IPL 2018: Battle for playoffs intensifies- five teams in race for two spots

Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Kings XI Punjab in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 match on Monday to reach 10 points from 12 matches. Three teams - KXIP, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals - are on 12 points while Mumbai Indians are also on 10.

Eight games remain in the initial stage of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings have qualified for the knock-out stages while Delhi Daredevils is the only team to be eliminated. For the remaining two spots, five teams will battle it out. Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore are the teams who will do battle.

Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Kings XI Punjab on Monday to be alive in race for IPL 2018 playoffs. (PTI)

After RCB’s 10 wicket win over KXIP on Monday, following is the equation to qualify for playoffs.

Kings XI Punjab

P – 12, W – 6, L – 6: Points: 12

Remaining matches - vs Mumbai Indians (May 16, away), vs Chennai Super Kings (May 20, away)

Need to win both matches, they reach 16 and qualify. In that scenario MI are eliminated.

If they lose one, they would hope that two of the four teams – KKR, RR, RCB and MI – lose at least one match. The third, fourth place will be decided on net run-rate

If they lose both, KXIP would hope that two of the four teams – KKR, RR, MI, RCB – remain on 12 or less points.

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Kolkata Knight Riders

P – 12, W – 6, L – 6, Points: 12

Remaining matches - vs Rajasthan Royals (May 15, home), vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 19, away)

# Need to win both matches, they reach 16 and qualify.

# If they lose one, they would hope that two of the four teams – KXIP, RR, RCB and MI – lose at least one match. The third, fourth place will be decided on run-rate

# If they lose both, RCB and MI need to lose at least one game each, while KXIP need to lose both. Net run-rate will then come into play.

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Rajasthan Royals

P – 12, W – 6, L – 6, Points: 12

Remaining matches - vs Kolkata Knight Riders (May 15, away), vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 19, away)

# Need to win both matches, they reach 16 and qualify.

# If they lose one, they would hope that two of the four teams – KXIP, KKR, RCB and MI – lose at least one match. The third, fourth place will be decided on net run-rate

# If they lose both, RCB and MI need to lose at least one game each, while KXIP need to lose both. Net run-rate will then come into play.

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Royal Challengers Bangalore

P – 12, W – 5, L – 7, Points: 10

Remaining matches: Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 17, home) and Rajasthan Royals (May 19, away)

# They need to win both games and hope RR, KXIP and KKR don’t win more than one match. Net run-rate will be crucial

Mumbai Indians

P- 12, W-5, L- 7, Points – 10

Remaining matches - vs Kings XI Punjab (May 16), vs Delhi Daredevils (May 20)

They need to win both games and hope RR, KXIP, RCB and KKR don’t win more than one match. Run-rate will be crucial.