Race for knockout stages hotting up

Gujarat Titans became the first team to officially qualify for the play-offs in the 2022 edition of the IPL when they beat fellow newcomers, Lucknow Super Giants, by 62-runs in the first v second head-to-head match on Tuesday.

The Titans won their ninth match out of 12 to move to 18 points with the Lucknow franchise two points behind on 16 while the Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore occupy a share of fourth place on 14 points with Rajasthan having played a game fewer than their rivals.

But despite the top four enjoying a four-point advantage over the other teams another four still enjoy a mathematical chance of finishing in the top four and a play-off place.

Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have been eliminated and the Punjab Kings (10 points from 11 games) have the least likely chance of qualifying because of their poor net-run-rate. The best they can do is win all of their remaining three games, and win them decisively, while hoping that other results go in their favour.

Kolkata Knight Riders (10 points from 12 games) kept their slim hopes alive by inflicting yet another defeat on the Mumbai Indians but their fate, too, is out of their hands even if they win their last two games.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (10 points from 11 games) also need to win their last three games while the Delhi Capitals are in the same position but have a significantly superior net run-rate and will take a giant step towards pressurising the top four with a win against the Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday night. However, Delhi have yet to win consecutive matches in this year’s tournament so the prospect of winning three in succession seems remote.

The Royals will be all but assured of a play-off place should they beat Delhi moving from 14 points to 16 with two matches remaining, but their fate is at least in their own hands. Win two of their remaining three games and they will reach the knockout stages.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore also have 14 points but have only two games remaining. Lucknow, too, have played 12 games and will have to win just one of them to be sure of advancing. But they have the best net run-rate in the tournament and might easily qualify in the top four even without another victory.