New Delhi. Delhi Capitals has solved the IPL playoff equation to a great extent by defeating Lucknow Supergiants. Delhi defeated Lucknow Supergiants by 19 runs in a do or die match. With this victory, it has kept its hopes of playoff intact. On the other hand, Lucknow Supergiants’ dream of top-4 has now remained a dream. Lucknow team is now at seventh position in the points table with 12 points (-0.787 run rate). It can reach 14 points by winning its last match, but not in the playoffs. Now even no miracle can take them to the top-4 in the points table.
Festive atmosphere in RCB
There is an atmosphere of celebration among the fans of Royal Challengers Bangalore due to the victory of Delhi Capitals over Lucknow. Now RCB’s playoff equation has become easier than before. Till a day ago, the teams of Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Supergiants were strongly present in its path to the playoffs. Delhi’s victory has removed LSG from the path of RCB. Now if RCB beats Chennai Super Kings by 18 runs or achieves the target given by them in 18.1 overs, then their place in the playoffs will be confirmed. Although Delhi is also in the race for the playoffs with 14 points, but the negative run rate (-0.377) can prove to be an obstacle in its path.
Chennai also heaved a sigh of relief
Delhi’s victory is also good news for Chennai Super Kings. Chennai can now make it to the playoffs by winning the match against RCB by one run. Until Delhi defeated Lucknow, KL Rahul’s team was also in the race for 16 points. If Lucknow had won both its matches and Chennai and Sunrisers Hyderabad had won one match each, then there would have been a tie between 3 or 4 teams on 16 points. Rajasthan Royals also still have only 16 points. If Delhi lost, it was possible that one of the teams with 16 points would have been left out of the playoffs. But Delhi’s victory has destroyed all these equations. Now the equation is clear for Chennai. Beat RCB and play playoffs.
Happiness in SRH camp too
The equation of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) is also similar to that of Chennai. For this reason, SRH fans must have heaved a sigh of relief with Delhi’s victory. If Delhi had lost. If Lucknow had won both its matches and Chennai Super Kings had won its last match, both of them would have had 16 points. This means that SRH would either have to win both their remaining matches or have to struggle with the mathematics of net run rate if they win one match. Delhi has made SRH’s job easy by defeating Lucknow. Now it can play the playoffs by winning one of its two matches.
Rajasthan Royals reached playoffs
Delhi’s victory has confirmed Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) place in the playoffs. RR already has 16 points. Lucknow’s defeat has decided that only maximum 4 teams can score 16 or more points. That means now whether someone wins or someone loses, RR will play the playoffs. Currently, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have the maximum 19 points in the points table.
Tags: Delhi Capitals, IPL 2024, IPL Play-offs, IPL Playoffs, Lucknow Super Giants
FIRST PUBLISHED: May 15, 2024, 07:12 IST