IPL 2021 Playoffs Scenario For CSK, DC, RCB, KKR, PBKS, RR, MI, SRH

IPL 2021: CSK, DC, RCB, KKR, PBKS, RR, MI, SRH; Play-Off Qualification Scenario of all teams

New Delhi, Sep 28: All the eight teams in the ongoing second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 have now played 10 games each with Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings sitting comfortably at the top of the table.

Delhi and Chennai have been engaged in the musical chairs for the top spot in the points table right from the start of the tournament. The two sides are set to make a qualification in the play-offs with 16 points in the bank, and one more win in the remaining four league games will seal the play-offs berth.

While the likes of Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rajasthan Royals are locked in a four-way battle for a playoff spot, as all four are all on eight points.

With Sunrisers Hyderabad blanking Rajasthan Royals in the 40th game of season 14, it looks to spoil the chances of the rest of the teams for it has nothing to lose.

Here we take a look at where all four teams will finish if the top-placed sides end up losing their remaining games and the bottom-ranked sides put up a better show; the possible qualification scenarios for all eight teams in the remaining games:

Chennai Super Kings

After a disappointing show in the IPL 2020 where they failed to make it to the play-offs, the three-time defending champions showed why they are rated so highly in the history of the league.

With the win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on September 30, the MS Dhoni-led side amassed 18 points and became the first team to qualify for the playoffs. They require just one win now to ensure they'll finish in the top-two in the points table.

The Yellow Brigade will now eye finishing in top-two to give themselves one more shot at entering the finals if they fail to win Qualifier 1. CSK next face RR, DC, and PBKS.

Delhi Capitals

The finalists of the previous edition started from where they left in this edition and after CSK the Rishabh Pant-led side became the second team to qualify into the play-offs. After Punjab Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders on October 1, it meant that the fourth team will not be able to qualify with less than 16 points, except for Mumbai Indians - who have three games remaining.

Their play-offs berth qualification was delayed after they lost their 11th game against Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets. They still have a good chance of finishing in the top-two in the points table with a win in their reaming games against MI, CSK and RCB.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

After losing three matches on the bounce, the Virat Kohli-led side came on the winning track in the UAE leg with an emphatic win over Mumbai Indians.

With 14 points in 11 games, they need to win at least one more game to book the play-off berth. With 16 points in their kitty, they'll be able to finish in top-four.

If RCB end up winning the remaining games, they will have 20 points and a better net run rate will only help them finish in the top two.

Kolkata Knight Riders Playoff Chances

The Eoin Morgan-led side defeated Delhi Capitals in its 11th game of the tournament and now has ten points. But a defeat against Punjab Kings on October 1 dented their prospects. They have 10 points in 11 games, and 14 is the maximum they can reach from here on.

They still enjoy a better net-run rate (0.302). If they end up winning their remaining two games then Knight Riders will have 14 points in as many games and the result of Mumbai Indians' and PBKS' remaining games will help them finish in top-four.

KKR face SRH and RR in their remaining contests in the league stage.

Mumbai Indians Playoff Chances

The Rohit Sharma-led side has had a terrible season so far and would like to forget if it still wishes to earn the play-offs berth. But they've kept themselves in contention with a clinical 6-wicket win over Punjab Kings. MI now have 10 points in 11 games but their net run rate is -0.453.

The win against Punjab give will give them a lot of confidence for that ends their losing streak in the UAE leg finally. They will now aim to win the remaining three games against DC, RR and SRH.

Looking at the current forms of the teams, MI might end up winning three out of four but getting past Delhi will be a challenging task.

Punjab Kings Playoff Chances

Punjab Kings also ended their losing streak in the UAE leg with a stunning win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. But defeat at the hands of Mumbai Indians in the next game hurt them. However, a win over KKR keeps KL Rahul and his band in contention.

PBKS now have 10 points in 12 games and need to get 4 more points and bring the net run rate into force.

For the KL Rahul-led side to finish in top-four, it has to win its remaining games and also hope MI, and KKR lose at least one of their remaining games and their net run rate also worsens.

But the path isn't going to be easy for PBKS for they have to face upbeat RCB and CSK in their next outings.

Rajasthan Royals Playoff Chances

The Sanju Samson-led side has slipped to the seventh position after losing against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their latest game. RR now have 8 points in 11 games and they will require to win their remaining three games and hope for the other teams above them to lose.

Back-to-back defeats at the hands of SRH and RCB has dented the prospects of the Pink Army. RR will now be facing CSK, MI and KKR.

Sunrisers Hyderabad Playoff Chances

The Kane Williamson-led side is out of the play-offs race with just two wins in 10 games. Even if they end up winning the remaining four games, SRH will have 12 points and that won't suffice.

SRH, however, must be looking to play for pride and end the tournament on a positive note and spoiling the equations of the remaining teams.