After 64 games over the past 52 days, Gujarat Titans are seated atop the table with Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants trailing them at second and third respectively with 15 points each. There are overall six matches left to be played in the league stage, but we are still not sure what the final complexion of the play-offs will look like. In that vein, we reminisce five instances when teams fought tooth and nail from the brink of elimination to seal a knockout berth in the past. (Pic: AFP)
Updated On: 2023-05-18 04:01 PM IST
Compiled by : Editor
KKR stunned one and all after qualifying for the IPL 2021 playoffs with only five wins in its seven league-stage matches. Having secured the fourth playoff spot, KKR continued its dream campaign in the playoffs. The side defeated both Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals in the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 respectively and sealed their second IPL final berth against Chennai Super Kings.
Having registered only six wins from 14 games, Sunrisers Hyderabad remains the only team in the tournament to have qualified for the IPL 2019 playoffs with just 12 points. The side edged past KKR and Punjab to finish in the last four on the basis of a better net run rate. Hyderabad registered three wins in a row after losing the first game and later went on to lose three more to finish with six points at the halfway mark of the league stage. In the second half of the tournament, they boasted two consecutive wins but ended up losing the last two matches. SRH were eventually through to the playoffs, separated by just one point from Rajasthan Royals and RCB - the bottom two teams in the standings.
In 2014, Mumbai Indians successfully chased down Rajasthan Royals’ 190-run target in just 14.4 overs for the fourth playoff spot. The win was their fourth in a row after a dismal start to their campaign with as many as five consecutive defeats. However, Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai went on to win seven of its nine league games to qualify for the Eliminator.
Virat Kohli-led RCB began the 2020 edition on a commanding note, winning five of their first seven games in the league stage. They faltered in the second half of the tournament, having eked out only two wins. They finished the league stage with four consecutive losses and as things got trickier in the playoff race, they edged past KKR on the basis of a better NRR.
Rajasthan Royals had a bittersweet campaign in 2015, having started on a winning note but ended up succumbing to a five-match winless streak. As fate would have it, Royals went on to win two of their last four league games to book the fourth spot in the points table and qualify for playoffs.
