Mumbai Indians, who endured a forgettable start to their campaign, winning only one of their first five matches, have scripted a remarkable turnaround. The five-time champions bounced back in spectacular fashion, winning seven of their next eight games to seal a playoff berth
Currently sitting fourth on the points table, Mumbai boast the best Net Run Rate (NRR) among the four qualified sides, a factor that could play a pivotal role in determining final positions
A win over Punjab Kings could catapult Mumbai into the top spot, depending on the outcomes of other fixtures. This resurgence under Hardik Pandya’s leadership has given them a realistic shot at finishing in the top two, which would allow them to feature in Qualifier 1. Even if they lose that encounter, they’d still have a second chance to make the final by playing in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator
Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have 17 points and are currently placed second. However, their recent loss to Delhi Capitals has made their top-two aspirations considerably more challenging. A defeat to MI would likely see them drop to third or even fourth, relegating them to the Eliminator scheduled for May 30
For PBKS to remain in the top two, they must defeat Mumbai and also hope that both Gujarat Titans (18 points) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (17 points) falter in their respective final matches
RCB, with 17 points from 13 games, can seal the top spot if they manage to beat Lucknow Super Giants. However, if they lose and Mumbai win, MI will leapfrog them to the summit. Should MI suffer a defeat on Monday, they will be locked into the fourth position regardless of other results
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