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Why Was MI Qualified For Playoffs Over RCB & RR Despite Having A Lower NRR In IPL 2015?

When RCB lost out on second spot despite finishing higher than MI [X.com]When RCB lost out on second spot despite finishing higher than MI [X.com]

The 2015 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is still recalled for an interesting twist of fate and strange playoff seedings acquired by eventual winners Mumbai Indians (MI) and the tournament's third and fourth-place holders Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). 

Passionate IPL fans would vividly recall the Mumbai franchise playing the qualifier against runners-up Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of their counterparts from Bangalore and Rajasthan despite ending lower in the points table and finishing with a worse NRR. 

IPL 2015's Points TableIPL 2015's Points Table

It was a bizarre scenario given birth to by the IPL 2015's unique tie-breaker regulations, as per which the teams who ended on the same number of points at the end of the league stage were first separated by the count of matches they had won, not the Net Run Rate.


Why MI Played Qualifier Above RCB, RR In IPL 2015 

At the end of the league stage, while the Super Kings finished at the top of the eight-team points table, MI were placed fourth behind the then Virat Kohli-led RCB and RR at the third and fourth spots, respectively. 

However, when the schedule for the playoffs was announced, it was confirmed that MI will be facing CSK in Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator will be held between RCB and RR. 

Traditionally, Qualifier 1 is played between the two table toppers and the Eliminator is contested by the third and fourth-place teams. A loss in the Qualifier 1 still gives a team chance to resurrect and play the final but a defeat in the Eliminator sends you home. 

It means that MI earned an extra opportunity to aim for the coveted trophy on the basis of the tie-breaking rule as Rohit Sharma's men were given the second-place seeding towards the playoffs with eight wins as opposed to seven apiece achieved by RCB and RR even as the latter two had a better NRR than them.