IPL 2018: Qualification scenarios for all 5 teams in contention for playoffs

Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals

Just like Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals have 12 points in 12 games and win against KKR later today will make things easier for them. They will also hope that both Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore lose one of their last two matches to help their cause.

Scenario 1: If they win both their matches, they will qualify with 16 points. The only other team that can get to 16 from the mid-table battle is Kings XI.

Scenario 2: If they lose to Kolkata, they will have to hope that both Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, teams that have a superior NRR to them, along with Kings XI Punjab, lose at least one of their matches so that it becomes easier for RR to qualify.

This will also hurt Rajasthan badly because a loss against KKR will further deteriorate their NRR, which is already worse than KKR's and at the same time, it will improve KKR's NRR. If this is the case, they will have to win their last match against RCB by a huge margin.

Scenario 3: If they beat Kolkata, they need to reach a particular point in their last league game against RCB to get their NRR above the other contenders and can still qualify even if they lose.

At the same time, they will be hoping that both MI and RCB will lose one of their two games to make things easier for them as it needs a monumental effort for them to overtake the NRR of both the teams.