IPL: In Playoff Race, Close Fight on Cards Among Five Teams

The 2016 Indian Premier League is 50 matches old. With the league stages coming to an end, the race for the four play-off spots is spicing up.

Six teams, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore are in the fray. Here are the scenarios for each team in order to seal their place in the play-offs.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Current Position in table: 1

Matches played: 12

Points: 16

Next matches: Delhi Daredevils (May 20, Raipur), Kolkata Knight Riders (May 22, Eden Gardens)

Sunrisers Hyderabad are all but through to the play-offs. A win against Delhi Daredevils will see them progress (officially). In case they lose both their remaining matches, they'll have to ensure that they do not lose them by a big margin. Currently, the Sunrisers have a Net Run-Rate of +0.400.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Current Position in Table: 2

Matches played: 13

Points: 14

Next match: Delhi Daredevils (May 22, Raipur)

RCB are on a role after winning their last three games comprehensively against Gujarat Lions, KKR and KXIP respectively. Virat Kohli's team now need to win their last match against Delhi Daredevils. Even if they lose their last match, they can still go through with 14 points, but will need other results to work in their favour. They have a brilliant run-rate of +0.930.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Current Position in table: 3

Matches played: 12

Points: 14

Next matches: Gujarat Lions (May 19, Kanpur), Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 22, Eden Gardens)

Kolkata Knight Riders have to win their remaining two games if they have to book a spot in the knock-outs. If KKR lose, then they will have to hope Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils do not win their remaining matches.

Mumbai Indians

Current Position in table: 4

Matches played: 13

Points: 14

Next match: Gujarat Lions (May 21, Kanpur)

Mumbai Indians have to win their last game against Gujarat Lions. A loss would mean that the play-off situation is out of their hands. They will have to hope Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders lose their remaining games.

Gujarat Lions

Current Position in Table: 5

Matches played: 12

Points: 14

Next matches: Kolkata Knight Riders (May 19, Kanpur), Mumbai Indians (May 21, Kanpur)

Suresh Raina's team are indeed in trouble as they have the worst net run-rate (-0.75) among all the teams. They'll have to ensure that they win by big margin if they have to improve their NRR. A loss in any of their last two games could see them staring at the exit.

Delhi Daredevils

Current Position in Table: 6

Matches played: 12

Points: 12

Next matches: Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 20), Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 22)

The loss against RPS would have definitely hurt Delhi Daredevils a lot and it has brought them to a stage where they have to win their remaining two games to qualify for the play-offs. There is a chance that their final game against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Raipur could be a potential knock-out, if they defeat SRH on Friday. They must also hope that Mumbai Indians lose their last game against Gujarat Lions. If GL win, then they must hope that KKR lose both their games.