The 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League enters its second half this week. While Kings XI Punjab are the surprise package so far, the Ricky Ponting-coached Delhi Daredevils continue to struggle, like in every campaign.
The current IPL table
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | NRR | Points |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 8 | 6 | 2 | +0.514 | 12 |
| Chennai Superkings (CSK) | 9 | 6 | 3 | +0.354 | 12 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 9 | 5 | 4 | +0.240 | 10 |
| Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) | 8 | 5 | 3 | +0.130 | 10 |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 9 | 3 | 6 | -0.005 | 6 |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) | 8 | 3 | 5 | -0.301 | 6 |
| Delhi Daredevils (DD) | 9 | 3 | 6 | -0.450 | 6 |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 8 | 3 | 5 | -0.726 | 6 |
With every side playing 14 games in total, CSK, SRH and KXIP are certain to make it to the next round. The race for fourth spot heats up and any among the five remaining teams are can mathematically qualify to the next round.
Over the last ten seasons 16 points assured qualification for the group stage. However, this season’s intense competition may make 14 points enough to qualify for the next round.
Kolkata Knight Riders, with Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Kuldeep Yadav and Chris Lynn, among others, appear the likeliest to join the leading pack with ten points and a positive net run rate. They can afford to lose a few matches, and four wins among last six matches will be enough for the Dinesh Karthik-led side.
KKR are yet to play against CSK, SRH and KXIP in their remaining six matches. Two matches against fellow hopefuls Mumbai Indians can be crucial in deciding the fate of this young team.
A large amount of KKR’s fortunes rest on the fitness of their star players. Russell and Lynn have escaped unscathed in their first half of the tournament. If any of their star players get injured, KKR may find going tough in the remaining matches.
The Virat Kohli-led RCB, with Brendon McCullum, Quinton De Kock, Tim Southee, Yuzvendra Chahal and AB de Villiers, are a very dangerous prospect. Coming off an impressive 15-run win against Mumbai Indians, the Bangalore-based franchise will like to keep their momentum going.
An in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore with their bowlers performing well are may be most dangerous team of the tournament. If they ride on momentum and reach the playoffs with a win streak, RCB can be strong contenders to win the trophy.
RCB have the toughest run-in among the playoff hopefuls, with four of the last six matches against SRH, CSK and KXIP. They will need to up their game and continue firing in all departments to qualify for the next round.
(AFP/Sajjad Hussain/Getty Images)
A very talented Delhi Daredevils side with Glenn Maxwell, Chris Morris, Trent Boult, Rishabh Pant and Colin Munro haven’t lived up to their potential. Led by experienced Gautam Gambhir, they assembled a strong squad for this season.
However, DD’s poor form has led to a change in leadership. Vastly talented Shreyas Iyer has replaced Gambhir during the season. He has also dropped himself out of the playing XI for poor form with the bat.
Like the Mumbai Indians, they will need to win at least five out of remaining matches. With three of them against SRH and CSK, DD seem to have their task cut out. They will need Maxwell, Munro and other big guns to fire if they want to reach the next round.
With three matches against fellow hopefuls RR, RCB and MI, Delhi Daredevils can be the kingmakers to play a decisive role in which team finishes in top four.
With three wins from seven the Rajasthan Royals have fine numbers among playoff hopefuls. If they win on Wednesday against Delhi Daredevils, RR will match KKR’s tally of eight points after eight matches.
However, Royals appear to lack the x-factor in their side. Players have failed to perform to their potential. D’Arcy Short has been shocking. BBL hero Jofra Archer’s late introduction has brought a glimmer of hope for the Royals. They are missing the leadership and the middle-order solidness of Steven Smith.
RR will need to win at least four of their remaining seven matches. They are yet to face Delhi, RCB, CSK, KXIP (two matches), KKR and MI. While three matches against two of top three can be an uphill task, RR can fancy themselves to get one or two wins in the remaining matches.
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Defending champions Mumbai Indians find themselves in a precarious position. They will need to win at least five games from their last six and hope that other results go their way.
