TATA IPL 2023: Mumbai's playoffs qualification scenario explained ahead of PBKS vs RR match today

With Gujarat Titans confirming the top-2 finish on the IPL 2023 points table, let's look at how Punjab's today's game against Rajasthan will affect the table.

Apparently, whichever team wins, they will not affect the top 4 of the table. However, if Rajasthan registers a huge win in their final league game against Punjab they can replace Mumbai at the 5th spot.

Chances for Punjab, who are sitting in the 8th spot with just 6 wins and 12 points are also considerably low. If Shikhar Dhwan led side suffer a loss in today's game they will be knocked out of the playoff race.

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 chance 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.

Here are the playoffs qualification scenarios for the 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 (-0.128).

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 or RCB who are tied at 14 points could overtake them.

LSG's remaining fixture in IPL 2023: vs KKR on May 20

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Placed 4th in the IPL points table

RCB jumped to the 4th spot on the points table with a emphatic 8-wicket win over SRH and kept their playoff hopes alive. With 2 back to back huge wins, RCB boosted their NRR.

Rajasthan Royals

Placed 6th in the IPL table

Rajasthan Royals slipped to the sixth spot on IPL 2023 points table after a humiliating 112-run defeat. 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.

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.