IPL 2022 | Qualification scenario for each team as playoffs reckoning heats up

The 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicked off on March 26 with a match between last year’s winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). After 52 action-packed days and 64 riveting matches later, the MS Dhoni-led troop had lost their title defense while the tournament’s most decorated side, Mumbai Indians (MI), already faced elimination from this year’s playoffs race.

Meanwhile, the KKR are now stuck in a seven-team traffic jam to secure three elusive playoffs spots to join certain table-toppers and newcomers Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final four. With only six games remaining in the round-robin stage, here is what each team needs to do and hope for from the other sides.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Perhaps the strongest outfit this season after the Titans, the Sanju Samson-led side, is all but certain to join the playoffs. They need to win their final match against CSK on May 20 to entertain their chances of a top-two finish. However, they might face a last-minute elimination if they lose to the MS Dhoni’s yellow brigade significantly.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

One of the two new teams this season, the KL Rahul-led LSG, also needs to win their last group game against KKR to secure one of the top two spots on the points table. While they are almost sure to join the playoffs, either way, a heavy defeat to KKR might send them packing out of the tournament.

Delhi Capitals (DC)

On Monday, the Delhi Capitals did a huge favour by securing a win over Punjab Kings (PBKS). Their latest win keeps them in the loop for IPL 2022 playoffs, and the Rishabh Pant-led side now needs a win against Mumbai on May 21 in their last league game.

If DC loses to Mumbai Indians, they will have to hope that RCB and KKR lose their remaining games. On the other hand, a win by either Punjab Kings or SRH in their final league match-up will not affect the Capitals by much since both teams hold an inferior net run-rate.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

Grim circumstances unfurled for RCB following their 54-run defeat to Punjab Kings. The RCB needs to defeat table-toppers Gujarat Titans by a huge margin on May 19 and improve their negative NRR and hope that the Delhi Capitals lose out to this year’s cellar-dwellers, Mumbai Indians.  

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

The KKR will face the high-flying LSG unit on May 18 in Navi Mumbai. While any margin of defeat would mean a certain elimination for Shreyas Iyer’s drawcards, even a win alone will not guarantee any chance of a top-four finish. Apart from a win, the KKR need to hope that both Delhi Capitals and the RCB lose their final league matches to Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans (GT), respectively.

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Punjab’s latest defeat to Delhi Capitals meant that Mayank Agarwal’s troops would constantly use calculators for the next few days. First off, they need teams like KKR, RCB and DC to lose their remaining matches. Then, while unlikely, if all results go their way, the Punjab Kings need to defeat Kane Williamson’s struggling SRH unit by a significant margin on May 22 in a match that will conclude the group stage.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

The Sunrisers Hyderabad, who has lost five matches in a row, need to quickly rebound and win their remaining two games with heavy margins. Apart from registering big wins against Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings, the Orange Army needs to hope that KKR, RCB and DC lose their last fixtures.