IPL 2024 Qualification Scenarios: How can Royal Challengers Bengaluru qualify for playoffs after losing to SRH?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) suffered their fifth consecutive loss in the Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Monday, April 15 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. After being put in to bat first, SRH posted a gigantic score of 287/3 in their allotted 20 overs courtesy of a splendid hundred from Travis Head (102 off 41).

In reply, RCB tried their best to chase down a mammoth score but could only reach 262/7 in their 20 overs with Dinesh Karthik top-scoring with 83 (35). As a result, the hosts lost the match by 25 runs and maintained their last spot on the points table. The Faf du Plessis-led side is still tottering at the tenth spot with just one win from six matches having two points to their name.

Also Read: IPL 2024 Qualification Scenarios: How can Lucknow Super Giants qualify for playoffs losing to KKR?

The three-time runner-ups started their campaign with a six-wicket loss against Southern rivals Chennai Super Kings but made a brilliant comeback by winning their next fixture against Punjab Kings by four wickets. However, since then, the Bengaluru-based franchise has failed to keep up with their winning momentum losing their next five matches against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Mumbai Indians (MI) and SRH. 

To make matters worse for RCB, massive losses against KKR and MI have also dented their net run rate which is currently the worst among all ten teams at -1.185. With just one win from seven matches so far, RCB will need to make a miraculous turnaround to qualify for the playoffs. The road gets tougher for RCB as they will face KKR, SRH and Gujarat Titans (GT) in their next four fixtures.

RCB can't afford any more losses in the season

The Faf du Plessis-led side can’t afford a single more loss in the ongoing season and will have to win all of their remaining matches for smooth qualification for the playoffs. If RCB manages to win all of their remaining games, they will finish the league stage with 16 points which will prove to be enough to seal their berth in the playoffs.

Also Read: RCB vs SRH: Faf du Plessis discusses coin-flip controversy with Cummins at toss time

However, if they manage to lose one more game, they will finish with 14 points on the points table which will not turn out to be enough as they will have to massively beat other teams on the net run rate. Hence, from their next fixture onwards against KKR on Sunday, April 21 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, RCB can’t afford to place a foot wrong in the season anymore which could well crush all of their hopes of playoffs qualification.

Veteran batter Virat Kohli will be reminding his teammates of the 2016 season where they won six out of the last seven games to make it to the playoffs.