Five teams will be fighting for the remaining two playoff spots in this season of IPL 2018. SRH and CSK already qualified for the playoffs of IPL 2018. Now five teams are in race for the two vacant spots left up for Playoffs
Which means almost every match left in this season of Indian Premier League is crucial now. But when today Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens, it will be really a close game, Both the teams currently have 12 points in 12 games, with KKR at the third position due to a higher Net Run Rate of -0.19 RR, though are not far behind and are sitting in the fourth position in the table with an NRR of -0.35
With Kings XI Punjab slipping to the 5th position in the table after losing to RCB by 10-wickets yesterday, the KXIP will watch the match closely, as they are also sitting with 12 points after 12 games with an NRR of -0.518.
If KKR Wins
KKR won the last game against KXIP after losing two games, their performance is inconsistent this season. But it will still their spot in the Playoffs is guaranteed. They need to win by a huge margin against RR, to ensure KXIP cannot reach them, even if they lose their final round robin match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. KKR’s victory will hurt the chances of all the other teams competing for a Playoff spot, as it would push them further ahead in the table, on both NRR and points, and make it difficult for them to catch up, with just a few games remaining.
IF RR wins
Rajasthan Royals is in prime form with three straight wins- thanks to England’s Jos Buttler, who has completely changed the scenario for his team the day from which he started opening the game. RR are still low on Net Run Rate, owing to some heavy losses in the first half of the season. But with KXIP slipping badly against RCB on yesterday, which means they jumped to fourth on the IPL points table.
To ensure a spot in the Playoffs, RR need to win both their remaining matches and defeat KKR by a huge margin today. If RR win, they will climb to the third position and will increase their Net Run Rate.
And It will be difficult for KXIP to catch up to them on NRR, and even tougher for MI and RCB, who are currently on 10 points in the table to reach up to RR.
IPL 2018 Points Table
|
Pos. |
Team | P | W | L | T | Pts. | NRR |
| 1 | SRH | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 0.4 |
| 2 | CSK | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 0.38 |
| 3 | KKR | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | -0.19 |
| 4 | RR | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | -0.35 |
| 5 | KXIP | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | -0.52 |
| 6 | MI | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0.41 |
| 7 | RCB | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0.22 |
| 8 | DD | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 6 | -0.48 |
