The race for the IPL playoffs 2023 is heating up as seven teams are still fighting for three spots. Gujarat Titans (GT) are already through to the next round after they defeated the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 34 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
The Titans also cemented their spot in the top two, which means they will play in the Qualifier 1 and will get two chances before the final of IPL 2023. Chennai joined them after Saturday with a big win over Delhi Capitals.
The Sunrisers, led by Aiden Markram, are already out of the competition. Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore are up against different teams on the big Sunday to push for the last spot in the playoffs. RCB have the net run rate to their advantage but still need to beat Gujarat if Mumbai end up winning against Hyderabad in the day game.
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The tournament has been extremely competitive as no team has been able to absolutely dominate oppositions. The Capitals and Sunrisers, who are at the bottom of the table, also threatened to make a comeback at different stages in the league stage.
Contents
- 1 IPL 2023 playoffs: Qualification scenarios
- 1.1 Chennai Super Kings – 17 points, all games played
- 1.2 Mumbai Indians – 14 points, one game remaining
- 1.3 Royal Challengers Bangalore – 14 points, one game remaining
- 1.4 Kolkata Knight Riders – 12 points, all games played
- 1.5 Lucknow Super Giants – 17 points, all games played
- 1.6 Rajasthan Royals – 14 points, all games played
- 1.7 Punjab Kings – 12 points, all games played
- 2 IPL playoffs 2023 predictions
- 3 IPL playoffs schedule
- 4 IPL 2023 playoffs prediction
IPL 2023 playoffs: Qualification scenarios
Chennai Super Kings – 17 points, all games played
Chennai Super Kings were among the top three teams in the competition and needed only a solitary win to make it through to the IPL 2023 playoffs and the qualifiers at home.
Their last and final game against the Capitals on May 20 turned out to be a great game for them as they won by a massive 77 runs to race through to the Qualifier 1 and ensure a home game against Gujarat. A loss could have seen them out of the playoffs race itself if the teams below them kept racking up points, but CSK left their fate to none with the big win.
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Mumbai Indians – 14 points, one game remaining
Mumbai Indians, led by Rohit Sharma, have found themselves in a hole. They are placed fifth in the table with 14 points from 13 matches. They will be under tremendous pressure going into their last and final league match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium. A net run rate of -0.128 is also a massive headache for them.
Even if MI beat the Sunrisers, Punjab Kings and the Royal Challengers Bangalore can equal them on 16 points. Moreover, RCB have a better net run rate compared to that of MI. If they lose their last game, the five-time champions will be in danger of getting knocked out of the competition.
MI lost to Krunal Pandya’s Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Tuesday at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. With 11 runs to win off the last over, Tim David and Cameron Green failed to take on left-arm fast bowler Mohsin Khan, who held his nerve under pressure. David finished off the game against the Royals by hitting Jason Holder for three sixes, but failed this time around.
Royal Challengers Bangalore – 14 points, one game remaining
Royal Challengers Bangalore are currently sitting in the fourth position with 14 points in the IPL standings. A win against the Gujarat Titans will secure their spot as the fourth and final franchise to make it to the playoffs. However, if they end up losing, it's highly likely that they will be knocked out of the tournament, especially if the Mumbai Indians win their game later in the evening on Sunday.
It's a nail-biting situation for Faf du Plessis and his team. If RCB falters and MI triumphs, it will be the end of the road for the Royal Challengers. On the other hand, if both RCB and MI manage to secure victories on Sunday, then the Rajasthan Royals will have a slim chance to sneak in. In that scenario, the team with the better net run rate among RR, RCB, and MI will advance to the playoffs.
It's all on the line for RCB, and the stakes couldn't be higher. They'll need to bring their A-game and fight tooth and nail to clinch that crucial victory against the Gujarat Titans. The battle for the playoffs is heating up, and every run and wicket will matter as these teams fight for their spot in the next stage of the tournament.
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Kolkata Knight Riders – 12 points, all games played
The Knight Riders were placed seventh in the table with 12 points and a net run rate of -0.256 thanks to wins in six out of 12 matches before going into the clash against LSG, a do-or-die game.
A win would have kept them alive in the competition even if only for a day, but they also needed to better their net run rate to stand a chance. Instead, KKR ended up losing by a run after Rinku Singh's heroics and crashed out of the tournament.
