The round robin fixtures in the thirteenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) are coming to an end and the race for the all important play-off qualification is right on the edge.

With 11 league games done and dusted for each of the eight teams in the fray, we have three teams which are front-runners in the top half of the IPL 2020 points table to book a place in the knockout outs, while three others could still sneak in to the play-offs at the very last moment

With a week left for the round robin stage of the tournament to culminate and just 3 games left for most teams in the balance, the picture still remains hazy as to which could be the four teams that would finally make the cut for the play-offs.

A look at how the points table pans out after Match 45 between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals , gives you somewhat a picture as to who are the race leaders, who are still in the race and whose campaign is all but over in Season 13 of the IPL.

The Leaders Of The Pack - MI, DC and RCB

Defending champions Mumbai Indians occupy the pole position with 14 points but lead the points table by just a whisker. Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore are also on 14 points courtesy seven wins in eleven league assignments,  but are holding on the second and third spot respectively due to a slightly lower run rate to table toppers MI.

With three games each left in the bank, MI, DC and RCB have the brightest  opportunity of qualifying for the playoffs. A solitary win in one of their three remaining games should fetch them 16 points (8 wins) in the league campaign and earn them a sure shot spot in the knockouts.

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The Challengers - Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings Eleven Punjab

Kolkata Knight Riders

Placed at number four on the points table with 12 points, Kolkata Knight Riders is breathing right on the neck of the leaders MI, DC and RCB with only two points being the gap .The Purple Brigade  could break into the top 3 with a win over Kings Eleven Punjab later in the evening.

KKR also have a realistic chance of making it to the play-offs with 2 wins in their remaining 3 encounters. They would also hope that KXIP and SRH lose at least 2 out their three remaining games.

Kings Eleven Punjab

KXIP have made a fairytale comeback in the business end of the league stage courtesy four straight wins over formidable opponents. With 10 points in their kitty, fifth-place Kings Eleven Punjab will look to win then encounter against KKR later in the evening at at Sharjah and least 2 out of their remaining three games and also hope KKR and SRH falter or fare poorly by losing at least 2 of their remaining three games.

IPL 2020 Points Table

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On The Brink Of Elimination 

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Losing 3-4 close games has surely hurt SRH's chances of making it to the knockouts but it is still not over by any stretch of imagination. Seventh on the points table, SRH need to simply win all of their remaining matches to aim at play-off qualification. They would also need KKR, KXIP and RR to lose at least 2 off their last three games.

Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals survived the battle of getting eliminated from the play-off race by registering a dominant 8-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians. However, with 10 points courtesy five wins in 12 games, Smith-led Pink Army need to win both their remaining encounters and also hope that KXIP, KKR and SRH lose their remaining games by massive margins.

Out Of The Playoff Race 

Chennai Super Kings

It is all but over for 3-time champions Chennai Super Kings as even three wins is as many encounters wont get them to the knockouts. Despite trouncing RCB by 8 wickets in their last league encounter, CSK's hopes of a miraculous entry into the knockouts were dashed when Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians by 8 wickets and eliminated mathematically.