The 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a thrilling ride for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who clinched their fourth consecutive win. On May 9th, at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, RCB outplayed the Punjab Kings (PBKS) with a spectacular 60-run victory. Star batsman Virat Kohli shone brightly, smashing 92 runs off 47 balls, sprinkled with 7 boundaries and a half-dozen sixes. This triumph keeps RCB's playoff aspirations alive and pulsing.
Yet, navigating to the playoffs is far from straightforward for Faf du Plessis-led RCB. Currently, after 12 matches, they stand with ten points at seventh place in the league. Their net run rate has tipped into the positive at 0.217. RCB has upcoming clashes with Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Winning both could propel them to a maximum of 14 points, but they also rely on the outcomes of matches featuring Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), CSK, DC, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Source: aajtak
Here's How RCB Could Secure The Third Spot
♦ Chennai to face defeats against Gujarat, Rajasthan, and RCB.
♦ Sunrisers Hyderabad to be bested by Gujarat and Punjab.
♦ Delhi Capitals to lose to RCB and Lucknow.
♦ Lucknow to triumph over Delhi but fall to Mumbai.
If the above equations align, RCB could have a solid shot at finishing third, and Lucknow Super Giants would stand a chance for the fourth spot. Should Delhi Capitals manage a win over Lucknow, RCB could still secure the third spot due to a superior net run rate compared to Rishabh Pant's squad.
Scenario for RCB Qualifying in the Fourth Place
♦ RCB must win their remaining matches and hope for SRH and CSK to lose theirs. If both SRH and CSK end up with 16 points each, RCB's chances would be dashed since they can only reach a total of 14 points.
♦ If either SRH or CSK reach 16 or 18 points and the other concludes with 14, RCB's hopes remain alive.
♦ In such an instance, RCB and two other teams would each conclude with 14 points.
However, RCB's net run rate must be higher than that of CSK/SRH and LSG/DC in these situations. RCB would keenly wish for Lucknow Super Giants to defeat Delhi Capitals on May 14, given that Lucknow's net run rate is lower.
Upcoming Matches in IPL 2024
10 May GT vs CSK Ahmedabad 11 May KKR vs MI Kolkata 12 May CSK vs RR Chennai 12 May RCB vs DC Bengaluru 13 May GT vs KKR Ahmedabad 14 May DC vs LSG Delhi 15 May RR vs PBKS Guwahati 16 May SRH vs GT Hyderabad 17 May MI vs LSG Mumbai 18 May RCB vs CSK Bengaluru 19 May SRH vs PBKS Hyderabad 19 May RR vs KKR Guwahati 21 May Qualifier-1 Ahmedabad 22 May Eliminator Ahmedabad 24 May Qualifier-2 Chennai 26 May Final Chennai
