There is one week to go until the top two sides meet in the first playoff game in the 2021 Indian Premier League, which will decide the first side through to the October 15 final.
Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are the only sides guaranteed a place in the knockout stage so far.
Here are the permutations to consider if Mumbai Indians are going to stand a chance of retaining their title, and to decide which of the other sides will be going home early.
Points table (October 3, 2021)
(Position; team; played; won; lost; net run rate; points)
- Chennai Super Kings 12 9 3 +0.829 18
- Delhi Capitals 12 9 3 +0.551 18
- Royal Challengers Bangalore 11 7 4 -0.200 14
- Kolkata Knight Riders 12 5 7 +0.302 10
- Punjab Kings 12 5 7 -0.236 10
- Rajasthan Royals 12 5 7 -0.337 10
- Mumbai Indians 12 5 7 -0.453 10
- Sunrisers Hyderabad 11 2 9 -0.490 4
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IPL fans before the game between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in Dubai on Sunday, September 19, 2021. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians supporters in Dubai ahead of the resumption of the league on Sunday, September 19. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians at the Dubai International Stadium. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A young Rohit Sharma fan at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Supporters arrive at the Dubai International Stadium for the first match of the remainder of the IPL 2021 season, which is being held in the UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
IPL fans in Dubai for the match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians fans at the Dubai International Stadium. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
IPL supporters at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
An MS Dhoni supporter in Dubai on Sunday. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Chennai Super Kings supporters in Dubai for the resumption of the IPL in UAE. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Permutations by team
Chennai Super Kings
Remaining fixtures
Mon Oct 4, v Delhi, Dubai
Thu Oct 7, v Punjab, Dubai
What they need to do
After an off year last season in the UAE – the lone season in history when they failed to make the playoffs – they are straight back on the horse this time, as the first side to earn qualification.
Given the health of their net run rate, a win against either Delhi or Punjab would all but guarantee a place in the qualifier-final on Sunday, October 10. Two wins would make a top-two finish certain.
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Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant guided Delhi Capitals to a comfortable win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday, September 22, 2021. Sportzpics for IPL -
Shikhar Dhawan hit 42 for Delhi Capitals in Dubai on Wednesday. Sportzpics for IPL -
Kagiso Rabada, right, picked up three wickets for Delhi Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium. Sportzpics for IPL -
Axar Patel, left, celebrates the wicket of Kane Williamson - captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sportzpics for IPL -
Abdul Samad of Sunrisers Hyderabad hits a boundary. Sportzpics for IPL -
Anrich Nortje of Delhi Capitals appeals for the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha. Sportzpics for IPL
Delhi Capitals
Remaining fixtures
Mon Oct 4, v Chennai, Dubai
Fri Oct 8, v Bangalore, Dubai
What they need to do
Winning each of their remaining games would guarantee a place in Sunday’s qualifier – meaning two shots, if required, at a place in the final.
If they were to beat Chennai and lose to Bangalore, the latter would have a chance of matching their points total of 20 by winning all three of their remaining matches.
But Delhi’s run rate far exceeds that of Bangalore, so they appear well placed to play a qualifier against Chennai.
Two losses would mean Bangalore could potentially beat them to a place in the qualifier - but at least an eliminator place is already guaranteed.
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ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE 2021 PLAYER SALARIES: 1. Virat Kohli 170million rupees ($2.3m). AFP -
2. Kyle Jamieson 150m rupees ($2.03m). Sportzpics for IPL -
3. Glenn Maxwell 142.5m rupees ($1.93m). Sportzpics for IPL -
4. AB de Villiers 110m rupees ($1.5m). AFP -
5. Yuzvendra Chahal 60m rupees ($810,000). Sportzpics for BCCI -
6. Dan Christian 48m rupees ($650,000). AFP -
7. Navdeep Saini 30m rupees ($407,000). Sportzpics for BCCI -
8. Mohammed Siraj 26m rupees ($350,000). Sportzpics for BCCI -
9. Wanindu Hasaranga 5m rupees ($68,000). AP -
9 Dushmantha Chameera 5m rupees ($68,000). Getty -
11. Harshal Patel 2m rupees ($27,000). Sportzpics for IPL -
11. Devdutt Padikkal 2m rupees. Sportzpics for BCCI -
11. Sachin Baby, above, Tim David, Akash Deep, Mohammed Azharudeen, Pavan Deshpande, Shahbaz Ahamad, S Prabhudesai, Rajat Patidar, KS Bharat 2 m rupees each. AFP
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Remaining fixtures
Sun Oct 3, v Punjab, Sharjah
Wed Oct 6, v Hyderabad, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 8, v Delhi, Dubai
What they need to do
Virat Kohli’s side could still force their way into the top two, and earn a place in the qualifier, if they win all three fixtures in dominant fashion.
