IPL 2021: Race to Play–offs: What MI, KKR, RR, PBKS should do to seal 4th knockout berth

1.
Kolkata
Knight
Riders

The
Knight
Riders
are
in
a
relatively
more
comfortable
position
than
the
rest.
They
now
have
12
points
from
13
matches
and
a
win
against
Rajasthan
Royals
on
Thursday
(October
7
will
spur
them
to
play-offs
irrespective
of
what
happens
in
other
matches.
So,
the
equation
is
quite
simple,
win
the
14th
match
enter
knockouts.
Their
superior
Net
Run
Rate
will
come
very
handy
for
them
here.

But
if
they
lose
to
RR,
then
they
will
land
in
the
complicated
world
of
mathematical
calculations.
Here
too,
the
NRR
of
KKR
will
come
into
play
and
carry
them
to
the
play-offs
provided
MI
and
RR
taste
defeat
in
one
of
their
2
remaining
matches.

2.
Mumbai
Indians

MI
are
in
danger
of
missing
the
play-offs
even
if
they
win
their
remaining
two
matches
because
depending
on
other
results
the
champions
can
get
tied
with
other
teams.
The
issue
here
is
their
inferior
net
run
rate
which
at
the
moment
stands
at
-0.453,
worst
among
all
the
four
contenders.
Mumbai
under
Rohit
Sharma
face
Sunrisers
Hyderabad
and
Rajasthan
Royals
in
their
next
two
matches.

3.
Punjab
Kings

The
Kings
under
KL
Rahul
is
currently
placed
at
5th
with
10
points
with
a
game
to
go.
But
that
in
no
way
a
reflection
of
the
mess
they
are
in
currently.
They
need
to
win
the
remaining
match
against
Chennai
Super
Kings
in
a
humungous
margin
to
boost
the
negative
run-rate
of
-0.241
to
ensure
that
they
stay
ahead
if
all
the
other
three
contenders
lose
their
next
matches.

But
this
is
a
massive
task,
simply
because
their
opponent
in
the
14th
match
is
CSK,
a
form
side
of
the
tournament
and
even
if
the
Kings
win
against
them,
they
realistically
can’t
hope
for
a
victory
in
any
massive
proportions.
In
simple
words,
the
Kings
need
a
miracle
to
qualify
for
the
play-offs.

4.
Rajasthan
Royals

The
Sanju
Samon-led
side
has
10
points
from
12
games
that
means
they
have
2
matches
to
get
a
desired
result.
The
equation
for
the
Royals
too
is
quite
simple,
they
need
to
win
the
remaining
two
matches
to
have
a
chance
to
qualify
for
the
IPL
2021
play-offs.
They
first
need
to
beat
Mumbai
Indians,
and
this
result
will
ensure
that
one
contender,
MI,
will
crash
out
of
the
race.
And
the
match
against
the
Kolkata
Knight
Riders
will
then
transform
into
a
virtual
knockout
for
the
play-off
berth.

The
winner
of
this
match
will
progress
to
the
knockouts
with
14
points.
This
calculation
of
course
works
only
if
RR
beat
MI
in
their
previous
match,
otherwise
this
will
fizzle
out
as
a
one-way
race
with
KKR
trying
to
enter
the
play-offs.