IPL 2020 playoffs situation clarified after Delhi Capitals beat RCB to affirm spot in Qualifier 1 against MI

The race for playoffs in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 was an extreme one with as many as seven out of eight teams in the brawl before Sunday. Chennai Super Kings were the first side to be eliminated from the competition and they finished Kings XI Punjab’s expectations on Sunday by taking them out. Rajasthan Royals became the third team to be knocked out after their misfortune against Kolkata Knight Riders around the same day.

The playoffs race became more straightforward on Monday after Delhi Capitals (DC) defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their last game of the season to move to the second spot on the points table with 16 points from 14 matches. With the success, DC affirmed a compartment in Qualifier 1 where they will be facing table-toppers Mumbai Indians for a spot in the last.

The loser of the first Qualifier will get one more opportunity of making it to the last by confronting the winner of Eliminator which will be challenged between the teams completing third and fourth in Qualifier 2. While Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals will complete in the top 2, RCB have additionally affirmed a spot in the top 4 in the wake of keeping up a superior net run rate than KKR regardless of their 6-wicket loss on Monday.

Here is the full explainer of the playoffs situation in IPL 2020:

Teams qualified – 3

So far three teams have qualified for the playoffs with just one spot available to anyone. Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore are the three teams who have made sure about a playoff berth. While DC will confront MI in Qualifier 1 on November 5 (Thursday), RCB will confront either KKR or Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator on November 6 (Friday).

Remaining slot – 1

The fight is on between KKR and SRH for the last fourth spot. KKR have 14 points from 14 matches with a net run rate of – 0.214. Sunrisers Hyderabad have 12 points from 13 games yet their net run rate if far superior to KKR at +0.555. Sunrisers’ destiny is in their own personal hands as a success against Mumbai Indians in the last game of the season will see them enter the playoffs. In any case, a misfortune for SRH would mean KKR will qualify as the fourth-placed side.

KKR players will watch it intently when Sunrisers Hyderabad lock horns with Mumbai Indians in the last game of the season tonight (November 3).

Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Times of Chennai journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.