In the closest finish to an Indian Premier League season ever, six teams enter the final four games chasing playoff berths
Do-or-die time for clubs in thrilling IPL season
It's crunch time for Indian Premier League hopeful this weekend with just four games left and six of the eight teams still jostling for the four spots up for grabs in the playoffs.
The IPL's playoffs format will see the top two teams face off in a qualifier for a spot in the final on Tuesday night (May 24). The teams that finished third and fourth meet in an elimination final the next night.
The season is over for whichever team loses Wednesday night's eliminator, while the winner will meet the loser of Tuesday's qualifier in Delhi on May 27 to vie for the second spot in the final in Bangalore next Sunday night.
The top of the table is so jam-packed that it is entirely possible the team currently sitting top could miss the playoffs entirely, in one of the tightest races to the finish line the IPL has ever seen. There is only two points – and a lot of Net Run Rate – between Sunrisers on the top and Delhi in sixth.
A number of Australia’s one-day squad members are likely to feature in the IPL finals – including Hyderabad captain David Warner, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Travis Head and Gujarat Lions’ Aaron Finch and James Faulkner – with all to remain (barring injury) with their respective clubs until their campaigns are completed, before linking up with the ODI squad in Guyana ahead of their clash with the West Indies on June 5.
Here's how the table shapes up for regular season conclusion:
1. Sunrisers Hyderabad (16 points, final game v Kolkata on Sunday)
David Warner is probably still fuming with himself after a simple dropped chance probably cost his team victory on Friday night against Delhi. Now, the Sunrisers need to beat Kolkata to guarantee their spot in the first qualifier. Another defeat for the Orange Army will bring the statisticians to the fore as Net Run Rate becomes a factor.
2. Gujarat Lions (16 points, final game v Mumbai tonight)
Inspired by unlikely bowling hero Dwayne Smith, Gujarat got their maiden IPL campaign back on track with a win over Kolkata. Another victory against Mumbai on Saturday night is needed to ensure Brad Hodge's men are rewarded with a playoff berth in their debut season.
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore (14 points, final game v Delhi on Sunday)
In what is now set to be a cracking elimination-style contest with a post-season spot up for grabs, RCB and the Delhi Daredevils go head-to-head in the 56th and final match of the regular season. You might have noticed that Virat Kohli is hitting them OK lately for Bangalore – just the four centuries this season, single-season run-scoring records, world no.1 ranking, the list goes on – and with Gayle back in form and motivated to hit the headlines with a book coming out, oh, and they also have AB de Villiers …. Remind us again how this team isn't a dozen points clear at the top?
4. Kolkata Knight Riders (14 points, final game v Sunrisers on Sunday)
Kolkata's fate will become clearer before their clash against Warner's Sunrisers on Sunday evening, and Delhi's last-ball victory against the Sunrisers last night made things that little bit more tricky. And then if Mumbai overcome Gujarat tonight, well, KKR may be in a spot of bother.
5. Mumbai Indians (14 points, final game v Gujarat tonight)
Mumbai enter their final clash of the season against Gujarat needing to pick up the two points for a win and possibly a little boost to their NRR. Ricky Ponting's side will then need to wait for results on the final day to see if their reign as champions continues … for a few more days at least.
6. Delhi Daredevils (14 points, final game v RCB on Sunday)
Delhi's task became more difficult with the rain-affected defeat against the Rising Pune Supergiants, but then last night they beat the table-topping Sunrisers in a final-ball thriller to throw them right back in the mix. However, they do face the small problem of taking on a Bangalore side that's hit red-hot form with Kohli, Gayle and de Villiers in its top three.
The Wood Spoon Battle
7. Rising Pune Supergiants (8 points, one game remaining v Kings XI on Saturday)
Adam Zampa has been a star for the fledgling franchise, but his emergence is just about the only thing to have gone right in an injury-ravaged debut season. Kevin Pietersen, Faf du Plessis, Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh make a pretty handy international line-up – except they're all back home recuperating from various injuries.
8. Kings XI Punjab (8 points, one game remaining v RPS on Saturday)
A disappointing campaign is almost over and Punjab can see the finish line. Glenn Maxwell has returned home, and now so too Marcus Stoinis. When David Miller was dumped as captain mid-season, it was hoped it would spark a turnaround. Instead, the team was forced to defend allegations of a dressing-room punch up. The end can't come quick enough. All we can hope for is the return of Mitchell Johnson and the IPL's first-ever 10-wicket haul.