After crushing PBKS by 60 runs at Dharamsala on Thursday, RCB have kept their chances of making it to the IPL 2024 playoffs. The previous finalists are on a four-match winning streak, and their recovery has given their fans new optimism. Yes, RCB needs to win both of their remaining games to claim the lead. Although they still need a lot of other results to go their way, they now have a greater chance than mere maths to place in the top four.
Both captain Faf du Plessis and leading run-scorer Virat Kohli lamented having to rely on other teams and wait to find out their fate. When it came to admitting that they were bad in the first half of the season and that, had they been better, they would have controlled their own destiny, Kohli was very forthright. RCB is now enjoying a four-game winning streak, but this comes after they lost their first eight games, winning only one of them.
Thanks to their overwhelming win in Dharamsala on Thursday, RCB is now in seventh place with 10 points from 12 games. They also saw a significant increase in their Net Run Rate, which soared over zero. RCB is currently only two points behind the three clubs that are stuck in a 12-point stalemate: Delhi, Chennai, and Lucknow.
Well, yes. And that isn't it. Bengaluru can finish as high as third in the points table, so RCB fans take note. Are you curious about how? Let us elaborate.
RCB'S REMAINING IPL 2024 MATCHES
Vs Delhi Capitals in Bengaluru on May 12
Vs Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru on May 18
Before we get into the permutation and combination, here's a look at the points table.
There are two best-case scenarios in which RCB can advance to the playoffs. RCB cannot finish in the top two because they will have a maximum of 14 points. As of May 10, KKR and RR already had 16 points.
SCENARIO ONE: RCB finishes third and qualifies for the playoffs
RCB needs to win their last two matches. This is how they may finish third and break through the mid-table deadlock.
- SunRisers lose all of their remaining games against Gujarat and Punjab.
- Chennai loses its final three matches against Bengaluru, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
- Lucknow and Bengaluru defeated Delhi.
- Lucknow beat Delhi but lost to Mumbai.
If everything mentioned above passes, RCB will probably place third, while LSG will likely place fourth. Even if Delhi defeats Lucknow, RCB can still finish third because Rishabh Pant's side has a higher net run rate than RCB.
SCENARIO TWO: RCB finishes fourth and earns a spot in the playoffs
RCB needs SRH and CSK to lose their remaining matches. Both teams have three matches remaining and have the possibility to reach 18 points.
- If both of them score at least 16 points, RCB's chances are finished.
- However, if one of them scores 16 or 18 while the other scores 14, RCB will be hopeful.
- In this situation, RCB will be tied with three other teams on 14 points.
In that case, it would be excellent if RCB had a higher Net Run Rate than LSG/DC and CSK/SRH. RCB would prefer LSG to defeat DC in a crucial match on May 14, as Lucknow has a lower Net Run Rate.
It's time to take out those calculators again, RCB fans!
Inputs by agencies
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