EXPLAINED: How Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore can still finish in top two in IPL 2021

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KEY STORY

  • Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) suffered a disappointing 4-run defeat at the hands of last-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Wednesday evening (October 6). Going into the contest, RCB were the favourites to defeat the Kane Williamson-led side and be in the race to the top-two finish.
  • However, the defeat has practically ended all their hopes of a top-two finish and it is now sort of confirmed that they will be facing either Mumbai Indians or Kolkata Knight Riders in the Eliminator on Monday (October 11).
  • While RCB are practically out of contention as far as a place in the top two is concerned, mathematically they can still replace Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the 2nd spot. It may sound odd but yes, RCB can get an opportunity to face Delhi Capitals (DC) this Sunday if Punjab Kings hand CSK their biggest defeat of IPL history. But that won’t be enough. RCB will have to pull off another miracle when they face Delhi Capitals.
    How RCB can still finish in top two –
  • With 8 wins from 13 matches, RCB presently acquire the 3rd spot and have an NRR of -0.159. On the other hand, CSK have 9 wins from 13 matches at a strong NRR of +0.739. DC have 10 wins and only CSK can match the 10-mark win. If the MS Dhoni-led side wins today, it will quash RCB’s hopes of making it to the top two.
    But if they lose by a big margin, RCB will stay in the race. But it isn’t that easy as it sounds. As per ESPNcricinfo, RCB’s chances of making it top two will stay alive only if CSK suffer a 115-run defeat at hands of KL Rahul-led side. It is to be noted that CSK have never lost an IPL fixture even by an 80-run margin.

CONCLUSION

Even if PBKS hand CSK their biggest defeat of IPL, it won’t be enough for RCB. The Bengaluru-based franchise will only be able to displace CSK if they defeat DC by 115 runs in the final league stage fixture. If these two scenarios happen, then RCB will again face DC on Sunday in the first Qualifier.
As mentioned, it is now practically impossible for RCB to finish in top two but mathematically, they are in the race to play the first Qualifier.

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