IPL 2018: How Mumbai Indians, RCB and Rajasthan can qualify for the Playoffs with just 12 Points

The 11th season of Indian Premier League promised to be the most exciting season in the history of IPL even before the start of the tournament and it is certainly living up to the expectation now.

49 matches have already been played this season and with just seven more games remaining for the playoffs to begin there are still five teams who are on a hunt for a spot in the playoffs. CSK and SRH are the only teams to have qualified for the playoffs and Delhi Daredevils are the only team who are out of the race.

KKR, RCB, Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians are all in a tussle for the coveted playoff spot. In the history of the IPL, never has a side qualified with just 12 points in 14 games have made the playoffs but a new piece of history can be made this year if everything goes according to this article.

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#1 Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals is the third team to have made a late surge to be in contention for a spot in the playoffs after having a poor run in the first half of the tournament. Jos Butler has almost single-handedly taken the Rajasthan team to the playoffs.

Rajasthan Royals is amongst the teams which have the worst net run rate in the competition. They would require a number of things to go in their favour if they were to qualify for the playoffs with just 12 points.

Scenario for Rajasthan Royals to qualify with 12 points

Match 50: Mumbai defeat Kings XI Punjab with a negligible gain in NRR

Match 51: SRH defeat RCB by a humongous margin

Match 53: RCB defeat Rajasthan with a negligible gain in NRR

Match 55: Delhi defeat Mumbai by a humongous margin

Match 56: CSK defeat Kings XI Punjab

#2 Royal Challengers Bangalore

RCB have won 5 of their 12 matches and were struggling in the first half of the tournament. They gained some momentum in their match against Delhi and are now trying to upset the other teams and qualify for the playoffs.

RCB can qualify for the playoffs with just 12 points even if they were to lose their game against SRH which is to be played on 17th May. They would need the results of 5 of the next 7 games to go in their favour.

Scenario for RCB to qualify with 12 Points

Match 50: MI defeat KXIP with a negligible gain in NRR

Match 51: RCB lose to SRH

Match 53: RCB defeat RR by a huge margin

Match 55: DD defeat MI by a decent margin

Match 56: CSK defeat KXIP

#3 Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians began this year's IPL in their characteristic fashion, losing 5 of their first 6 games. They made a brilliant return in the second half of the tournament and have performed brilliantly to be in the reckoning.

Mumbai Indians has the best net run rate in the league, even higher than Sunrisers Hyderabad, and hence that wouldn't be a cause of concern for the side. Mumbai can qualify for the playoffs with just one win in their next two games if 4 of the 7 games go as they want.

Scenario for Mumbai Indians to qualify with just 12 points

Match 50: MI defeat KXIP

Match 51: SRH defeat RCB

Match 53: RCB defeat RR by a small margin

Match 55: Delhi defeat MI

Match 56: CSK defeat KXIP