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IPL 2019: What Teams Need to Do to Book Last Two Play-Off Spots

Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are the only two sides to have booked a place in the play-offs of IPL 2019.

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IPL (IGNORE)
4 min read
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As the twelfth edition of the Indian Premier League reaches its business end, the fight intensifies for the last two spots left for the play-offs.

Chennai Super Kings were the first team to book a place in the top four after Rajasthan Royals beat Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, 27 April. After playing 12 matches, Chennai are second on the table with 16 points, which might be the cut-off for the play-offs this year.

Meanwhile on Sunday, Delhi Capitals finally had a change of fortune after seven years as they made it to the play-offs. Delhi also lead the points table with 16 points from 12 matches, same as Chennai, but they have a superior net run-rate.

Now, with nine matches remaining in the league stage, all six teams continue to be in contention for the last two spots in the top four.

Here’s a look at the permutations and combinations that might end up deciding the last two teams that qualify for the IPL 2019 play-offs.

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Mumbai Indians

(Matches Left: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders)

Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are the only two sides to have booked a place in the play-offs of IPL 2019.
Mumbai Indians are on 14 points from 12 matches.
(Photo Courtesy: BCCI/IPL)

With 14 points from 12 matches, Mumbai Indians have the easiest task in hand. They are only one win away from the play-off spot. But apart from qualifying for the play-offs, Mumbai have an opportunity to book a place in the top two if they win both their remaining matches. But again, even if they lose both their matches, they are still in with a chance, courtesy a better run-rate.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad

(Matches Left: vs Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are the only two sides to have booked a place in the play-offs of IPL 2019.
Sunrisers Hyderabad are on 10 points from 11 matches.
(Photo Courtesy: BCCI/IPL)

After a good start to their IPL 2019 campaign, Sunrisers have only themselves to blame for the position they are in at this moment. They have 10 points from 11 games and need to win at least two of their remaining three encounters to make it to the play-offs. Three wins will surely put them in the top four but since they have the best run-rate among the eight teams this season, it looks like two wins would be sufficient.

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Kolkata Knight Riders

(Matches Left: vs Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians)

Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are the only two sides to have booked a place in the play-offs of IPL 2019.
Kolkata Knight Riders are on 10 points from 12 matches.
(Photo Courtesy: BCCI/IPL)

With four wins after five matches, everyone thought that Kolkata would be the team to beat this season and a play-off spot would be a cakewalk for them. After that Kolkata managed to win just a solitary match out of seven, and emulated Bangalore’s feat of six losses on the trot this season. So, now Kolkata are at the mercy of other teams. Winning their remaining two matches wouldn’t be enough and they would need Sunrisers, Mumbai and Punjab to lose all their remaining matches to find a place in the top four.

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Kings XI Punjab

(Matches Left: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings)

Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are the only two sides to have booked a place in the play-offs of IPL 2019.
Kings XI Punjab are on 10 points from 11 matches.
(Photo Courtesy: BCCI/IPL)

Punjab might be below Kolkata Knight Riders on the points table, but they are in better a position than the Kolkata outfit. Kings XI Punjab, who are on 10 points from 11 matches, still continue to be the master of their own fortune. Punjab need to win their remaining three matches and pray that Sunrisers lose at least one of their last three matches. With 16 points in their kitty, Ashwin and Co will surely make it to the top four.

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Rajasthan Royals

(Matches Left: vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals)

Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are the only two sides to have booked a place in the play-offs of IPL 2019.
Rajasthan Royals are on 10 points from 12 matches.
(Photo Courtesy: BCCI/IPL)

Rajasthan are hanging by a thread as far as play-off chances are concerned. After losing their way at the start of the competition, the Royals have done well to bring their IPL 2019 campaign back on track with 10 points from 11 matches. But it is their poor run-rate which might spoil the party for Rajasthan. Like Kolkata, only winning matches won’t ensure automatic qualification for Rajasthan. Their fate still depends on the outcome of other teams’ matches. They would require table-toppers Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals to defeat their respective opponents.

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Royal Challengers Bangalore

(Matches Left: vs Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are the only two sides to have booked a place in the play-offs of IPL 2019.
Royal Challengers Bangalore are on eight points from 12 matches.
(Photo Courtesy: BCCI/IPL)

Royal Challengers Bangalore are practically out of the race but mathematically they can still qualify for the play-offs. After a forgettable IPL season once again, Bangalore are stuck at the bottom of the table with eight points from 12 matches. With two matches left to be played, the best Virat Kohli’s side can do is reach 12 points after 14 matches. Only if all sides decide to go down together then Bangalore stands a chance to qualify. But the most optimistic person would also say that the season is all but over for Bangalore, after they went down to Delhi Capitals on Sunday.

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