The action on Sunday started with Mumbai and Punjab on 12 points apiece, both with a shot at getting to 14, the same as Rajasthan. With Punjab, the equation was tricky, as they went into the game against Chennai with a poor net run rate, but a win over Delhi Daredevils would have put Mumbai in.

It was Ashwin’s first season with Punjab, and first as captain, but for the team, it was all too familiar as they exited in the league phase for the ninth time in 11 tries.

Now we come to the last four games of the tournament. First up, Qualifier 1 between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai in Mumbai on Tuesday, followed by the Eliminator, then Qualifier 2, and the final on Sunday.