With eight points from 11 games, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings are both in the bottom four on the IPL 2024 points table. RCB’s slightly superior net run rate (-0.049) has put them at seventh place, but the margin is not insurmountable for PBKS (-0.187).

When they clash tonight, however, net run rate will not be priority for either side – for the losing team will be eliminated from the playoffs race in IPL 2024. If the game gets abandoned, both teams will be eliminated.

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As is evident, the most RCB or PBKS will reach is 14 points. Both sides are, thus, certain to finish behind both Kolkata Knight Riders (16) and Rajasthan Royals (16). With 14 points, Sunrisers Hyderabad are currently at third place.

Delhi Capitals will host Lucknow Super Giants on May 14. Since both teams are tied on 12 points, the winner of that clash will reach 14. In other words, at least four teams in the IPL league stage will finish on 14 points. To qualify, thus, any team outside these will require at least 14 points.

As is evident, whoever loses the PBKS versus RCB clash tonight will not make it beyond 12 points. Of course, winning tonight is a necessary condition for either side, and not a sufficient one. The side winning today will also need to win both their remaining matches in order to reach 14 – which, as we have seen, is a bare minimum.

Even that will not suffice. A win will take SRH to 16 points. If the winner of the DC-LSG clash wins their other match, they will reach 16 too. If both happen, even a hat-trick of wins will not be enough for tonight’s triumphant side.

And then, there is always that net run rate to take care of…