With Gujarat Titans confirming the top-2 finish on the IPL 2023 points table, today's match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will decide the fate of the other three teams (KKR, RCB and PBKS).
How does MI vs LSG decide the fate of RCB, KKR and PBKS?
If Mumbai Indians wins today's match
If Rohit Sharma-led side notch up a win against Lucknow, they will reach to 16 points with one game in hand. Thus certainly, confirms a top-4 finish in IPL 2023. Then, Lucknow need to win their last fixture and hope PBKS and RCB don't end up with 16 points.
With two games in hand and, RCB can qualify for playoffs if they manage to win their remaining fixtures. However, their fate hinges mostly on MI vs LSG in today's game.
DC and SRH are out of IPL 2023 playoffs race
Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad are out of IPL 2023 playoffs race.
Here are the playoffs qualification scenarios for sevens teams other than GT, DC and SRH:
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, Punjab Kings, 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.
Also read: Ben Stokes: CSK star to return home from IPL 2023 to prepare for Ashes - Reports
Mumbai Indians
Placed 3rd in the IPL table
Mumbai have won 7 out of the 12 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
If MI wins their final two games, they will not only qualify but also guarantee a top-two finish.
However, a defeat in one of the two games could make it tough for Mumbai as they would hope at least two of Chennai, Lucknow, Bangalore, or Punjab lose at least one game. Mumbai's low NRR could result in their elimination from IPL 2023 if teams are tied on 16 points.
Mumbai remaining fixtures:
- vs LSG (today)
- vs SRH on May 21
Lucknow Super Giants
Placed 4th in the IPL points table
With 13 points in 12 games, Lucknow eyeing their second successive playoffs qualification. If they win today's game vs Mumbai, LSG will tie with Chennai at 15 points with one game in hand.
LSG playoffs qualification scenarios
If LSG lose one and finish with 15 points, five teams (GT, CSK, MI, RCB, and PBKS) can overtake them. If Mumbai, Bangalore, and Punjab all finish with 15, two of them must lose at least one game apiece in order for Lucknow to advance.
The LSG will be eliminated after two losses.
LSG's remaining fixture in IPL 2023:
- vs Mumbai Indians (today)
- 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 playoffs hopes alive. Massive boost for RCB, NRR is finally in positive, and since LSG play MI next, they should finish in the Top 4 if they win both their matches.
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 runrate. 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 playoffs 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.
Punjab Kings
Placed 8th in the IPL points table
Punjab Kings slipped to the 8th spot after the doubleheader on Sunday (May 14). Once again they are the team who need to win their remaining two fixtures and hope to qualify with 14 points. But once again, the net run rate will come to the fore.
