IPL 2020 Playoff Scenario: MI Secure Spot, RCB, DC Front-Runners; KXIP, SRH, RR Still In Contention To Qualify

With 4-time champions MI booking one of the four spots in the IPL 2020 play-offs, the battle for securing the remaining three berths in the knockouts is right on the edge with five other teams still very much in contention.

Mumbai Indians

Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2020 playoffs after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by six wickets in Match 49 of the ongoing thirteenth edition at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai (UAE). With 4-time champions MI booking one of the four spots in the IPL 2020 play-offs, the battle for securing the remaining three berths in the knockouts is right on the edge with five other teams still very much in contention. While Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC) are in a relatively stronger position to seal one of the three remaining  playoff spot; Kings Eleven Punjab (KXIP) , Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are still very much in the race to sneak into the knockout phase of the tournament. Here is a look at how the play-off scenario is playing out as we head into the final set of league fixtures  Mumbai Indians Played - 12 Won - 8 Lost - 4 Points 16 NRR (1.186) Current Standing: 1st With 16 points in the bank and a healthy run rate of 1.186, 4-time champions Mumbai Indians are guaranteed a top four finish when the league fixtures of IPL 2020 come to an end. The 'Blue Brigade' would look to win one or both of their remaining games in the round robin stage to finish among the top two teams. Royal Challengers Bangalore Current Standings: 2nd Played - 12 Won - 7 Lost - 5 Points 14 NRR (0.048) Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore are also in a very strong position to make it to the playoffs, occupying the second spot with 14 points. Despite their loss to table toppers Mumbai Indians a few days ago, RCB need just a win more to seal a sure shot spot in the play-offs. However, RCB cannot afford to lose both their remaining fixtures to SRH (Oct 31) and DC (Nov 2).If they slip up in both their final fixtures, they will need KXIP to beat RR and CSK to win against KXIP. Delhi Capitals Current Standings: 3rd M – 12, W – 7, L – 5, Points – 14, NRR (0.030) Much like RCB, Delhi Capitals are so close yet so far from the play-offs. DC need to win at least one of their remaining two clashes against formidable opponents Mumbai Indians (Oc 31), vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (Nov 2) to make it to the play-offs. If they falter in both their outings, then they will require Kings XI Punjab to inflict a big defeat on Rajasthan Royals and hope Kolkata Knight Riders lose to Rajasthan Royals. Kings XI Punjab Current Standing: 4th P – 12, W – 6, L – 6, Points – 12 (NRR -0.049) Resurgent Kings Eleven Punjab need to win both their matches against RR (Oct 30 - Today) and CSK (Nov 1) to qualify for the play-offs. If they lose both their games, then they will be eliminated from the competition. If KXIP they win one out of the two games, then they will hope that neither KKR nor RR win by massive margins as both these teams have a much inferior run rate to KXIP. Kolkata Knight Riders Current Standing - 5th P – 13, W – 6, L – 7, Points – 12 (NRR -0.467) After losing to CSK by 6 wickets, KKR cannot afford to slip any further in the points table. Morgan and Co. will need to win their last league assignment against Rajasthan Royals, else their campaign will be over. If they win against Rajasthan Royals, they have to also hope that Kings XI Punjab beat Rajasthan Royals and the Punjab-based franchise lose to Chennai Super Kings by a big margin. Sunrisers Hyderabad Current Standing - 6th P – 12, W – 5, L – 7, Points – 10 (NRR 0.396) What they must do to qualify: SRH need to win both their games in-order to secure a qualification berth in IPL Season 13. Even if they lose one game, they are out. If they win both their games, they will also need that Kings XI Punjab lose both games to Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by a small margin. Rajasthan Royals  Current Standing: 7th P – 13, W – 5, L – 8 , Points – 10 (NRR -0.505) What they must do to qualify: If Rajasthan Royals lose to Kings XI Punjab in the match scheduled later on Friday evening,  they are out of the play-off race. If they beat Kings XI Punjab and KL Rahul’s team lose to Chennai Super Kings, then the game against Kolkata Knight Riders is a virtual shootout for the third or fourth spot. RR also stands to gain if Sunrisers Hyderabad lose one of their last two games. Chennai Super Kings Current Standings: 8th P – 13, W – 5, L – 8, Points – 10 (NRR -0.532) 3-time champions CSK are out of the play-off race in the thirteenth edition of the IPL. Despite beating Kolkata Knight Riders by 6 wickets in Dubai, CSK find themselves languishing at the bottom of the table.