Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians have played 10 of their 14 matches in the league stage of the 2024 IPL. They only have six points apiece, though ninth-placed MI (-0.272) are just ahead of RCB (-0.415), bottom of the pile, on net run rate.

Yet, both MI and RCB are still in the hunt for the playoffs – and not only if the other doesn’t qualify. Here’s how.

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First things first: even if they win each of their four remaining matches, MI or RCB will not be able to catch up with Rajasthan Royals. The best they can hope for is a second place. For MI or RCB to qualify, thus, RR has to qualify as well.

Kolkata Knight Riders are currently second and Lucknow Super Giants third, but KKR have a match in hand, which makes them the likelier of the two to qualify. Let us, thus, try to figure out a way for RR, KKR, MI, and RCB to be the playoffs sides.

Let us classify the teams based on their current positions in the points table: Target (RCB, MI); Top Two (RR, KKR); and Bottom Six (the others – Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings).

It is important to note that MI will not be playing RCB again this season. Let us classify the remaining matches into the following categories.

Target matches (involving RCB or MI)

It is obviously best that both RCB and MI win their four remaining matches – RCB against GT, PBKS, DC, CSK, and MI against KKR (twice), SRH, and LSG. That will take them to 14 points apiece.

RR versus KKR

The outcome of this match is inconsequential. Let us, for now, give it to RR.

One of the Top Two (RR, KKR) versus one of Bottom Six (CSK, LSG, GT, MI, DC, PBKS)

Top two need to win these in order to keep the Bottom Six from catching up with RCB or MI.

Between two teams in the Bottom Six

The idea is to prevent any of these sides to take a big lead over the other five. For every match, the lower-placed of the two teams needs to win. If the rest of the IPL 2024 league stage is played out in this manner, this is what the points table will look like.

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If the rest of the league stage is played out the way mentioned above, both RCB and MI can qualify. The qualification path for exactly one of them is simpler.