However, a place in the first eliminator final appears the more likely option – although it remains just about possible they could miss out entirely.
They have a four-point cushion on the four sides below them – each of whom have two matches still to play.
Of those sides, only Kolkata – in fourth – have a superior run rate to Bangalore, so Kohli’s men are still enviably placed.
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Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine, right, guided Kolkata Knight Riders to victory against Delhi Capitals at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Sportzpics for IPL -
Nitish Rana top-scored for Kolkata Knight Riders in Sharjah on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. Sportzpics for IPL -
Kagiso Rabada of Delhi Capitals celebrates the wicket of Shubman Gill in Sharjah. Sportzpics for IPL -
Ravichandran Ashwin of Delhi Capitals go into an altercation with Tim Southee in Sharjah. Sportzpics for IPL -
Venkatesh Iyer of Kolkata Knight Riders celebrates the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer. Sportzpics for IPL -
Sunil Narine celebrates after taking the wicket of Shreyas Iyer of Delhi Capitals. Sportzpics for IPL -
Lockie Ferguson dismissed Steve Smith at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Sportzpics for IPL -
Rishabh Pant top-scored for Delhi Capitals. Sportzpics for IPL
Kolkata Knight Riders
Remaining fixtures
Sun Oct 3, v Hyderabad, Dubai
Thu Oct 7, v Rajasthan, Sharjah
What they need to do
Kolkata are the only side in the league – other than the top two – to have a positive net run-rate.
As such, it is highly improbable they would be denied an eliminator place if they were to win both their remaining matches.
That would even be enough to leapfrog Bangalore into third, if Virat Kohli’s side were to lose all their three remaining games.
Lose out to either Hyderabad or Rajasthan, and Kolkata would be lucky if they were not beaten to fourth place by any of the three sides below them.
Losing both games would see them eliminated.
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Hardik Pandya scored an unbeaten 40 as Mumbai defeated Punjab Kings at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. Sportzpics for IPL -
Saurabh Tiwary hit 45 for Mumbai Indians against Punjab Kings in Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for IPL -
Suryakumar Yadav of Mumbai Indians is clean bowled on Tuesday. Sportzpics for IPL -
Ravi Bishnoi of Punjab Kings celebrates the wicket of Rohit Sharma. Sportzpics for IPL -
Aiden Markram top-scored for Punjab Kings. Sportzpics for IPL -
Kieron Pollard celebrates the wicket of KL Rahul. Sportzpics for IPL -
Jasprit Bumrah of Mumbai Indians successfully appeals for the wicket of Nicholas Pooran. Sportzpics for IPL
Punjab Kings
Remaining fixtures
Sun Oct 3, v Bangalore, Sharjah
Thu Oct 7, v Chennai, Dubai
What they need to do
KL Rahul’s side face a daunting task. In all likelihood, they will need to win both their remaining matches, against table-topping CSK and a Bangalore side who are still fighting for their own progress.
If they do win both, they will have to hope Kolkata do not do similar. It is mathematically possible they could turn around the substantial run rate difference, but not realistic.
If Punjab win two, Kolkata win one, and Rajasthan and Mumbai win two, it would be down to run rate as to who takes fourth place. Currently, Punjab’s is superior.
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Jason Roy smashed 60 on debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals at the Dubai International Stadium on Monday, September 27, 2021. Sportzpics for IPL -
Jason Roy top-scored for Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Dubai International Stadium on Monday. Sportzpics for IPL -
Kane Williamson anchored Sunrisers Hyderabad's innings against Rajasthan Royals on Monday. Sportzpics for IPL -
Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Sunrisers Hyderabad celebrates the wicket of Evin Lewis. Sportzpics for IPL -
Sanju Samson of Rajasthan Royals smashed 82 against Hyderabad on Monday. Sportzpics for IPL -
Sanju Samson celebrates his fifty in Dubai on Monday. Sportzpics for IPL -
Sanju Samson hits a boundary. Sportzpics for IPL
Rajasthan Royals
Remaining fixtures
Tue Oct 5, v Mumbai, Sharjah
Thu Oct 7, v Kolkata, Sharjah
What they have to do
Rajasthan arrested a run of three defeats in spectacular fashion when they beat Chennai in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night, and thus breathed life into their playoff hopes.
