IPL 2024: Is Mumbai Indians Out of the Playoff Race After Defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders on May 3?

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Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) were handed their eighth loss of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Friday (May 3) when they suffered a 24-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in match 51 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Opting to field, MI had taken early initiative when they had KKR at 57/5 in 6.1 overs, but let the game slip when Venkatesh Iyer (70 off 52) and Manish Pandey (42 off 31) were allowed to stitch a 83-run stand to take the team to a challenging total of 169.

In response, Mumbai Indians had familiar troubles as they lost three of their top four inside powerplay, and then collapsed to 71/6. Suryakumar Yadav (56 off 35) and Tim David (24 off 20) had given the joint-record champions some hope, but could not see the team across the line.

With that result, KKR cemented their second spot for now with 14 points in the IPL 2024 points table, while Mumbai Indians remained in ninth with 6 points from 11 matches.

Hardik Pandya's side only retained their position on the standings due to their slightly better net run rate (NRR) compared to bottom-placed Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who of course has a chance to topple them when they face eighth-place Gujarat Titans on Saturday (May 4).

MI suffered a big dent in their playoff qualification hopes following their 8th defeat of the season. However, there is still a very slim chance for the five-time champions to finish in the top 4. Can they still finish in playoff positions? Here is a look at MI's Playoff chances in 2024:

Mumbai Indians Playoffs Scenario in IPL 2024

With three more matches left in the league phase and only six points on the board, Mumbai Indians are still mathematically in with a chance of making the playoffs if the other results go their way.

They will need to win their remaining matches to get to 12 points in the first place as another defeat or other results not going their way will draw curtains on their 2024 season.

MI remaining IPL 2024 matches

• MI vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - May 6, Monday - 7:30 PM IST (Wankhede Stadium)
• MI vs Kolkata Knight Riders - May 11, Saturday - 7:30 PM IST (Eden Gardens)
• MI vs Lucknow Super Giants - May 17, Friday - 7:30 PM IST (Wankhede Stadium)

The Mumbai Indians will be playing two of the remaining league stage matches at home, but face an opponent who has already beaten them this season in SRH and LSG. They also play KKR again next week at the Eden Gardens.

Is Mumbai Indians out of IPL 2024 playoff race?

Mumbai Indians' chances of reaching the playoffs is no longer in their own hands as even winning their three remaining matches will only take them to 12 points. Even winning those three is not a guarantee going by how they have performed this season.

The five-time winners will need Rajasthan Royals to win all their remaining matches, and also KKR to win two of their remaining matches against Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans.

Plus, they will also want Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lukcnow Super Giants to not cross 12 points, which seems like a pipe dream as it stands. So, MI should be looking ahead making plans for next season.