The Indian Premier League is approaching its end in the league stage and the playoff fight amongst the teams are just getting heavier with each game. This is the most interesting segment of the season as unlike the knockout matches, every team’s chance will depend on the performance of other teams. The fans will be glued to their seats and they can't take their eyes off any match as every match and every result will have some sort of weightage at the end of the day. All the teams will be eyeing to seal their spot in the top 4 and they have a crucial set of games coming up.
There has been an exchange of form by the teams as the teams at the top of the table have lost their recent games and they failed to take the chance of having a bigger lead. Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals have lost each of their recent games, making the final stage even more exciting. The teams at the middle of the table are working their way to the top with the likes of Chennai Super Kings having a late resurgence. None of the teams are technically out yet, but the playoff chances between the teams are split unequally.
10) Lucknow Super Giants - 10%
The Rishabh Pant-led side have had a terrible season so far with their inconsistent performances and poor batting form. They are currently at the bottom of the table with 4 points and 5 games remaining. If they win all their 5 games from here on in, they will finish at just 14 points. The 14-point mark doesn’t guarantee qualification and their chances will depend massively on other teams and the Net Run Rate will be the determining factor.
9) Mumbai Indians - 20%
The Mumbai Indians haven’t quite found their right playing combinations as they still have some major areas of concern that are left untreated. There have been questions raised on the captaincy of Hardik Pandya and they missed their star batter Rohit Sharma. They are currently at the 9th spot in the table with 6 points and 4 matches. The only difference they have with LSG is that they have an extra pair of points to show for but the maximum points they can achieve is 14, which gives them a very slim chance for qualification.
8) Kolkata Knight Riders - 25%
The Kolkata Knight Riders were off to the worst start in the season as they were winless in their first 6 games. Later on, they found their winning rhythm with 3 consecutive victories with the help of Rinku Singh and their pacers stepping up. They still do have 5 games remaining in the tournament and they will be hoping to win at least 4 of them, to give them a bigger chance for qualification, with 15 points to their name.
7) Delhi Capitals - 40%
The Delhi Capitals were off to a flawless start in the tournament as they were dominating games with the heroics from Sameer Rizvi in almost every game. They seemed to have lost their way in the middle and now, they have just one victory in their last 5 games. They have 4 games remaining in the tournament and they will have to win all of their games to get to 16 points. Their chances remain slim with their present form but they will be hoping for the best.
6) Chennai Super Kings - 50%
The Chennai Super Kings started the season on the wrong foot as they lost three games on the trot. Then with the resurgence of Sanju Samson, the side tasted victory for the first time and now, they are a much better side in terms of their form. With four games remaining in the tournament and 10 points to their name, they still can get to 18 points but they could enter the safe zone with just 16 points.
5) Gujarat Titans - 70%
The Gujarat Titans are looking in wonderful touch at the moment as they have 3 consecutive victories to their name. They have got the best out of the games in their home stadium at Ahmedabad as they have turned it into their fortress. With 12 points already in the bag and 4 matches left to go, they will need just a couple of wins to seal their spot in the playoffs.
4) Rajasthan Royals - 70%
The Rajasthan Royals have had a historic reputation for their spotless performances in the initial stages and the dip in the latter stages. They have had alternative results in the last 5 matches and their form has been inconsistent. They have a similar chance to the Gujarat Titans but they will be having the considerable edge with the Net Run Rate coming into the context.
3) Royal Challengers Bengaluru - 85%
The defending champions of the tournament have picked up right from where they left off in the previous season as they have been simply exceptional in the tournament. They have lost 3 games in the tournament so far but they can be considered as mere aberrations and there are no real signs of struggle. They have 5 games remaining in the tournament with 12 points in the bag and they will be more focussed on finishing in the top 2.
2) Punjab Kings - 90 %
The Punjab Kings have been the most dominant side of the tournament as they were unbeaten for the longest period of time in this season. The kind of mindset they possess to not even break a sweat while chasing a total of 265 in the 2nd innings, is just unbelievable. Now, they have had 3 losses on the trot and they will be keen on returning to their best and securing a spot in the top 2.
1)Sunrisers Hyderabad - 95%
The Sunrisers Hyderabad were undoubtedly the dark horses in the season as they were off to a really bad start in the tournament and then they picked up their form. The arrival of Pat Cummins has added significant value to the side. They have already reached the 14 run mark and they will just need to win a game or two to seal their spot in the playoffs. The focus of all the top 3 teams in the table at the moment would be to finish in the top 2.
