of equations for them to go through.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2020 Playoffs Qualification Scenario – Explained
1) The most important criteria for Kolkata Knight Riders to qualify for the playoffs is for SRH to lose against Mumbai Indians on Tuesday. That is the last league game of the tournament. SRH are placed fifth currently on the points table. Also what works in their favour is that they have a positive net run-rate (+0.555) which is the best among all the teams. Both KKR and SRH have lost seven games in the season. However, Sunrisers have a decisive game to go on Tuesday.
2) Another scenario for KKR would be if either of Delhi Capitals or Royal Challengers Bangalore lose by a big margin in their respective last game. Ideally, RCB would have to lose by 22 or more runs for KKR to qualify. Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, would have to lose by 18 or more runs for Kolkata to qualify. Meanwhile, the game between Delhi and Banglore on Monday is a direct shootout. The winner of the game qualifies for the playoffs as the second team. Meanwhile, all is not over for the loser still. They will need to have a better net-run-rate than Kolkata to qualify for the playoffs.
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3)Meanwhile, KKR will be eliminated from the tournament if SRH beat Mumbai. Although they will be tied with KKR on 14 points, their better net-run-rate will see them go through to the playoffs.
KKR did not have the luck on three occasions previously when their qualification chances, got down to net-run-rate equations. in 2010, they slipped to number six from being third on the points table with 14 points. Six years later in 2016, they qualified as the fourth team with 16 points, but they slipped to the fourth spot from being second. In 2019, again, it was Sunrisers Hyderabad who edged past the Knight Riders on the net-run rate to qualify with 12 points but with a superior net run-rate than KKR.
2020 again gives a scenario when a large chunk of Kolkata Knight Riders’ qualification chances lie on SRH’s result in their final game against Mumbai Indians.
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