IPL 2020 : RCB and DC eye second spot, SRH in a do or die situation as KKR’s playoff hopes dangle by a thread
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Virat Kohli, Eoin Morgan, David Warner and Shreyas Iyer
As we near the end of the league stage of IPL 2020, the race for the playoff berths is now down to 4 sides. Mumbai Indians (MI) have already sealed the top spot, which leaves three more spots to be filled. And Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are the four sides vying to fill them up. It is more or less confirmed that it will go down to net run rate to decide which side books the final playoff spot.
RCB and DC face-off at Abu Dhabi today in a virtual quarterfinal to decide who takes up the second spot in the table. The losing team will then be at the mercy of net run rate which will decide its fate. The hopes are bleak for DC who have lost their last 4 games in a row. Tomorrow SRH clash with table topper MI in a must-win game for them, if they win qualification becomes imminent for them. But on the other hand, SRH’s loss paves way for KKR to seal a qualification spot.
Also read : IPL 2020: Evaluating each team’s chances of making it to the playoffs
KKR hopes for some favourable results
KKR is in a bit of fix as they are currently placed fourth with 14 points in their bag. They will be closely looking at both the remaining games as they will be praying for some favourable results. While SRH’s defeat will send them straight to playoffs, they have an odd chance otherwise.
If either RCB or DC loses by a margin more than 21 runs or 3 overs they slip below KKR who currently have a net run rate of -0.214. RCB currently have a net run rate of -0.145 while that of DC is -0.159. If today’s game goes KKR’s way, even though they are not playing, they will qualify for the next round of the league irrespective of SRH’s win or loss.
Also read : IPL 2020: ‘Whatever happens from here is up to Gods’: Eoin Morgan on KKR’s fate for reaching the playoffs
Yesterday’s weekend doubleheader saw both Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) knocked out of the playoff race. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) hammered KXIP by 9 wickets to dash their playoff hopes while KKR decimated RR by 60 runs in a must-win game to end their IPL 2020 campaign.
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Anshuman Mahapatra
(1496 Articles Published)