Following Kolkata Knight Riders’ win over the Mumbai Indians in Kolkata, the race for the one remaining play-off spot is heating up in the IPL. With Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans already through, four teams are still in contention and all have just one fixture remaining to play.
The Indian Express take a look at the scenarios…
Rajasthan Royals
With 14 points and a game in hand against Mumbai Indians, they remain the favourites to qualify. Should they win the match at the Wankhede on Sunday afternoon, Rajasthan will make it as the fourth team. Not just that should Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad lose their last match, Rajasthan have an opportunity to finish above them in the second spot provided they improve their net run-rate. Since the match against Mumbai is the penultimate league game, they will have a clear idea of where they stand. In case they fail to win their last game, Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders can overtake them with 15 points.
Punjab Kings
Six straight defeats has put them on the brink. Even if they beat Lucknow Super Giants in their last league game on Saturday, they will have to wait till the last league game to find out their fate. In the likelihood of Rajasthan losing, and KKR winning the last game, it will come down to net run-rate as they would be level on points.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Appeared down and out. But have managed to stay in the hunt going into the last game. Playing the last game of the league phase, KKR would know their fate even before they take the field against Delhi Capitals. In case Rajasthan lose their game, but Punjab move to 15 points, then KKR will know what it takes mathematically to make the play-offs. While beating Delhi, they should do so with a margin of 61 runs or more to take the final play-off spot.