That's one way of showing you're back, Sunny da! 😎🙌 pic.twitter.com/znaUl8fB02
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 16, 2023
Lucknow Super Giants – 17 points, all games played
Lucknow Super Giants were in a relatively comfortable position before the final league game against Kolkata Knight Riders. A win by a bigger margin would have given them a great chance of finishing among the top two teams along with the Titans.
The fact that they have a net run rate of +0.304 was also a massive positive heading into this game, but KKR's spirited fight meant that Lucknow could only win by a run, meaning that they were resigned to play the eliminator although they still had the relief of knowing they made it to the playoffs without depending on other results.
Rajasthan Royals – 14 points, all games played
In a thrilling encounter at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, the Rajasthan Royals managed to keep their slim hopes of qualifying for the IPL 2023 playoffs alive. Their four-wicket victory over the Punjab Kings not only ensured their own survival but also brought an end to the Punjab Kings' campaign in the tournament.
For Rajasthan to secure a spot in the playoffs, three specific conditions must be met. Firstly, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) need to suffer a significant loss against Gujarat. Secondly, the Mumbai Indians should not emerge victorious in their match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Finally, even if the Kolkata Knight Riders defeat the Lucknow Super Giants, it must be by a narrow margin.
As the race for the playoffs intensifies, Rajasthan will eagerly await the outcomes of the remaining matches, hoping for the perfect combination of results to go in their favor. While their chances may seem slim, the unpredictability of the game often surprises us, leaving room for excitement and anticipation until the very end.
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Punjab Kings – 12 points, all games played
Shikhar Dhawan’s men were in a must-win scenario going into their last two league games, but a shock loss to Delhi followed by a loss to Rajasthan last night – both at Dharamsala – has knocked them out of contention.
S H I K H A R! 🏔️#JazbaHaiPunjabi #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/JDEeOPgBFv
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 16, 2023
IPL playoffs 2023 predictions
With the Titans already going through to the IPL 2023 playoffs, three places are up for grabs.
CSK are likely to make it through to the playoffs with 17 points as they will next face the Capitals, who are terribly short of confidence and looking to avoid a finish at the bottom of the table. For several years, they have advanced to the playoffs and it shows that they know the art of delivering just when it matters the most.
RCB have a golden chance of finishing in the top four.
Their next match is against the Sunrisers, who are badly out of form. Moreover, they have one home match remaining, although it is against table-toppers Gujarat Titans. The fact that RCB have a net run rate of +0.166 could turn out to be crucial by the end of the league stage.
The Super Giants are in a better position to go through to the IPL playoffs, but things can turn around quickly if they lose their final game.
The Royals and Nitish Rana’s Knight Riders may have to wait a year more to take part in the IPL playoffs.
IPL playoffs schedule
May 23, Tue
- Gujarat Titans vs TBC, Qualifier 1, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, 7:30 PM
May 24, Wed
- TBC vs TBC, Eliminator, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, 7:30 PM
May 26, Fri
- TBC vs TBC, Qualifier 2, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM
May 28, Sun
- TBC vs TBC, Final, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM
IPL 2023 playoffs prediction
Chennai a real threat
Out of the 13 editions of the IPL that the Super Kings have taken part in, they have made it through to the playoffs 11 times. Barring the 2020 and 2022 editions, the four-time champions have got the taste of what it is like to finish among the top four teams. They have played in the IPL finals as many as nine times. Moreover, they also won the Champions League T20 back in 2010 and 2014.
The above data is enough to show how dangerous a team CSK can be once then finish in the top four. If the Super Kings advance to the IPL 2023 playoffs, it would not spring a surprise if they qualify for the final if not win the trophy.
Gujarat with all the momentum
As far as the Titans are the concerned, they were the first team to qualify for the playoffs in 2022 in their debut season and went on to get their hands on the trophy. In 2023, Hardik Pandya’s again qualified for the IPL playoffs above every other team. The defending champions have a settled unit and have been impressive in the league stage as they are sitting on top of the table.
If they can win the Qualifier 1, then they will qualify for the final which will take place at their home ground in Ahmedabad. The Titans have an excellent record at the Narendra Modi Stadium and beating them in their own backyard would not be easy by any stretch of the imagination. Rajasthan Royals could not when they faced GT in the final last time.
Knockout cricket RCB's kryptonite
Although RCB are expected to go through to the IPL playoffs 2023, their history in the knockout stages have not quite been impressive. They must try and win their next two matches to finish in the top two. That will give them a better chance of qualifying for the final.
If they finish third or fourth, winning the title may turn out to be a far cry for them. The Challengers have played in the IPL final three times, but ended up losing side every other time.
