Calculation for MI to Qualify: How Much Run Rate is Required for Mumbai to Play IPL 2023 Playoffs?

It wouldn’t be wrong to state that Mumbai Indians struggled for most part of the first innings of a must-win match in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2023. A match which could well be their last of the season, MI have allowed 10th placed Sunrisers Hyderabad to put in front of them a 201-run target at the Wankhede Stadium.

Indians, who would’ve wanted to restrict Sunrisers to a below par total before sealing the run-chase as quick as possible especially after captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bowl, failed to pick early wickets which resulted in visiting opening batters Vivrant Sharma (69) and Mayank Agarwal (83) scoring individual half-centuries in a 83-ball 140-run partnership.

Required to chase down what will be the third-highest successful run-chase in IPL matches played at this venue, Rohit Sharma and his men face a daunting challenge at the moment. Although they have already sealed a couple of run-chases in excess of 200 runs at their home ground this season, they will have to put on display a third one at a brisk pace in order to improve their NRR (Net Run Rate).

How Much Run Rate is Required for Mumbai to Play IPL 2023 Playoffs?

MI will get eliminated from IPL 2023 if they lose this match. With their NRR of -0.128 lower than that of Rajasthan Royals (0.148), the hosts won’t be able to qualify for the playoffs with only 14 points in front of their name.

Indians will stay in contention if they defeat Hyderabad irrespective of the over in which they chase down a target. However, that will change completely if Royal Challengers Bangalore defeat Gujarat Titans at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium tonight irrespective of the margin.

Hence, for Mumbai to have a better NRR than Bangalore (currently at 0.180), they will have to register a victory within 11.4 overs. If they chase the total after this mark, they will have to hope for GT to defeat RCB or rain to abandon the match for them to qualify to the next round.

UPDATE: Mumbai chased down a 201-run target against Hyderabad in 18 overs. That said, their NRR of -0.044 is worse than Royal Challengers.