IPL 2018: 4 teams who might not qualify for the playoffs

IPL 2018 is entering a crucial phase where teams cannot afford to take their eyes off the ball. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings are playing well and are in the top two places with 14 points each.

The top four teams qualify for the playoffs and only four points separate the team in fourth and the eighth-placed place. With 18 games remaining in the group stage, all eight teams are in with a chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

That being said, four teams in the bottom half will find it really hard to get into top four. On that note, let’s take a look at the four teams who might not qualify for the playoffs.

---

#1 Delhi Daredevils

Shreyas Iyer is in superb form this season

Delhi Daredevils are currently seventh in the points table with six points. They have played 10 games so far and won 3 of them. Gautam Gambhir stepped down from captaincy six games into this year's IPL as Daredevils lost five of them, and the captaincy was then handed to Shreyas Iyer.

Though there were some brilliant individual performances from Shreyas Iyer, Rishab Pant, and Prithvi Shaw, they have failed to perform as a team. Their bowling has lacked sharpness and their overseas batsmen struggled to adapt to Indian conditions.

Glenn Maxwell, in particular, has been a massive failure so far with only 133 runs from 9 innings. They have to win all their four remaining games to have any chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

#2 Rajasthan Royals

Ben Stokes has been really poor so far

Rajasthan Royals are currently at the bottom of the IPL table. They have won three of their nine games this season and struggled for consistency throughout the campaign.

The biggest concern for them this season is the form of Ben Stokes. The most expensive player in the 2018 auction has failed miserably. The English all-rounder has scored only 160 runs and picked up just two wickets.

They have not got their batting order in place and have changed it almost every game. Jofra Archer’s absence during the early stages of the tournament did not help them either. They have to win all of their remaining five games to have any chances of playoff qualification.

#3 Royal Challengers Bangalore

Umesh Yadav has been impressive so far

With three wins from nine games, Royal Challengers Bangalore are currently sixth in the table. The Virat Kohli-led team has struggled in almost every department this season. None of the batsmen have taken responsibility apart from AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli.

Their bowlers conceded more than 200 runs on three occasions this season and struggled a lot in the death overs. Apart from Umesh Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, none of the bowlers performed.

Their expensive signings, Chris Woakes and Washington Sundar, went for a lot of runs. Though Woakes picked up 8 wickets, his economy rate is 10.36.

They cannot afford to lose any more games to keep their playoff hopes alive.

#4 Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians need to win all their remaining games for a playoff place

Mumbai Indians are the most successful team in IPL history. With four wins from 10 games, the three-time champions are currently fifth in the standings. They were really unlucky early in the season, losing two of their first three games in the last ball.

The form of Rohit Sharma has been a concern for Mumbai Indians, while Kieron Pollard hasn't performed too, which has put a lot of pressure on Mumbai Indians’ middle order. He has scored only 76 runs from 7 games at an average of 15.

Suryakumar Yadav’s brilliant performances have kept them alive in the IPL and they have to win all their remaining games to qualify for the playoff games.