The IPL league stage has concluded, with the final match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders being canceled due to rain.
The 70th match of the league was abandoned without a single ball being bowled, bringing an end to the regular season. With all league matches now complete, the stage is set for the highly anticipated playoffs.
The playoff round will commence with Qualifier 1, featuring Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), scheduled for May 21 in Ahmedabad. The eliminator match, pitting Rajasthan Royals against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), will also be held at the same venue on May 22.
League Standings and Performance
Kolkata Knight Riders topped the points table with an impressive 20 points from 14 matches. Sunrisers Hyderabad secured the second spot with 17 points. Despite also accumulating 17 points, Rajasthan Royals missed out on Qualifier 1 due to a lower Net Run Rate (NRR). The Royals, who had been dominant early in the season, ended their league campaign with four consecutive defeats, their last match being washed out by rain in Guwahati.
Royal Challengers Bangalore staged a dramatic comeback to clinch the fourth spot, surpassing Chennai Super Kings (CSK) based on NRR.
Playoff Schedule
- Qualifier 1: KKR vs. SRH on May 21 in Ahmedabad.
- Eliminator: Rajasthan Royals vs. RCB on May 22 in Ahmedabad.
- Qualifier 2: The losing team of Qualifier 1 will face the winner of the Eliminator on May 24 in Chennai.
- Final: The final showdown will be between the winner of Qualifier 1 and the winner of Qualifier 2 on May 26 in Chennai.
The playoffs promise to be thrilling, with KKR and SRH vying for a direct spot in the final. Rajasthan Royals and RCB will battle it out in the eliminator, hoping to keep their championship dreams alive. Fans are eagerly anticipating these high-stakes matches, which will determine this season’s IPL champion.
