30-11-2020
IPL 2020

With only seven matches now left to be played before the IPL 2020 play-offs, the race to make it to the last four is becoming more and more interesting by the day. The possible outcomes for the final line up though have come down after Chennai beat Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday for their fifth win of the season. That also meant that Mumbai Indians became the first team to seal a play-off berth. And that leaves three spots now open and six teams vying for them. As things stand it's still just CSK who are mathematically out of the play-offs race and Net run rate (NRR) is certain to play a key role in deciding the fate of a few teams.

Shankar Raghuraman does the number-crunching to arrive at the chances of all teams who are still in the running for a play-off berth as of today (October 30, 2020).

1. After their loss to Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders now have only a 5.5% chance of making to the knock-out stage without net run rates coming into the equation.

2. They do however have a 25% chance of finishing fourth or tying for fourth spot on points, but given their poor NRR, tying will almost certainly not be enough.

3. Chennai�s win means that they now have an even chance of avoiding the bottom slot on the table.

4. Kolkata�s loss also boosts Kings XI�s chances of making it to the last four without having to depend on NRR from under 6% before last night�s game to over 9%.

5. Kings XI now have a three in four chance of at least tying for one of the top four slots.

6. Sunrisers Hyderabad�s chances of qualifying by tying for third or fourth spot have also been boosted by Kolkata�s loss from one in five to one in four.

7. Rajasthan Royals have a 5.5% chance of grabbing the fourth spot for themselves and a one in four chance of at least tying for the third or fourth spot.

8. Mumbai Indians cannot finish lower than tied on points for the second spot.

9. Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore are now sure of either finishing in the top four or being tied on points for one of those slots.

10. It is possible that we end up with four teams level at the top on 16 points � Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Punjab.