This most successful team in IPL history, led by Rohit Sharma, has struggled to find consistency this season. Four out of their six losses have come in the last over.
MI have never defended their championship successfully and the trend appears to be continuing. However, the Mumbai Indians have an enviable 70 per cent win record in the month of May. Alongside RR, Mumbai Indians have the easiest run-in among playoff hopefuls. Two matches against KXIP could be tough.
KKR are two wins away from MI and the two teams are yet to face each other twice this season. With good run-in and the knack of finding rhythm in the later half of the tournament, MI can be the dark horses to make the playoffs.
Below are the remaining matches of the season with a likely winner of every match is predicted. It can help to get a conclusive idea about how the tournament’s table can look at the end of the group stage.
Remaining matches
| Date | Match | Predicted Winner |
| 5 May | Chennai Super Kings versus Royal Challengers Bangalore | CSK |
| 5 May | Sunrisers Hyderabad versus Delhi Daredevils | SRH |
| 6 May | Mumbai Indians versus Kolkata Knight Riders | MI |
| 6 May | Kings XI Punjab versus Rajasthan Royals | KXIP |
| 7 May | Sunrisers Hyderabad versus Royal Challengers Bangalore | SRH |
| 8 May | Rajasthan Royals versus Kings XI Punjab | KXIP |
| 9 May | Kolkata Knight Riders versus Mumbai Indians | MI |
| 10 May | Delhi Daredevils versus Sunrisers Hyderabad | SRH |
| 11 May | Rajasthan Royals versus Chennai Super Kings | CSK |
| 12 May | Kings XI Punjab versus Kolkata Knight Riders | KXIP |
| 12 May | Delhi Daredevils versus Royal Challengers Bangalore | DD |
| 13 May | Chennai Super Kings versus Sunrisers Hyderabad | CSK |
| 13 May | Mumbai Indians versus Rajasthan Royals | MI |
| 14 May | Kings XI Punjab versus Royal Challengers Bangalore | RCB |
| 15 May | Kolkata Knight Riders versus Rajasthan Royals | KKR |
| 16 May | Mumbai Indians versus Kings XI Punjab | KXIP |
| 17 May | Royal Challengers Bangalore versus Sunrisers Hyderabad | SRH |
| 18 May | Delhi Daredevils versus Chennai Super Kings | DD |
| 19 May | Rajasthan Royals versus Royal Challengers Bangalore | RCB |
| 19 May | Sunrisers Hyderabad versus Kolkata Knight Riders | SRH |
| 20 May | Delhi Daredevils versus Mumbai Indians | MI |
| 20 May | Chennai Super Kings versus Kings XI Punjab | KXIP |
The Scuffle to qualify for the playoff is tighter than earlier seasons. Three teams (CSK, SRH, KXIP) sit comfortably near the top of the table. Any of the remaining five teams will join them for the next round.
Winners predicted in the table above are based on the squad strength, current form, historical performances in the latter half of the season, team fitness and home advantage.
This is the most competitive season of the tournament’s history with many matches settled in last over of the match. The season is daunting and the prize is big.
If remaining matches of the tournament have aforementioned results, the final IPL table will look like this.
Predicted table
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | NRR | Points |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 14 | 11 | 3 | TBA | 22 |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 14 | 10 | 4 | TBA | 20 |
| Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) | 14 | 10 | 4 | TBA | 20 |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 14 | 7 | 7 | TBA | 14 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 14 | 5 | 9 | TBA | 10 |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) | 14 | 5 | 9 | TBA | 10 |
| Delhi Daredevils (DD) | 14 | 5 | 9 | TBA | 10 |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 14 | 3 | 11 | TBA | 6 |
While this may be the possible table, a lot is to happen from now to 20 May, when the league stage will be over. CSK, SRH and KXIP will come into playoffs after mastering the group stage, while the fourth team (MI in the above table or any other team) will make it to the knockouts with a strong momentum.
Every team will need to be consistent to challenge for the 27 May final at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Loads of action from the Indian Premier League is yet to happen. The league will not fail to entertain the cricket fans.
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