IPL 2024 playoff scenario: De Despite suffering their seventh loss, how can RCB progress?

In a suspenseful match at Eden Gardens on Sunday, April 21, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) refused to give up and denied Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) breathing easy, even for a little while, only to suffer their sixth defeat in the 2024 Indian Premier League. Chasing 223 runs, the RCB lost their two biggest players, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, in the powerplay itself. Rajat Patidar and Will Jacks then put up 102 runs together. Before giving up the advantage after losing four wickets for eighteen runs, RCB had taken the lead after a 48-ball partnership.

KKR won the match thanks to the persistence of players like Dinesh Karthik and Karn Sharma, the latter of whom hit three sixes in four balls in Mitchell Starc’s final over, almost pulling off an incredible chase. However, the tall Australian returned to dismiss the left-hander and concede just one run in the final two balls.

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RCB has now lost seven of their eight games played, which hasn’t improved their prospects of making the playoffs in any way. Even if RCB wins their last six games, they may not make it to the playoffs, but they are still very much in the running. Eight victories may be required for a side to go on to the next round of the Indian Premier League, which is now a 10-team competition.

The fourth club got 14 points from the 2018–2021 Indian Premier League and did make it to the playoffs. With only 12 points, Sunrisers Hyderabad qualified for the 2019 season. Nevertheless, following the arrival of two new clubs in 2022, teams have needed 16 points to offset the impact of the two new teams, since the likelihood of making the playoffs has dropped from 50% (4 out of 8 teams) to 40% (4 out of 10 teams).

However, RCB’s only remaining option is to begin winning and go on in that manner. Even if 14 points may not be enough, the victories will increase their net run rate, so they still have hope.