My editor asked me a pertinent question as to why I have toned down with my scripts on the IPL.
Reason simple. The four qualifying teams, mainly Punjab Kings , Gujarat Titans , Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Mumbai Indians reached the top 4 last week, hence the rest of the league games were a dead rubber, except the game yesterday between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings in which Mumbai Indians were thumped by 7 wickets that does not give them a bite at two cherries after being placed at number 4 in the rankings after completing their league games yesterday.
They will be disappointed they lost because the Mahela Jayawardena coached Mumbai Indians have won 5 IPL trophies after having a bite of two cherries in the playoffs finishing in the first two.
They play in the playoffs, but if they lose, they get eliminated. How does this equation work ?
The top two teams at the end of the league stage will face off in qualifier 1, with the winner heading straight to the finals. Loser remains in the fold to play against the winner of the eliminator game between teams 3 and 4.
Teams placed in 3 and 4 will play the eliminator round, and the team losing will be out of the tournament.
The winner of the eliminator round will play the loser of qualifier 1 as qualifier 2. Hence, this is the advantage of getting birthed into rank 1 and 2 because you get a second opportunity.
Let’s conclude by giving you a practical example.
At present, team 1 is Punjab Kings.
Team 2 is Gujarat Titans.
Let us presume that Gujarat Titans win this against Punjab Kings. Hence, Gujarat Titans go straight into the finals, but Punjab Kings are still in with a chance to play the finals against Gujarat Titans because they have the opportunity of playing against the winner of the eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.
Let’s now presume Mumbai Indians in the eliminator round beat Royal Challengers Bangalore, as teams placed as 3 and 4, then Mumbai Indians will play Gujarat Titans who lost the first game to Punjab Kings to decide who plays in the finals against Punjab Kings.
This clearly explains the bite of the two cherries for teams ending as 1 and 2.
The current points table is as follows.
1 Punjab Kings 19 points.
2 Gujarat Titans 18 points.
3 Royal Challengers 17
4 Mumbai Indians 16 points.
Royal Challengers Bangalore have a chance of getting to the 2nd spot because they play their last game in the league stage against Lucknow Super Giants. A win for RCB gets them to the 2nd spot.
LSG can spoil the party for RCB by beating them. If they do, RCB remains on 17 points, and Gujarat Titans will remain as team 2.
Hence, the win for RCB is a must to enjoy the bite at 2 cherries.
Mumbai Indians lost badly to Punjab Kings yesterday in the battle of the playoffs teams in their last league game .
Mumbai Indians 184 for 7.
Suriyakumar Yadav 57
Hardick Pandya 26
Punjab Kings 187 for 3 in 18.3 overs.
Jos Inglis 73
Priyanash Arya 62.