First thing first. Three teams -- Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) -- have qualified for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 playoffs. That leaves one spot available.
And four teams -- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) -- were fighting for that lone spot available. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), after losing 10 in their 12 previous outings, have already won the wooden spoon.
But on Friday, KKR became the fourth and final team to make the playoffs, after Sunrisers Hyderabad cross 65 in reply to Mumbai Indians' 235/9. Rohit Sharma & Co needed to dismiss SRH for 65 or lower score. But SRH reached 70/1 in six overs.
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Here's how it looked before the start of Friday double-header:
Kolkata Knight Riders
Current Position: Fourth (Played: 14, Points: 14, NRR: 0.587)
Remaining matches: No
Chances: With a net run rate of 0.587, KKR just need to watch what transpires in Abu Dhabi when MI face SRH in the penultimate league match of the season. By some estimates, what Rohit Sharma's defending champions need is a win by some 171 runs.
Punjab Kings
Current Position: Fifth (Played: 14, Points: 12, NRR: -0.001)
Remaining matches: No
Chances: They are out.
Mumbai Indians
Current Position: Sixth (Played: 13, Points: 12, NRR: -0.048)
Remaining matches: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on October 8
Chances: Nigh impossible.
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They need to dismiss Sunrisers Hyderabad for 65 or below.
Rajasthan Royals
Current Position: Seventh (Played: 14, Points: 10, NRR: -0.993)
Remaining matches: No
Chances: They are out.
Fight For Top-two
Delhi Capitals are already assured of a top-placed finish after accumulating 20 points from 13 matches so far (10 wins).
Despite their seven-wicket win against Delhi, Royal Challengers Bangalore finished third, behind MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings. Both the teams have 18 points each. Kolkata Knight Riders completed the top-four with 14 points.
The top-two finishers will have two chances to qualify for the final -- first through Qualifier 1. The losers in the first qualifier then take on the winners of Eliminator between the third and fourth-placed teams in Qualifier 2.
IPL 2021 Playoffs Schedule
DC play CSK in Qualifier 1 in Dubai on October 10, while the Eliminator between RCB and KKR will be played in Sharjah on October 11. Qualifier 2 is scheduled for October 13, In Sharjah.
