IPL 2024 Playoffs Scenario and Updated Points Table: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs race is intensifying by the day. Delhi Capitals’ win over Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday means that five teams are still fighting amongst themselves for two play-off spots in the IPL 2024. So far, Kolkata Knight Riders (19 in 13 matches) and second-placed Rajasthan Royals (16 points from 12 matches) are officially through. RR are yet not assured of a top-two finish. However, the most intense fight is among the five other teams for two spots. They are – Chennai Super Kings, SunRisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants.
Delhi Capitals’ win over Lucknow Super Giants means that they still in the race for playoffs. It also means that the other three sides have one extra team to fight with for a playoffs spot.
Chennai Super Kings – 14 points in 13 matches (NRR +0.528)
Matches remaining – 1 (vs RCB)
The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Chennai Super Kings have a good chance. The have 14 points in 13 matches (NRR +0.528). If they beat RCB, they are through. A loss against RCB in the final league game won’t knock the defending champions out either. They would then hope that RCB do not surpass them on NRR. If LSG win their last game (and reach 14), CSK will still be favourites to go through due to a much superior NRR. They would also hope SRH (14 from 12 games) lose both their matches, so that they have it easy.
Sunrisers Hyderabad – 14 points in 12 matches (NRR +0.406)
Matches remaining – 2 (vs GT and PBKS)
Wins in the remaining two matches will guarantee a playoff spot for SRH. Even if they lose one of their matches, they will still go through. If they lose both their game, then it will all come down to net run-rate. If SRH lose both of their remaining matches while LSG and RCB win their last games, the Pat Cummins-led side will have to depend on the NRR to be in the top 4. If CSK beat RCB, and SRH lose both their games, they will hope to keep better run-rate than LSG and DC to grab that last play-off spots.
SRH could still finish above RR if the side win their two fixtures, and the latter drop points.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 12 points from 13 games (NRR +0.387)
Matches remaining – 1 (vs CSK)
With a five-match winning streak, RCB have had a massive turnaround. They won only one out of their first seven games but since then it’s a different side altogether. For RCB to qualify, they have to beat Chennai Super Kings to reach 14 points. They would then hope that their NRR is above the other sides vying for the fourth spot in the playoffs. They would also hope SRH to lose both their remaining games or LSG don’t win their last match by a big margin.
Delhi Capitals – 14 points from 14 matches (NRR -0.377)
Matches remaining – 0
The Delhi Capitals’ fate is not in their own hands. They will have to depend on the results of other matches. If DC are to qualify, they would hope that three out of the four teams – SRH, CSK, RCB and LSG – drop points in their last encounters and they lose by big margins. In that scenario, teams with 14 points will depend on NRR to advance.
Lucknow Super Giants – 12 points from 13 games (NRR -0.787)
Matches remaining – 1 (vs MI)
The Super Giants’ run-rate is just pathetic. Their 10-wicket loss to SunRisers Hyderabad saw it fall to -0.769. After their loss to DC, it has fallen to -0.787. The run rate that they possess is the worst among the four teams eyeing the fourth-place spot.
They are all but out of the play-off race. They would first need to win their last match by a very big margin. They would also hope two of CSK, SRH and RCB lose their games by very big margins.