With Kolkata Knight Riders cashing in on their final game of the group stage of the Indian Premier League and inflicting a heavy defeat to Rajasthan Royals, the playoff equations have gone haywire at the business end of the season. 

With Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab faltering on Saturday, both teams have now crashed out of this year’s tournament. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capital have all to play for, with Kolkata hoping for a favourable outcome with bated breath. The race for the final three spots of the IPL is tantalizingly open, with only Mumbai Indians being sure of a place in the final stages of the tournament. 

KKR’s trouncing of Rajasthan Royals helped them better their abysmal net run rate of more than -0.553 ahead of the match, to -0.214.

Kolkata Knight Riders now sit fourth on the IPL points table with 14 points from as many games. KKR’s win on Sunday night allowed them to leap frog from the bottom position to fourth. Sunrisers Hyderabad are breathing down on Kolkata’s neck and occupy fifth spot with a game in hand. Hyderabad have won six of their 13 encounters and will play Mumbai Indians, who have qualified for the playoffs, on Tuesday.

Hyderabad can still make it to the eliminators provided they beat power hitter Mumbai Indians who have been in punishing form. A mere victory on Tuesday will allow the David Warner side to clinch the final play-off stop and a defeat will seal their demise.  

In the other crucial tie, Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Shreyas Iyer’s Delhi Capitals on Monday. Both teams must win at any cost in a game that can have only one winner. A victory for either will seal their spot in the play off stages of the IPL and a defeat will ensure further complications.

Kohli’s men have 14 points from their 13 games and a win will ensure them the second spot in the play-off stages, the same holds true for Delhi Capitals who also have 14 points from the 13 games.

Also Read: ‘Up to the Gods’: Captain Eoin Morgan on Kolkata Knight Riders’ playoff chances

The losing team will then have to bank on Mumbai Indians to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad, in order to qualify for the final round. 

Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals again will look to avoid a heavy defeat that can significantly deteriorate their net run rate in a must win tie on Monday.

A heavy defeat for either can give a significant blow to their chances of securing a playoff spot if Sunrisers Hyderabad win their tie against Mumbai Indians. Sunrisers Hyderabad has one of the better Net Run Rates in the tournament after Mumbai India, with a +0.555 rate, a mere win will take the Orange Army into the playoffs.