IPL 2022 Playoff scenarios: The Indian Premier League (IPL) season fifteen has entered its final phase with just four matches remaining in the league stages. The contests have gotten intense with each passing match as every team desperately needs to get qualified for the playoffs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), last night, finally ended its five matches losing streak after defeating Mumbai Indians by three runs in the Wankhede Stadium. With the win, SRH has kept their playoff hopes alive, however small.
Four times champions Chennai Super Kings along with Mumbai Indians are already eliminated from the top four race due to their thin performances in the early phase of the tournament.
Notably, Gujarat Titans (GT) are the only side to seal a playoff spot till now and three places are still vacant for which the likes of Lucknow Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders are contesting.
Down below are the IPL 2022 playoff scenarios: How RCB, DC, KKR, RR and SRH can qualify for the IPL 2022 playoffs.
IPL 2022 Playoff scenarios:
Rajasthan Royals:
(16 Points, +0.304 NRR)
Sanju Samson and Co have one match remaining in their league stage. RR will lock horns against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 20 and a victory against CSK will help them secure a playoff spot straightaway.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG):
(16 points, +0.262 NRR)
Lucknow, too, have their fate in their hands. Their fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be crucial to determine their position in the points table. Lucknow can march to the playoffs if they secure a victory against KKR, however, a loss would put them in a situation where Net Run Rate would play its part.
Delhi Capitals (DC):
(14 points, +0.255 NRR)
Interestingly, the game between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians is going to be the most crucial match as far as playoff qualifications are concerned. DC will lock horns against Mumbai Indians on May 21, which will be the last fixture for both teams.
Delhi would confirm their playoff berth if they somehow thump Mumbai Indians, however, a loss would aid the other four sides as their chances of playoffs would increase.
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Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
(14 points, -0.323 NRR)
RCB needs simple math to get qualified for the IPL 2022 playoffs. If RCB beats GT in its last match along with Mumbai defeating Delhi, the gates for a playoff for RCB would be wide open. Even if nothing goes their way in the last few days, RCB still would have some chances, however, their net run rate isn’t good enough to assist them much in that case.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
(12 points, +0.160 NRR)
KKR doesn’t have everything in their hands now. They can only do is win their last match against Lucknow Super Giants and then hope Gujarat defeat Bangalore along with Mumbai defeating Delhi. If all this goes as per their plans, they would have some chances to get qualified as the net run rate would come into play.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
(12 points, -0.043 NRR)
The way ahead for Punjab Kings (PBKS) isn’t smooth. Their inconsistency throughout the tournament has paid its dividends by putting them in a tricky situation towards the end of the tournament.
Punjab needs to beat SRH in its last match while hoping that Mumbai defeats Delhi and GT beats RCB. This would bring three franchises on 14 points where everything will boil down to the net run rate.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
(12 points, -0.230 NRR)
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have the skinniest chance to sail through the playoff qualification. Moreover, with Kane Williamson returning back to New Zealand due to the birth of his child, the task has become tougher.
SRH needs KKR, RCB and DC to lose their remaining fixture and they will have to register a massive win against Punjab Kings (PBKS). A big win would help their net run rate come into the positive territory which might help them in the playoff qualification.
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