While IPL3 has been bereft of many close affairs that T20 clashes usually promise, it sure has given us an interesting league table. There are just 10 games remaining for the league phase to get over and but for Mumbai Indians no team is assured of a last four berth. Kings XI Punjab are already out of contention. TOI unravels what lies in store for the six teams battling for three semifinal slots.—TOI
MUMBAI INDIANS Current status: Qualified for semis (16 points, 11 matches) Remaining matches: 3 (One at home: vs Daredevils, two away: vs RCB, vs KKR) They have the rare luxury of experimenting and giving a game to the players who have been on the bench.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS Current status: Second in the table. (12 points, 12 matches). Remaining matches: 2 (One away: vs Rajasthan Royals; One home: vs MI) Semifinal equation: Need to win both their matches. They have been reluctant travellers and rely on the sporting pitch and huge crowd support at the Chinnaswamy.
DELHI DAREDEVILS Current status: Third in the table. (12 points, 11 matches). Remaining matches: 3 (Two away: vs MI and Chennai; One home vs Deccan Chargers). Semifinal equation: Need to win at least two matches. Their batting has just not clicked. They need to open with Sehwag and Gambhir and get De Villiers back in the mix as the middle-order looks shaky.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS Current status: Fourth in the table. (12 points, 12 matches). Remaining matches: 2 (One home: vs Royal Challengers; One away vs KKR) Semifinal equation: Need to win both matches. If they lose one, they must ensure that their net run rate is better than CSK and DC. They have been good, but a lot depends on Yusuf Pathan, Shane Warne and Shane Watson
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS Current status: Sixth in the table. (10 points, 11 matches). Remaining matches: 3 (Two at home: vs KKR and Daredevils; One away vs Kings XI) Semifinal equation: Need to win all three games. If they lose one, they must ensure that the loss is not a heavy one which affects their so far healthy net run rate. They are lucky that two of their games are at home where they have won the last three games. Hayden’s form and Dhoni’s leadership will matter big time.
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS Current Status: Seventh in the table. (10 points, 11 matches). Remaining matches: 3 (One away: vs CSK; Two at home: vs Rajasthan Royals and MI) Semifinal equation: Need to win all three games as they have a poor netrun rate. Again they are lucky that their last two games are at home. They will need to find a way of accommodating McCullum at the top with Gayle.
DECCAN CHARGERS Current Status: Fifth in the table (12 points, 12 matches). Remaining matches 2 (Two away: vs Kings XI and vs Daredevils) Semifinal equation: Need to win both the games as their net run-rate is not very good. They have been unfortunate to not have a home base due to political unrest in Hyderabad, but have found some late momentum and the perfect team combination. They were also in a similar situation last year and went on to become champs. They can draw on that for inspiration.
KINGS XI PUNJAB Current Status: Eighth in the table (8 points, 12 matches). Remaining matches: 2 (at home: vs Deccan Chargers and vs CSK) Semifinal equation: They’re out of contention. After a disastrous start, they have started playing well and looking to spoil the party of teams aspiring to get into the semis.
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