Week 6 gave us our first round of eligibility and removal but there is plenty at stake in the final pair of group games. Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals were the initial sides to the playoffs while we stated an inevitable goodbye to Royal Challengers Bangalore following their rain-ruined game with Rajasthan Royals.
Week 7 starts with five franchises pursuing those two remaining playoff slots. What do we have in store over the remaining days?
Mumbai on the Brink
Mumbai Indians can join CSK and the Capitals in the next round if they beat Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday. Mumbai have the support of the bookmakers here since Rohit Sharma’s men go away at -161, while SRH are available at +130.
There’s certainly some possibility of an upset but everything is dependent upon how the Sunrisers react to this loss of key personnel. Jonny Bairstow and David Warner have both left to report for international duty before the World Cup therefore Hyderabad want Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill to measure up. Mumbai have less concerns and increased squad depth and they should seal that next playoff slot.
Friday Showdown
If Mumbai do undergo, Friday’s competition between Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders might have a big say in determining the final playoff place. Both teams are secured on 10 points ahead of the match and the winner will have the chance to battle it out with the Sunrisers for a top four finish. As for the chances, the current market is predictably tight with Kings XI Punjab marginal favourites at -105,followed closely by KKR at +100.
This could be as tight as the market indicates and while Kings hardly deserve to be classed as favourites, they possess the in-form batsmen who can decide the fate of the tie. It is around Chris Gayle and KL Rahul plus some overdue assistance from David Miller, and when these batsmen fire, we could anticipate Punjab to grab the points.
Closing Weekend
It is our final weekend of group games and from Sunday night, the first pair of playoff fixtures will probably be confirmed. It begins on Saturday morning as the Delhi Capitals host Rajasthan Royals and the two teams should still be in need of the points. The Royals have faint hopes of qualifying while Delhi are planning to finish within the top two.
The Capitals are several way forward in the markets at -175, while Rajasthan sit +137. There could be scope for an upset here nonetheless, and Delhi’s dramatic batting collapse against Chennai on Wednesday suggests they are running out of steam at the late stage of the season.
Next up are the Royal Challengers who sign off to another disappointing campaign. Sunrisers Hyderabad will be the visitors to the M Chinnaswamy and, while we wait for chances to come in with this one, SRH should start as slight favourites. RCB are the toughest team to forecast this season and with Hyderabad suffering from group withdrawals, Virat Kohli and his men have a fantastic opportunity to leave IPL 12 with a triumph.
On to Sunday and we begin with Kings XI Punjab hosting table toppers Chennai Super Kings. KXIP have a faint chance of qualifying at the time of writing but they are famous for slipping in form during the second half of the effort. We have seen signs of that in the second half of these groups and we anticipate the Super Kings to make the most and ship Punjab home.
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