IPL 2020: Evaluating each team’s chances of making it to the playoffs

The Indian Premier League 2020 is nearing its fag end. There is just one match in the leage stage remaining. The points table is shaping up nicely at the moment. The IPL which was shifted to the UAE this year has already seen a plethora of great knocks, tight spells, amazing catches and nail-biting encounters.

As the tournament draws near to its conclusion, we take a look at each side’s chances of making it to the playoffs.

1. Mumbai Indians – 18 points

Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) have arguably the least problems to worry about. Their team combination looks perfect and well-set. They don’t have a lot of injury worries concerning them. Their pace bowling trio of Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah and James Pattinson are breathing fire at the moment. Their batting line-up consists of a mix of promising and potentially future international players like Surya Kumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan.

They are ably led by their captain Rohit Sharma and coach Mahela Jayewardene. However, Rohit’s fitness remains a huge cause for concern. As far as evaluating their probability of making the playoffs is concerned, MI have already sealed the top spot on the table.

Equation: There is no equation for MI. They have room to experiment in their final game against SRH. They are already assured of a 1st place finish.

2. Delhi Capitals – 16 points

Delhi Capitals’ (DC) have gone from strength to strength since Ricky Ponting took over as their head coach. They now find themselves at the 3nd spot top on the table after 13 games. DC seem to have all their bases covered this season – they have a solid batting line-up comprising of talented Indians and a nice mix of overseas middle-order batters. Further, they boast of a terrific bowling attack. Their pace bowling department consisting of South Africans Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje has troubled many a batsman.

DC players have suffered from injuries a bit but right now they have all players available. DC saw a sudden dip in form as they lost four in a row towards the end but recovered to seal second place with a win over RCB.

Equation: None. Second place sealed.

3. Royal Challengers Bangalore – 14 points

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) who have never won the IPL in the past looks like a team that is capable of finally winning it this year. Their team embodies balance this year, something they’ve seldom had in the past. They have a settled batting line-up led at the top by the young and impressive Devdutt Padikkal. They then have the ever-dependable Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. They also have good finishers in their armory.

Their bowling attack has been bolstered since the arrival of Chris Morris and with Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal weaving magic, RCB look to be in good stead to make it to the playoffs this year. Once again, RCB’s biggest rival will be their own self-belief and their troubled past where they have choked from promising situations. This year again, there was a mild choke as RCB lost four in a row but due to their results in the initial part of the tournament, they went through to the playoffs.

Equation: None. Whether they finish third or fourth will depend on whether or not SRH win against MI.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders – 14 points

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) find themselves at the fourth spot at the moment. KKR this year have done a lot of chopping and changing with regard to their team combination. Their batting order has changed quite a lot over the course of the tournament and so has their bowling options and combinations. However, not all of their unconventional decisions have paid dividends.

KKR have a few problems to deal with, however. Following Sunil Narine being reported for a suspect action and his subsequent axing from the playing XI, KKR’s bowling attack seemed to lack teeth during the game against RCB. But Lockie Ferguson breathed fire in KKR’s next game to ensure Narine wasn’t missed. After Narine was back, it seemed like KKR were favorites for the 4th playoffs spot. However, morale-dampening losses to KXIP and CSK meant KKR had to hope for KXIP to lose against CSK. After that happened, they came away with a huge win over RR meaning they will qualify if SRH lose against MI.

Equation: Hope SRH lose against MI.

5. Sunrisers Hyderabad – 12 points

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) did look very good as a unit with their captain David Warner at the helm at the beginning. They seemed to have got their team combination right. They also seemed to have ticked all boxes – a strong top order, young but capable middle order and dependable bowlers as always. However, they didn’t quite seize key moments to win games. This has meant they find themselves at 5th spot 2 points adrift of 4th placed KKR following facile wins against DC and RCB

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s loss to injury came as a huge blow to SRH and it is evident that they miss his services. The race to the top 4 seems simple in terms of equation for the Orange Army at the moment.

Equation: SRH will have to win against MI. They are through if they win, if they don’t, they are out. Simple as that.

6. Kings XI Punjab – 12 points

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) found themselves languishing at the bottom of the table with just a solitary win to show for their efforts at the halfway stage. In all honesty, they hadn’t been too bad as the table suggested. A lot of close moments and encounters had gone against the KL Rahul-led team. Despite their skipper being on top of the Orange Cap list and bowlers Ravi Bishnoi and Mohammad Shami shining, KXIP weren’t able to do the most important thing in the tournament: win. However, they now have roared back in the tournament following the arrival of Chris Gayle with a whopping 5 consecutive wins including the insane Super Over match against MI. A loss to RR followed, that dampened KXIP’s spirits

From a position where a playoff spot seemed close to impossible, KXIP had embarked on a spectacular journey of pulling off a stunning comeback. But a crushing defeat to CSK in their last game means they are out of the IPL.

Equation: KXIP are out of the IPL.

7. Chennai Super Kings – 12 points

Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) form has been the biggest talking point of the IPL. The franchise which has never failed to reach the playoffs in IPL history is staring down the barrel having missed out on the playoffs for the first time. So many questions have been raised on CSK this year. Their team combination, batting order, intent shown, MS Dhoni to name a few. And CSK have found it difficult to address the problems in their squad and hence the questions raised.

CSK look shakier than ever. Their team is aging and tiring. None of the players look like they can pull off miraculous chases (except Ravindra Jadeja) like they did in the past. It’s all looked grey for the Dhoni-led side. Their season is now done as they have finished on 12 points which is still respectable following three consecutive wins. They will now have to rebuild and look to the auction for the next IPL to revive and become the CSK of old.

Equation: Out of the IPL.

8. Rajasthan Royals – 12 points

Rajasthan Royals (RR) have had a strange season. They made a terrific start to the tournament by winning two in a row at Sharjah courtesy of Sanju Samson and Rahul Tewatia’s brilliance. But once they moved out of Sharjah, they lost four in a row. Their batting did not come together. The likes of Steve Smith, Jos Buttler and Robin Uthappa all failed with the bat. They looked to be heading to a fifth consecutive defeat before Rahul Tewatia bailed them out again along with Riyan Parag. They then lost their following game thanks to an AB de Villiers show for RCB. After what seemed like done and dusted for their playoff hopes, Ben Stokes came up with a stunning century to boost their slim hopes of making it to the playoffs. RR then followed that up with a crucial win over KXIP to get to the fifth spot.

RR always looked for moments of individual brilliance. Despite their problems, following their morale boosting wins and the form of Ben Stokes, they did fancy their chances of making it to the playoffs. But a bashing at the hands of KKR in their final game meant, they crashed out of the tournament.

Equation: Out of the IPL. Will finish last for the first time in their history.

Also Read: Ex-IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla slams Twitter banter between SRH and RR

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