Can RCB qualify for the IPL playoffs this season?
SRH vs RCB: Highlights | ScorecardLet's have a look.
For that scenario to happen, RCB need the top three teams to finish their tournament with a strong run.
IPL 2024 Full Coverage | IPL 2024 Points Table and Standings | 2024 IPL Full ScheduleCAN RCB QUALIFY WITH LESS THAN 14 POINTS?
This will mean that RR, LSG, CSK and RCB qualify for the playoffs.
RCB won their second game in the Indian Premier League 2024 by beating SRH on Thursday, 25 April. Playing at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, RCB put up a dominant performance to defeat SRH by 35 runs. The Faf du Plessis side was relieved with the win, especially given it was away from home against a team that had hit them for 287 runs - a record total in the tournament.
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There was finally something to cheer for the RCB fans after copping 6 losses in a row. RCB's victory in the IPL came exactly after a month of them beating PBKS. This brings us to an important question, one that fans asked across social media after RCB's win against SRH. Can RCB qualify for the IPL playoffs this season? If yes, then how? Can the Faf du Plessis-led outfit stage an unprecedented comeback in the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League?
SRH vs RCB: Highlights | Scorecard
Let's have a look.
SCENARIO 1
It goes without a question that RCB need to win all of their matches from now on. They have 5 fixtures remaining, and winning all of them will take them to 14 points. If results go their way, RCB might just qualify in the 4th spot, without the Net Run Rate bothering them.
For that scenario to happen, RCB need the top three teams to finish their tournament with a strong run. They will hope that the top 3 teams of the tournament - RR, KKR and SRH finish with 22, 22/20, 22/20 points respectively. RCB does not play these three teams in their upcoming matches, which will mean that the rest of the teams will finish with 12 or fewer points.
RR win vs LSG
RR lose vs SRH
RR win vs DC
RR win vs CSK
RR win vs PBKS
RR lose vs KKR
RR finish with 22 points
KKR win vs DC
KKR lose vs MI
KKR win vs LSG
KKR win vs MI
KKR win vs GT
KKR win vs RR
KKR finish with 20 points
SRH lose vs CSK
SRH win vs RR
SRH win vs MI
SRH win vs LSG
SRH win vs GT
SRH win vs PBKS
SRH finish with 20 points
This will mean that RCB will be the first team ever in the history of the tournament to qualify for the IPL playoffs with 14 points, when there are 10 teams in the competition.
IPL 2024 Full Coverage | IPL 2024 Points Table and Standings | 2024 IPL Full Schedule
CAN RCB QUALIFY WITH LESS THAN 14 POINTS?
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Yes, they can. And if the 14-point scenario looked improbable, this surely would not suit you. RCB can mathematically make it to the playoffs position if KKR and SRH dramatically drop form in the final stages of the tournament. In case KKR and SRH bag one win from their remaining fixtures, they will be stuck at 12 points.
Let's argue that RR qualify and LSG win out of their last 6 matches. This would take them to 20 points. Let's argue the same for CSK as well, who finish at 20. RCB, in case they lose just 1 of their last 5 fixtures, will need to pray for favourable results so that the points table gets stuck at 12. In that case, NRR will come into play and if RCB manage big wins, they will qualify. This will mean that RR, LSG, CSK and RCB qualify for the playoffs. A similar arrangement can be made with two of the top three teams at the moment.
Hence, for the moment, RCB will hope to control their controlable and win their remaining fixtures to give themselves the best chance at the back end of the tournament.
