RR Playoffs Qualification Scenario: Can Rajasthan Royals Finish in Top 4 of IPL 2023?

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Inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals (RR) started the campaign very well in the sixteenth edition of Indian Premier League - IPL 2023, but have stuttered recently, losing seven and winning six in 13 matches so far.

In IPL 2023, RR will be competing with at least seven other teams for a playoff spot. And after losing six of the last eight matches, the last season's runners up have their task cut out in the close playoff race.

IPL 2023 playoffs will see the top four teams contest in four matches - Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and then the Final - to decide the winner of the 16th season. The top two earn a second chance at making the final.

The top two will face in the Qualifier 1 with the winner of that match earning a direct entry into the final, while loser gets a second shot at making the final via Qualifier 2, where they will face the winner of the Eliminator.

In the Eliminator, the third placed team and the fourth placed team faceoff in a knockout match. So, most teams, including Rajasthan Royals, will aim for the top two positions in the points table.

As it stands, Gujarat Titans are the table toppers with 16 points, while CSK are in second place with 15 points followed by Mumbai Indians in third place with 14 points and Lucknow Super Giants in fourth place with 13 points.

Royal Challengers Bangalore are in fifth with 12 points and Rajasthan Royals are in sixth place with 12 points followed by Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings, who are also on 12 points. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals are on 8 points each.

RR will play PBKS in their remaining match. RR has so far beaten KKR, CSK (twice), GT, SRH and DC once so far, while they have lost to LSG, GT (reverse fixture), RCB (twice), SRH (reverse fixture), MI and PBKS (reverse fixture).

After losing seven of ten matches, can Sanju Samson's Rajasthan Royals reach the playoffs for the second year in the row and also go all the way to lift their second IPL title?

RR IPL 2023 Playoffs Qualification Scenario

Scenario 1: After thumping loss to RCB, RR are virtually out of the playoff, but mathematically have a chance of finishing in the top four if they win their remaining match against PBKS and other results go their way.

If they win the remaining match, RR will end up on 14 points, which may be enough for a top four finish if the other teams on 12, 13 and 14 points also drop points.

All the other playoff hopefuls face each other in the coming days. So, RR will want those fixtures to have a tight finish rather than a big margin win which boosts one team's NRR.

RR Playoffs race remaining IPL 2023 fixture