Can KKR Qualify for Playoffs in IPL 2023?

Kolkata Knight Riders have substantially hurt their chances of qualifying for Indian Premier League 2023 playoffs by losing their 12th match of the season to Rajasthan Royals by 9 wickets. In addition to losing the match, KKR have done themselves no favour by conceding 151 runs in just 13.1 overs.

A whirlwind of a batting innings from RR opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal saw him single-handedly stealing the show at the Eden Gardens tonight. Jaiswal, who scored 98* (47) comprising 12 fours and five sixes including a 26-run first over, registered the fastest IPL half-century.

Already defending a low innings total, Kolkata couldn’t afford to be at the receiving end of such an innings tonight. With them not being able to put curbs around a batter who batted at a strike rate of 208.51, it has resulted in their NRR (Net Run Rate) dropping quite low to -0.357.

Can KKR Qualify for Playoffs in IPL 2023?

It is worth a mention that Knight Riders are not entirely ruled out of contention for IPL 2023 playoffs. Having said that, making it to the Top Four from hereon will require nothing less than a miracle for them.

Currently at the seventh position with five wins and seven losses out of their 12 matches, it is needless to say that captain Nitish Rana and his men need to win both their remaining two matches.

Assuming they manage to defeat Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants in an away and home fixture respectively later this month, seven wins will hand them 14 points. KKR will then have to depend on several other teams’ results to hope for them qualifying for the playoffs.

That being said, as mentioned above, they are highly likely to be let down by their NRR even if everything happens according to them in the remaining 14 league matches of this season. In what hasn’t been the best of the seasons for them, Kolkata really needed to win the recently concluded match to not depend on other teams.