Scenarios - What do Royals, RCB, CSK and KKR need to do to make the playoffs?
None of them are through yet, but Chennai Super Kings have the most breathing room and Rajasthan Royals' path is straightforward enough
MS Dhoni and Sanju Samson both still have work to do to make the final four • BCCI
Rajasthan Royals
Rem mat: RCB (h), PBKS (a)
Rajasthan Royals returned to winning ways with a spectacular performance against Kolkata Knight Riders after five defeats in their previous six games, but they have little room to relax. If they lose to Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday, the maximum points they can finish on is 14, which will leave them depending on several results going in their favour to qualify for the playoffs.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Rem mat: RR (a), SRH (a), GT (h)
Royal Challengers are in a similar position as Royals in that they need to win all games to finish on 16, but there are a couple of crucial differences: they need to win three on the trot, not two; and their NRR is languishing at -0.345.
Chennai Super Kings
Rem mat: KKR (h), DC (a)
A win against Knight Riders will ensure that Chennai Super Kings enter the playoffs, but it won't yet confirm a top-two finish, as Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants can get to 17 or more points.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Rem mat: CSK (a), LSG (h)
Wins in their two remaining games will take Knight Riders to 14, which will still leave them relying on other results. Their best case would be for Titans to win their last two, Royal Challengers to beat Royals and then lose their last two, Super Giants and Royals to lose their last two, and Punjab Kings to lose to Delhi Capitals in their return game on Wednesday. Then Titans, Super Kings and Mumbai Indians will qualify, leaving Knight Riders and Punjab Kings to fight for the fourth spot on 14 points. There isn't much to choose between their NRRs at the moment (-0.357 for KKR and -0.268 for Punjab Kings) which means Knight Riders will still have to win handsomely to lift their NRR.
S Rajesh is stats editor of ESPNcricinfo. @rajeshstats