IPL 2024 Playoff Qualification Scenarios: Five teams, two spots; Know qualification scenarios for CSK, RCB, SRH, DC, LSG

IPL 2024 Playoff Qualification Scenarios: The IPL 2024 has entered the final week of the league stage, where there is a lot to play for at the moment, with five teams still hanging on to secure the last two spots of the playoff berth. After DC's win against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday, Rajasthan Royals have officially qualified for the playoffs, becoming the second team to qualify after Kolkata Knight Riders.

However, there are still five teams in the contingent who are hanging by a string of hopes of qualifying for the playoffs, making the final week of the IPL campaign much more captivating.

Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and lastly, Lucknow Super Giants—these teams are in a neck-and-neck situation with each other in order to get a place in the last two spots of the playoff berth.

At the time of writing, CSK, SRH, and DC have 14 points each, with CSK placed in third place with one match in hand and SRH in fourth with two. DC, on the other hand, had played all of its 14 matches and is in fifth place. RCB and LSG are at 12 points each, with one game in hand.

In this given scenario, it is very hard to wrap one's head around to make do with which team has the best chance to go through to the playoffs. So here are all the permutations and combinations for each team, and how each team can qualify for the final two spots—

IPL 2024 Playoff Qualification Scenarios: Chennai Super Kings

CSK just needs a win against RCB on their final matchday to ensure a top-four finish. They also hold a chance to even finish in the top two, which is for the Qualifier 1 berth, if RR manages to lose both of their last two matches and SRH wins just one of their last two, with the net run rate (NRR) below CSK.

Also, CSK have benefited the most from DC's win over LSG on Tuesday, as the yellow army can now afford to go through even if they lose against RCB, but only if they can keep their NRR ahead of RCB, provided SRH reaches or goes past 16 points.

IPL 2024 Playoff Qualification Scenarios: Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH is currently in a great position in comparison to the other four teams in the playoff contingent. With a healthy NRR of +0.406, 14 points, and two home games in hand against the already eliminated GT and PBKS, SRH needs just one win to ensure a playoff berth. However, if they manage to win both of their matches, they can finish in the top two, provided RR wins just one of their last two games and doesn't surpass SRH's NRR.

IPL 2024 Playoff Qualification Scenarios: Delhi Capitals

Delhi, at the moment, doesn't have any games in their hands, and their only hope is now that the other teams play out their remaining matches to help them secure a playoff berth.

Mathematically, the only chance for DC to qualify is when CSK beats RCB, SRH loses both of their remaining matches by huge margins, and LSG either lose against MI or wins, but their NRR should be below DC's. Only in that way will CSK get to 16 points, while DC, LSG, and SRH will end at 14 each, with everything coming down to the NRR.

IPL 2024 Playoff Qualification Scenarios: Royal Challengers Bengaluru

With seven defeats in the first eight games, it has been a revelation for RCB how they have bounced back and stormed into the race for the playoff contention spot.

For RCB to qualify for the playoff, they have to win their last match against CSK and hope SRH lose their remaining two matches, given their strong NRR. Nevertheless, if SRH wins at least one game, RCB will need to defeat CSK in addition to finishing with a higher NRR than CSK.

IPL 2024 Playoff Qualification Scenarios: Lucknow Super Giants

LSG's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread at the moment after their loss against DC, and a win against MI is non-negotiable for them to keep their hopes high for a playoff spot.

A fortnight ago, LSG had a huge chance to qualify for the playoffs, with 12 points and four matches in hand. But their hopes of securing an easy playoff berth were dashed after three straight losses, two of which were by significant margins.

In order for LSG to qualify for the playoffs, they must defeat MI and hope that RCB loses to CSK and SRH loses its final two games by sizable scores.

With each team having 14 points, LSG, SRH, and DC will be in a three-way tie. In order for LSG to finish in the top four, they must defeat MI by 94 runs and hope that SRH loses their next two games by a combined total of 194 runs, if both teams bat first.