 "IPL 2024 Playoffs: Can Mumbai Indians still finish in top four? Scenarios explained")
Mumbai Indians’ (MI) IPL 2024 was dealt another blow on Tuesday as they suffered a four-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The latest defeat means the Hardik Pandya-led side has only managed to collect six points from 10 matches with only four more games to go in the league phase.
Can Mumbai Indians still qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs? Before we answer this, let’s take a look at the current IPL 2024 points table.
| Position | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | NR | NRR | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RR | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | +0.694 | 16 |
| 2 | KKR | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | +1.096 | 12 |
| 3 | LSG | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | +0.094 | 12 |
| 4 | CSK | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | +0.810 | 10 |
| 5 | SRH | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | +0.075 | 10 |
| 6 | DC | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | -0.442 | 10 |
| 7 | GT | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | -1.113 | 8 |
| 8 | PBKS | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | -0.187 | 6 |
| 9 | MI | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | -0.272 | 6 |
| 10 | RCB | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | -0.415 | 6 |
Mumbai Indians playoff scenarios
While it may seem, MI don’t have a chance of reaching the top four, the interesting bit here is that the five-time champions are still alive in the race mathematically and they can do this without relying on the net run rate (NRR), but for that to happen, they will have to start winning matches immediately.
Besides winning their remaining four matches, Mumbai will also need the other results to go in their favour including at least two teams collecting as many points as possible to widen the gap between the top two spots and remaining slots in the IPL 2024 points table.
For example, if Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders win four out of the remaining five matches then they will move to 24 and 20 points respectively. KKR should also beat LSG and Gujarat Titans. In such a scenario, LSG should lose to Sunrisers Hyderabad and both teams should stay at 12 points.
MI will also need help from CSK and other teams in the lower half of the IPL points table as none of them should cross the 12-point mark.
Even if LSG beat SRH, Mumbai can easily qualify if Lucknow lose their remaining games while RR and KKR take a strong lead at the top. Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals don’t win more than one match while Punjab Kings only manage three more wins. Similarly, SRH win just one more game and Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bangalore also don’t reach 14 points. In such a case MI will be tied with LSG on 14 points in the No.3 and 4 spots in the IPL 2024 table and NRR separating them.
MI remaining fixtures:
vs Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai, 3 May
vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mumbai on 6 May
vs Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kolkata on 11 May
vs Lucknow Super Giants in Mumbai on 17 May.
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