Game of IPL play-offs: How RCB, KKR and DD can qualify for next round

Three teams - Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Daredevils (DD) will be fighting it out for the two remaining spots on Sunday as they all play their last group stage matches.

Gujarat Lions booked their play-off spot in the Indian Premier League thanks to their 6-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians on Saturday.

RCB batsman Virat Kohli plays a shot during IPL Match against KKR in Kolkata. (PTI Photo)

The win took the IPL debutants to 18 points and it also made sure that Sunrisers Hyderabad became the second team to qualify irrespective of what happens in their last group match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday.

However, three teams - Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Daredevils (DD) will be fighting it out for the two remaining spots on Sunday as they all play their last group stage matches.

Here’s a look at the possible scenarios for the three competing teams:

Delhi Daredevils: The Delhi side is currently on 14 points and a win against RCB would take them through to the next round. Even if they lose against RCB, they have a chance on net run-rate if Kolkata Knight Riders suffer a heavy defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: RCB have revived their campaign with a late surge and a win against Delhi in their last match will confirm their spot in play-off. If they win versus DD and KKR beats SRH, they can finish in top two. If SRH beats KKR, RCB will be through even if they lose to DD because of their much superior net run-rate.

Kolkata Knight Riders: KKR were almost certain of a last-four berth at the middle stages of the tournament, but the team lost their momentum towards the end of the group stages. They need to win against SRH to qualify and a loss would mean that they have to depend on net run-rate. However, if the match is abandoned due to rain, KKR will qualify with 15 points and the match between DD and RCB will be become a decider for the last play-off spot.

Apart from these three teams, Mumbai Indians still have an outside chance of qualifying despite their defeat on Saturday. If SRH beats KKR and RCB lose to DD, then KKR, RCB and MI remain on 14 points. Depending on the win margins, the net run rate can allow MI to claim the spot.