Now they face another game which is as good as a final, when they play Mumbai in Sharjah on Tuesday.
Defeat for either would be as good as a knockout blow – even if they might still mathematically be alive to fight for fourth place.
In all likelihood, Rajasthan need to win both their remaining games – which would put them above Kolkata - then hope Punjab do not do similar.
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MUMBAI INDIANS 2021 PLAYER SALARIES: 1. Rohit Sharma 150 million rupees ($2.04m). AFP -
2. Hardik Pandya 110m rupees ($1.5m). Sportzpics for BCCI -
3. Krunal Pandya 88m rupees ($1.2m). Sportzpics for BCCI -
4. Jasprit Bumrah 70m rupees ($950,000). Sportzpics for BCCI -
5. Ishan Kishan 62m rupees ($840,000). Sportzpics for BCCI -
6. Kieron Pollard 54m rupees ($730,000). Sportzpics for BCCI -
7. Nathan Coulter-Nile 50m rupees ($680,000). Sportzpics for BCCI -
8. Adam Milne 32m rupees ($435,000). AP -
8. Suryakumar Yadav 32m rupees. AP -
8. Trent Boult 32m rupees. Sportzpics for BCCI -
11. Quinton de Kock 28m rupees ($380,000). Sportzpics for BCCI -
12. Piyush Chawla 24m rupees ($326,000). Sportzpics for IPL -
13. Chris Lynn 20m rupees ($272,000). Sportzpics for IPL -
14. Rahul Chahar 19m rupees ($258,000). Sportzpics for BCCI -
15. Anmolpreet Singh 8m rupees ($108,000). 16. Dhawal Kulkarni (above) 7.5m rupees ($102,000). Sportzpics for IPL -
17. Saurabh Tiwary 5m rupees ($68,000). Sportzpics for BCCI -
17. Jimmy Neesham 5m rupees. Getty -
17. Jayant Yadav 5m rupees. Sportzpics for BCCI -
20. Arjun Tendulkar, above, Marco Jansen, Anukul Roy, Aditya Tare, Mohsin Khan 2m rupees each.
Mumbai Indians
Remaining fixtures
Tue Oct 5, v Rajasthan, Sharjah
Fri Oct 8, v Hyderabad, Abu Dhabi
What they have to do
Mumbai’s title defence has shuddered to a halt since the tournament decamped to UAE. They have lost four of five matches since the season resumed, leaving them perilously close to an early exit.
If they beat both Rajasthan and Hyderabad that could be enough for fourth, but they would be reliant on each of Kolkata and Punjab losing one of their two remaining matches.
If either – or both – those sides win each of their remaining games, Mumbai are realistically out.
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Kedar Jadhav of Sunrisers Hyderabad is bowled by Ravi Bishnoi of Punjab Kings dueing their IPL 2021 match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday, September 25, 2021. Sportzpics for IPL -
Ravi Bishnoi was the star bowler for Punjab Kings in Sharjah on Saturday. Sportzpics for IPL -
Mohammad Shami of Punjab Kings celebrates after takes a wicket of David Warner. Sportzpics for IPL -
Jason Holder of Sunrisers Hyderabad fought valiantly as he hit 47 not out. Sportzpics for IPL -
Aiden Markram top-scored for Punjab Kings with 27. Sportzpics for IPL -
Rashid Khan of Sunrisers Hyderabad appeals for the wicket of Chris Gayle. Sportzpics for IPL -
Jason Holder also picked up three wickets in Sharjah on Saturday. Sportzpics for IPL
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Remaining fixtures
Sun Oct 3, v Kolkata, Dubai
Wed Oct 6, v Bangalore, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 8, v Mumbai
What they have to do
Hyderabad must be fed up they are still here, seeing as they are long been unable to qualify.
With three matches still to play in the final week though, all against sides who are pursuing a place in the top four, they could still have a say in who advances.
