With more than 50 games done in IPL 2024, no team has qualified for the playoffs and - no team is out of the race yet. Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) playoff chances are hanging by a thread after Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by one run on Thursday. Furthermore, MI have continued their dismal IPL 2024 campaign after suffering a 24-run defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday at home. After their eighth loss in 11 games, the five-time champions MI are now on the brink of elimination.
The Hardik Pandya-led outfit will need plenty of results to go their way to finish in the top four.
Meanwhile, MI's heartbreaking loss has brought some confidence into the RCB camp considering Mumbai can go up to a maximum of 12 points if they win their remaining three matches, which is daunting.
Remaining fixtures of MI
May 6: vs SRH, Wankhede Stadium
May 11: vs KKR, Eden Gardens
May 17: vs LSG, Wankhede Stadium
Mathematically, MI are not eliminated from the competition yet and also have an outside chance of qualifying.
First things first, Mumbai need to win all their remaining fixtures to stay in the hunt.
RR and KKR are already placed at the top with 16 and 14 points respectively and are far from MI's reach. Technically, MI would need RR and KKR to win all their remaining fixtures to make way for them.
The winner of the SRH v LSG clash on May 8 will move to 14 points from the current 12.
The winner of the SRH vs LSG game will need to win their remaining three matches and get at least 16 points. The winner of this fixture will also need to win their remaining three fixtures.
Whereas, the loser of the game should also lose their next three fixtures and end their season with 12 points.
Lastly, none of the teams residing outside of the top four should go past 12 points.
In such a scenario, Mumbai might get tied with the other five teams at 12 points each and would need a significant NRR boost to climb up the ladder and seal the fourth spot on the standings.
RCB, on the other hand, are currently reeling at the bottom of the IPL 2024 points table with only three wins out of 10 games.
However, they have looked in a better position than MI after winning two consecutive away games against SRH and GT.
Despite early setbacks this season, RCB still have a mathematical chance to make the playoffs. Their recovery work begins at home against a struggling GT on Saturday and RCB would need to make the most out of the game.
Remaining fixtures of RCB
May 4: vs GT, Bengaluru
May 9: vs PBKS, Dharamsala
May 12: vs DC, Bengaluru
May 18: vs CSK, Bengaluru
Like any other side, who are placed in the bottom half of the points table, RCB also need to win their remaining four fixtures and hopefully, they will make use of the home advantage with three more fixtures to be played at Chinnaswamy.
However, for RCB to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs, the simple math is to back the top three (RR, KKR, and either one of SRH/ LSG) to win as many games as possible while the next six sides above them lose just as many so that RCB can finish above them in the standings. Here are a few of the possible ways in which this can be achieved.
RCB would want the winner of the SRH v LSG clash on May 8 to win all their remaining matches to cement their spot at three at least.
They also want the loser of the SRH vs LSG game to lose their next three fixtures and get stuck on 12 points.
MI should win no more than two out of their remaining four league games.
GT and PBKS should win no more than two of their remaining four league games.
CSK and DC should win no more than one of their remaining league games.
RR and KKR should win at least three of their remaining four league games.
To sum up, RCB must hope that all the above permutations go their way with the six teams above them suffering heavy defeats while the Royal Challengers themselves must earn handsome wins to grab the fourth spot for IPL 2024 playoffs qualification.
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