Sunrisers Hyderabad – #9
Played 10, Points 8, NRR -0.472
Remaining: LSG (h), GT (a), RCB (h), MI (a)
Sunrisers Hyderabad are the only team to have played fewer than 11 matches so far – they have played only ten, while five teams have already played 12. That means the last week will be the busiest for them, but it also means they have the best chance of making up lost ground, for they could still potentially double their current points tally of eight.
If SRH do win each of their last four matches and finish on 16, they will give themselves a great chance of qualification. It could still come down to net run-rate as five teams could potentially end up on 16 or more, but SRH will very much be in the mix.
If they lose this one, though, they will be at the mercy of several other results going their way, for as many as six teams, excluding SRH, can reach 16.
The other disadvantage for SRH is their home record: one win in five games this season. They have done better in away matches – three wins out of five – but their remaining away games are against teams which have pretty good home records this season: Mumbai Indians (four out of six) and Gujarat Titans (three out of six).
Lucknow Super Giants – #5
Played 11, Points 11, NRR 0.294
Remaining: SRH (a), MI (h), KKR (a)
Lucknow Super Giants have lost their way after a relatively strong start, collecting only three points from their last five games. However, they are still in charge of their own destiny: three wins in three games will take them to 17 points and assure them of qualification.
One loss, however, will put them in tricky territory, as up to five teams can finish on 16 or more points. For that to happen, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings will have to win all their matches; so if LSG don’t maximise the points from their remaining games, they will have to hope that other teams slip up.
Curiously, LSG can even make it to the top four with 13 points, but for that to happen, Titans, Chennai Super Kings and MI will have to win most of their games so that the other teams are stuck on 12 or fewer points.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo