IPL 2017: 4 likely teams for IPL Playoffs

Mumbai Indians

Rohit Sharma-led side became the first team to qualify for the playoffs after defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 5 wickets.

Mumbai have lost just three, two games against Rising Pune Supergiant one against SRH, off the 12 matches played so far. They have won 9 matches, most by any team in the tournament, so far.

With 18 points, MI are sitting at the top of the points-table and looking at the kind of form they are in, it's highly unlikely they will be unseated from their position.

Kolkata Knight Riders

After Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders is the another two-time IPL champion side which looks in the contention of the playoffs.

With 8 wins and five losses from 13 games played so far, Kolkata are currently placed at second position in the table as they have 16 points.

The KKR recovered after suffering from two back-to-back defeats by defeating RCB on May 7. But they were outclassed by an resurgent Kings XI Punjab on May 9.

Kolkata have performed reasonably well under the leadership of their skipper Gautam Gambhir and look a top contenders for the title this year.

Rising Pune Supergiant

They were not considered in contention of the playoffs early on in the tournament. But suddenly, Rising Pune Supergiant did a turnaround and started winning, as a result they are now placed at third position in the table with 16 points from 12 games (8 wins and 4 losses).

The Steve Smith-led side started performing as a unit in the second-leg of the tournament and hasn't looked back.

RPS have registered four wins in a row to present themselves as a contenders for the title. However, their batting still remains a concern and that needs to be resolved in the remaining games.

They need to keep the winning momentum in the remaining two games to get those 18 points to confirm their berth into the playoffs.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

The defending champions, Sunrisers Hyderabad have been in great form this season as well. With 15 points from 13 games (7 wins, 5 losses & 1 no result) they are present at the fourth spot in the table.

Given the kind of form they are in, there is a high possibility that this David Warner-led side will easily make it to the playoffs and can even end up at first or second position in the table.

Warner is leading his team from the front and every member of the team is in red-hot form. The top run-scorer (Warner) and leading wicket-taker (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) in the tournament are from this team.

Kings XI Punjab

Kings XI Punjab have a chance to make it to the playoffs stage if they win four of the five remaining games they are yet to play.

Presently, KXIP are placed at fifth in the points-table with 12 points from 12 games (6 wins and 6 losses) and they have still have 2 more matches to play.

They will have to win both their matches but, the Glenn Maxwell-led team hasn't been a consistent side, and that has been it's biggest drawback.

If they still manage to win all their remaining matches then KXIP could displace any of the side above them to make it to the playoffs.