Can Mumbai Indians (MI) still qualify for the Vivo IPL 2021 Playoffs?
Vivo IPL 2021: The path ahead for the five times IPL champions, Mumbai Indians, have become a little tricky as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) imposed their supreme authority on the final spot left for the playoffs of the Vivo IPL 2021. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have already sealed their playoff berth.
Eoin Morgan and Co. presented a brilliant show of all-around performance against modest Rajasthan Royals (RR) to put their playoff case way ahead of the other competing teams. KKR defeated RR by massive 86 runs and gained the two essential points to qualify for the playoffs. The two times IPL winners also got a commanding net run rate owing to the big win against RR last night.
Kolkata, right now, stands tall at number four in the points table with 14 points and a dominant net run rate of +0.587.
Rohit Sharma and Co. still have fine chances to make it to the playoff, however, the task ahead of them is a tremendous one. Mumbai Indians (MI) will hope to see some miracle happen if they want themselves at the top four.
MI’s net run rate is way below than that of KKR. Mumbai stands at sixth place with an overall run rate of -0.048. To get past Kolkata in the points table, Mumbai will require a high leap in their net run rate which will come only after a massive victory, perhaps maybe the biggest victory in the history of the Indian Premier League.
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Mumbai, today, will play out its final league stage match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Fortunately, Sheikh Zayed Stadium has been a batters paradise in the ongoing season of the IPL 2021 and fans can expect some fireworks from the Men in Blues.
If SRH pushes Mumbai Indians to bowl first, the defending champions will be straight out of the playoff race at the toss only.
The only hope MI have is winning the toss and totalling a mammoth score for SRH. Rohit and company need a win by 171 runs or more in order to get past the net run rate of Kolkata Knight Rider (KKR) in today’s match.
Anything below 171 will turn out to be a disaster for the most successful IPL franchise and a boon for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as they walk to the next stage of the Vivo IPL 2021.
Hence, only one playoff scenario is left with Mumbai Indians, which is an authoritative win over SRH by 171 runs or more otherwise, the team will book its home tickets a bit earlier than KKR, CSK, DC and RCB.
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