With Gujarat Titans confirming the top-2 finish on the IPL 2023 points table, let's look at how RCB's today's game against SRH will affect the table.
How RCB's win can affect MI, PBKS, RR and KKR's race to playoffs--
If Bangalore wins today's match
Bangalore is sitting in 5th spot in IPL points table
If Faf du Plessis's team notch up a win against SRH, they will reach 14 points with one game in hand. If that happens, RCB is likely to leapfrog Mumbai Indians to the 4th spot with 14 points from 13 games, courtesy of a better net run rate.
However, this will Bangalore's win will be a major blow for RR, PBKS and KKR, as all 3 of these teams are stuck at 12 points from 13 matches.
Punjab Kings
Sitting in 8th spot in IPL Points table
Having lost its last game against Delhi Capitals, PBKS now depend on other results in order to stand a scnace of making it to the last 4. Shikhar Dhawan's men will have to beat Rajasthan Royals in their last league game by a huge margin as well.
Sunrisers Hyderabad & Delhi Capitals
Sitting in 10th & 9th position in IPL table
Delhi might have won its game against PBKS but with just 10 points from 13 games, they are out of IPL 2023. Similarly, SRH has only 8 points in hand and 2 games remaining, Hyderabad is also out of IPL 2023 playoffs race.
Here are the playoffs qualification scenarios for remaining teams--
Chennai Super Kings
Placed 2nd in the IPL table
Chennai have played 13 games- won 7 and lost 5. Their LSG game was washed out, and both teams were awarded a point each.
CSK IPL 2023 playoffs qualification scenarios
CSK must defeat Delhi in their final match to guarantee a top-four finish. Currently, Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Gujarat Titans can finish with more points than CSK, and a loss would put them in a precarious position where they depend on other outcomes.
They will advance if they win. However, CSK can only finish in the top two if Mumbai lose one of their two remaining fixtures.
CSK remaining fixture: Vs Delhi Capitals on May 20.
Mumbai Indians
Placed 4th in the IPL table
Mumbai have won 7 out of the 13 games they have played. While they now have 14 points in hand, their negative net run rate might haunt them later in the tournament. MI have a lower NRR (-0.117).
MI IPL 2023 playoffs qualification scenarios
Despite being in a comfortable situation, their 5-run loss against LSG has put them in a doubtful place. They need to win their final game by a huge margin otherwise, they might not only qualify for the top 4. Mumbai's low NRR could result in their elimination from IPL 2023 if teams are tied on 16 points.
Mumbai remaining fixtures: vs SRH on May 21
Lucknow Super Giants
Placed 3rd in the IPL points table
With 15 points in 13 games, Lucknow eyeing their second straight playoffs qualification. After winning by 5 runs against Mumbai, LSG are tied with Chennai at 15 points with one game in hand.
LSG playoffs qualification scenarios
If LSG lose their final game, MI, RCB and PBKS could overtake them.
LSG's remaining fixture in IPL 2023: vs KKR on May 20
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Placed 5th in the IPL points table
RCB jumped to the 5th spot on the points table after an emphatic 112-run win over Rajasthan Royals and kept their playoff hopes alive. Massive boost for RCB, NRR is finally in positive, and since PBKS play DC next, they should maintain their position if Delhi manage to beat Punjab.
Rajasthan Royals
Placed 6th in the IPL table
Rajasthan Royals slipped to sixth spot on IPL 2023 points table after a humiliating 112-run defeat. RCB bundled out them for a mere 59 runs, which made a significant dent on their net run rate. With 12 points and only one game in hand, Sanju Samson's side needs to win their last league and hope for other results to go in their favour, as qualifying with a total of 14 points seems not easy.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Placed 7th in the IPL points table
Kolkata kept their playoff hopes alive after beating Chennai in their own den. KKR have 12 points in 13 games, and they need to win their last league game and hope the other results in their favour. Qualifying with a total of 14 points seems difficult, given more than two teams could have 14 points after all their league games.
Meanwhile, defending champions Gujarat Titans with 18 points have already qualified for the IPL playoff.