IPL 2022 qualification scenarios: Here’s how RCB can qualify for playoffs

After a fine start to IPL 2022, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have lost momentum and they must buckle up before it’s too late. The Faf du Plessis-led side currently has five wins from 10 games and they have four more games to be played this season, in the group stage. It must be noted that RCB is currently on a three-match losing streak, as many loopholes in the side have been exposed.

Virat Kohli’s form is certainly a massive area of concern for RCB as the 33-year-old has failed to make his bat talk this season. While he scored a half-century in his last outing against Gujarat Titans, he took 53 balls to make 58 which put the other batters under pressure. There are some loopholes in the bowling line-up as well, with Mohammed Siraj being off-color this season.

The speedster has neither been able to take crucial wickets nor restrict the flow of runs. However, this same team was on a roll a couple of weeks back. Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, and Josh Hazlewood have been on song this season and these names will have to step up to see RCB go through.

Meanwhile, Let’s look at how RCB can qualify for the IPL 2022 playoffs:

Scenario 1: As mentioned above, RCB has five wins from 10 games and they are to play four more league-stage matches this season. The equation is pretty simple in this case as RCB will go through if they win all their remaining games and take their tally to 18 points. The Bengaluru-based team can also finish in the top two with this number of points if their net run rate is on the higher side.

Scenario 2: Things will get interesting and calculators will be in action if RCB wins three of their remaining four games and finish with 16 points. Usually, these many points are enough to see a team go through. However, the addition of two new teams has altered the equation this season. Hence, there’s a possibility of a team not going through despite having 16 points.

In this case, the net run rate will largely come into the picture. RCB’s current NRR (-0.558) is on the negative side. Hence, they must focus on winning games with a substantial margin to boost their NRR. Meanwhile, more than one defeat would nullify Bangalore’s chances of making the final four.