Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have already qualified for the Indian Premier League's 14th season playoffs. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals are vying for the last playoff spot. Punjab Kings are still in the race mathematically, but their chances are primarily dependent on the results of the round-robin league's other fixtures. Who have a better chance of qualifying for the IPL 2021 playoffs are discussed in this article.
Read: KKR vs. PBKS: KL Rahul guides Punjab to 5-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021
IPL 2021: Who will be the Fourth Team in the Playoffs?
Chennai Super Kings lead the IPL 2021 points standings with 18 points as of October 3rd. On the other hand, holding the bottom position with 4 points, Sunrisers Hyderabad are on the verge of getting out of the tournament.
IPL 2021 points table (as of October 3)
|
Team |
Match |
Win |
Lost |
Points |
NRR |
|
CSK (Q) |
12 |
9 |
3 |
18 |
0.829 |
|
DC (Q) |
12 |
9 |
3 |
18 |
0.551 |
|
RCB (Q) |
12 |
8 |
4 |
16 |
-0.157 |
|
KKR |
13 |
6 |
7 |
12 |
0.294 |
|
PBKS |
13 |
5 |
8 |
10 |
-0.241 |
|
RR |
12 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
-0.337 |
|
MI |
12 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
-0.453 |
|
SRH |
12 |
2 |
10 |
4 |
-0.475 |
Read IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
Kolkata Knight Riders
Shakib Al Hasan was finally given an opportunity to take part in the playing XI in Kolkata's most recent encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Shakib contributed with the ball, picking up a wicket in his four overs. Kolkata won the match by 6 wickets and climbed to the fourth position in the points standings. In the round-robin league stage, the Knight Riders have only one game left. However, they outperform the Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in terms of run rate. If Kolkata win their next match against Rajasthan Royals on October 7, they will qualify for the playoffs (Thursday). They won't have to rely on the outcomes of other games.
Read: IPL 2021: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play in a crucial MI vs. KKR match?
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians were beaten by Delhi Capitals by four wickets in their most recent match, dropping to second last in the points standings. The next match for Mumbai is on Tuesday against Rajasthan Royals (October 5). The Mumbai Indians must win the game by a large margin to improve their run rates. Furthermore, whoever lose the match will be eliminated from contention for a final playoffs spot.
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals have struggled to put up their best performances in the UAE phase of the IPL 2021. They have won two and lost three in their last five matches. Rajasthan won their latest match against tournament favorites Chennai Super Kings by 7 wickets in Abu Dhabi and showed some promise as a unit. Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman has been one of Rajasthan's most consistent players with the ball. He has the potential to play a pivotal role in their upcoming games against Mumbai Indians (October 5) and Kolkata Knight Riders (October 7). Rajasthan will move to the next round if they win both games.
Read: IPL 2021: Scenarios of Playoffs Qualification for Eight Teams
Verdict
If the top two teams in the league stage lose their qualifier 1 match of the knockout round, they will be given another opportunity in the playoffs. Therefore, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are all hoping to finish in the top two positions in the points table.
On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders are in a great position to make the final playoffs spot despite having only one match remaining. If Mumbai, Rajasthan, and Kolkata lose any of their remaining matches, they will be eliminated from the competition. The remainder of the round-robin league fixtures of IPL 2021 will surely be thrilling.