The Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bangalore are two opposite ends of a spectrum. While both the teams are in the same boat, with 8 points each, the former is currently on a downfall. GT has lost their last 3 matches while contrastingly, RCB has won their last 3. The situation of these two teams was the reverse some 2 weeks ago. While GT held the middle spot on the points table, RCB had been comfortable at the last spot for the longest time, as they had won just 1 match out of the 8 they had played. Currently RCB holds the 7th spot while GT is demoted to the 9th spot, right above Mumbai Indians who are this season’s first team to be out of the battle for playoffs.
Comparing the NRR of these two teams, we can say that RCB holds a higher chance at qualifying for the playoffs instead of GT. RCB has a NRR of -0.049 while GT has the worst NRR of -1.320. Additionally, both the teams will have to win their next 3 matches to be considered for the playoffs with 14 points. GT have to face against SRH, RR and LSG in their next 3 matches while RCB is done playing with the top 3 teams for now.
What are the conditions under which GT and RCB get to the playoffs
One of the two teams will only be able to qualify for the playoffs if:
-win the next 3 matches and get 14 points
-RR and KKR maximize their points tally to 16+ after being done through all their matches
-If the winner of SRH vs LSG match on May 8 wins all their next fixtures and tallies up a score of 16+
-The loser of SRHvsLSG loses all their next 3 matches and gets stuck at 12 points
-No team other than the top 4 gets to a point tally above 12 points
In such a scenario, RR, KKR and the winner of SRH vs LSG match will qualify as the top three with the side getting to 14 points among RCB and GT going through as the fourth qualifying side.
What value does today’s match entail
While KKR, LSG and CSK will not be affected harshly if they lose today’s match, PBKS will fall to RCB and GT’s level on the table if they do not manage to win today’s match. The rest 3 will largely have their fates in own hands even after today’s fixture.