IPL 2024: What the teams need to do to qualify
Remarkably, after 59 group stage matches in IPL 2024, no side has yet managed to put a ‘Q’ next to their name. MI and PBKS have both been issued exit passes with two matches to go, while the other eight teams are still in contention with varying degrees of difficulties to progress.
This is how the points table look after GT win over CSK in Ahmedabad on Friday:
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 11 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 1.453 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 11 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 0.476 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 0.406 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 12 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 0.491 |
| Delhi Capitals | 12 | 6 | 6 | 12 | -0.316 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 12 | 6 | 6 | 12 | -0.769 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 12 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 0.217 |
| Gujarat Titans | 12 | 5 | 7 | 10 | -1.063 |
| Mumbai Indians (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 8 | -0.212 |
| Punjab Kings (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 8 | -0.423 |
Now lets take a look at what each team needs to do to qualify.
16 pointers: KKR & RR
The two sides sitting most comfortably are the table toppers KKR and RR with already a feet in the Play Offs and a win in any of their three remaining matches should formally confirm it. If they manage to win two, that should assure them of a ticket to Qualifier 1 as none of the other eight sides can go beyond 18 points. One of the two will definitely reach 18 points as they face off in the final league game and the loser can go through with 16 points too if NRR doesn’t take a massive hit with three back to back defeats.
14 pointer: SRH
The thumping win over LSG on Wednesday has put SRH’s flailing campaign as well as their NRR back on track. If they win both their matches, they are assured of a qualification and even gives them a distant shot at a top two finish. While one win also should be mostly enough for SRH if the defeat in the other game does not shave off a big chunk of their NRR, which currently reads a comfortable +0.406. They can even go through with two defeats if they pip other sides that get to 14 points on NRR, provided either CSK drop one game or the winner of DC vs LSG drop their other fixture.
12 pointers: CSK, DC & LSG
There is a mid-table muddle by the three teams CSK, DC and LSG who all sit on 12 points each from as many games separated only by NRR. Of the three, CSK are most comfortably placed with a head start on NRR (+0.491) to DC (-0.316) and LSG (-0.769). They have slightly easier fixtures compared to the other two: one at home (against RR) and another against a side and venue which they have traditionally dominated (RCB at Chinnaswamy). Two wins for CSK should give them a Play Off berth on points provided either SRH drops both their remaining matches or the winner of DC vs LSG game loses their other fixture. Otherwise, it could come down to an NRR shootout between two or three teams on 16 points (CSK, winner of DC vs LSG and SRH if they win only one) and in which CSK are well placed on NRR which should get a further boost on two more wins.
DC and LSG face off against each other on Tuesday (May 8) which means only one of them can get to 16 points at best. Given both DC and LSG have NRR in the arrears, the best case scenario for them would be to win both matches and reach 16 and hope at most one among SRH or CSK get to 16 points. Theoretically, they can go through with 14 points also but that looks unlikely given how things are currently placed.
10 pointers: RCB & GT
These are the two sides with only an outside shot at Play Off berth. They would need to win their remaining two games and get to 14 points, and hope at least two among SRH, CSK and winner of DC vs LSG don’t go beyond 14 points. In that case, up to six teams can be tied on 14 points each with NRR coming to decide. GT are worst placed with their NRR reading -1.063 and would require wins by massive margins to lift it to positive territory. Even if both RCB and GT manage to reach 14 points each, they could still get knocked out of SRH beat PBKS and LSG beat both DC and MI.