IPL 2016: How Royal Challengers Bangalore can qualify for the playoffs

Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore have had a topsy-turvy run in IPL 2016 so far. They have won 4 out of their 9 games and currently stand at the 6th spot in the IPL table. With 5 matches still remaining for them in the tournament, they will have to win 4 out of their last 5 games to reach the magic number ‘16’ in the points tally.

Their skipper Virat Kohli has been in terrific form this season. He is the leading run-getter in the tournament right now with 561 runs in 9 games. Kohli has already scored 2 centuries in the ongoing tournament with his last hundred helping his side home in the game against Rising Pune Supergiants.

How can RCB make it to the playoffs? We have tried to analyze their chances.

First, we should have a look at the current table

IPL 2016 Points Table

Position	Team	Matches	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Net RR	Points
1	SRH	10	7	3	0	0	+0.558	14
2	GL	11	7	4	0	0	-0.138	14
3	KKR	10	6	4	0	0	+0.206	12
4	DD	9	5	4	0	0	+0.309	10
5	MI	10	5	5	0	0	-0.447	10
6	RCB	9	4	5	0	0	+0.032	8
7	RPS	11	3	8	0	0	+0.087	6
8	KXIP	10	3	7	0	0	-0.567	6

RCB’s remaining matches are against MI (May 11), GL (May 14), KKR (May 16), KXIP (May 18), DD (May 22).

RCB’s closest competitors are MI, DD, KKR and KXIP.

MI’s remaining matches: RCB (May 11), KXIP (May 13), DD (May 15), GL (May 21)

DD’s remaining matches: SRH (May 12), MI (May 15), RPS (May 17), SRH (May 20), RCB (May 22)

KKR’s remaining matches: RPS (May 14), RCB (May 16), GL (May 19), SRH (May 22)

KXIP’s remaining matches: MI (May 13), SRH (May 15), RCB (May 18), RPS (May 21)

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How can the Royal Challengers Bangalore qualify?

If RCB wins 5 out of their last 5 games then they will definitely qualify.

Otherwise, RCB will have to win at least 4 of their last 5 games to reach the magic number ‘16’. They must beat MI, KKR, KXIP and DD to secure their position in the play-off.

If RCB wins 3 out of their last 5 games they will still have an outside chance to qualify. But then they will have to be dependent on other teams like DD and MI who are RCB’s closest competitors. If RCB finishes on 14 points, then MI must lose 3 out of their last 4 games and DD must lose 4 out of their remaining 5 games to give RCB a chance to qualify.

Run rate will also be a factor if RCB, MI and DD finish on the same points. RCB will have to maintain a healthy run-rate to topple teams like DD which has a better run-rate than RCB.

KXIP can also come into contention if they win 4 out of their last 4 games. RCB must beat them to deny them a spot in the playoff.

RCB is a team which has never won the coveted tournament and their best performances in the tournament came when they finished runners up in 2009 and 2011. This season, they will have to qualify for the playoffs first to have another crack at the elusive crown.