Scenario for KKR to Qualify: Can Kolkata Knight Riders Play IPL 2023 Playoffs?

If truth be told, it is quite an achievement for Kolkata Knight Riders that they are playing their last league match of the ongoing 16th season of the Indian Premier League without being officially eliminated from the race of playoffs. That being said, finishing among Top Four teams is not going to be a mean task for them from hereon.

First things first, a determined unit led by captain Nitish Rana has reduced Lucknow Super Giants to 73/5 right after the halfway mark. Rana, whose decision to bowl first at the toss invited criticism, has proved the same correct thus far. What Knight Riders will have to ensure is that they don’t let go of this advantage in this innings before sealing a run-chase as early as possible.

With Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran batting at the Eden Gardens at the moment, KKR can’t afford to let them build a game-changing six-wicket partnership in the second half of the innings.

Scenario for KKR to Qualify for IPL 2023 Playoffs

Currently at the seventh position on the points table on the back of six wins and seven losses in their first 13 matches of the season, Kolkata need to defeat Super Giants in the first place to stay in contention for qualification on the last day of the league phase.

Apart from winning on Saturday, they will also have to ensure a better NRR (Net Run Rate) than Rajasthan Royals (0.148). Readers must note that the home team’s current NRR is -0.256. Hence, only a massive win will allow them to eliminate Royals tonight. If they are unable to do so, KKR will become the fourth team to get eliminated from the tournament.

Furthermore, Rana and his men will then require Sunrisers Hyderabad to defeat Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday. Much like Knight Riders’ win, Indians and Royal Challengers’ defeat should also be of sizeable margins.

If it happens, the same will pave way for Kolkata to play IPL 2023 playoffs. Readers must note that Mumbai and Bangalore’s current NRR is -0.128 and 0.180 respectively.

UPDATE: Knight Riders have been knocked out of IPL 2023.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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