Qualification Scenario For MI And RCB After KKR Elimination
KKR's one-run defeat to LSG brought an end to their playoff chances that were already hanging by a thread before the game started.
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The conclusion of Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) bid for the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season was quite dramatic. As has been the case for the majority of the season, Rinku Singh kept them alive in a 177-run pursuit until the second-to-last ball of the match, ensuring that LSG qualified for the playoffs as the third-place team.
The result meant that there is now only one remaining playoff position, which will be contested by Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Sunday's final pair of league matches. The two teams do not face each other, however, as MI plays Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first match of the day, followed by RCB's match against the league-leading Gujarat Titans. SRH have not posed as much of a challenge as GT this season, but MI will face a team with nothing to lose, while they themselves are under a great deal of duress.
RCB, MI, and RR are tied with 14 points each. With a net run rate of +0.180, RCB are in fourth place, while MI are in sixth place with an NRR of -0.128. This implies that close victories for both teams would result in RCB's advancement. Likewise, if RCB win their match and MI lose theirs, the table positions will remain unchanged. Alternatively, if they win their game and RCB loses to GT, MI will advance due to their superior point total.
For MI to advance despite both teams prevailing, their victory margin must be at least 78 runs greater than RCB's. Even if RCB win their game by a single run, MI should have won theirs by 79 to advance.
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In the meantime, the only way RR can qualify for the postseason is if both MI and RCB lose. In such a case, it will come down to the NRRs of RR and RCB, as MI's is already lower than theirs. If RCB bats first and scores 180 runs, RR must pursue the target down in 19.3 overs or less. If RCB bats first and concedes 180, RR must restrict RCB to 174 or less with the ball.
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