 As things currently stand, it is not difficult to say which teams will go through
to the playoffs in the Indian Premier League this season. Officially, only
one side has qualified for the final four round, which is Royal Challengers Bangalore, but that does not mean that most of the other three are almost
through to the next round as well.
As the points table currently stands, the Royal Challengers Bangalore have 17
points from 12 games. Chennai have 16 from 12, Mumbai have 16 from 12 and Kolkata
have 14 from 12. Those challenging these teams are Punjab with 12 from 12 and
Kochi with 10 from 12 - both with an outside chance of going through to the final
four stage.
The interesting thing is that all the six sides have two games to go. Bangalore
play Punjab in a game that will decide whether or not Punjab have a chance of
going through. Unfortunately for the Kings XI Punjab side, their net
run rate is so poor that they cannot hope to go through if they remain equal
on points unless Kolkata lose both their games in a woeful fashion.
So, if Punjab can win two games and Kolkata win nothing, Punjab will go through
to the final four stage. If Punjab win both their games, but Kolkata win one of
their two, it will boil down to the net run-rate - which should see Kolkata through.
If both the sides win the same number of games, i.e. one, then, Kolkata will go
through and Punjab will be knocked out.
However, both sides win two games, then Kolkata will have 18, Punjab will have
16. Then, if both, Chennai and Mumbai lose both their games, there will be a three-way
tie for the spot with 16 points apiece. Two of these three will go through.
There is another interesting scenario. If Kochi win both their remaining games,
they end on 14. If Punjab win one of their remaining games, they end on 14. If
Kolkata lose both their remaining games, they will also end on 14 points, which
will mean that that there will be a three-way tie for the fourth spot.
Similarly, if Punjab win both, Kolkata win one and both Chennai and Mumbai lose
both their games, then all these four sides will end on 16 points each - and three
of these four will go through to the playoffs.
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