IPL 2024 Playoffs: Teams Set For Qualifier 1 And Eliminator Matches

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs by defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 27 runs. This victory made RCB the fourth and final team to qualify, joining Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the playoffs.

RCB needed to win by at least 18 runs to surpass CSK for a playoff spot. Both teams, along with Delhi Capitals (DC), ended the league stage with 14 points each. However, RCB's 27-run win allowed them to surpass CSK's Net Run Rate (NRR).

After being asked to bat first, RCB posted a total of 218/5 in their 20 overs. They needed to restrict CSK to 201 or fewer runs to qualify, which they achieved by limiting CSK to 191/7 in 20 overs. This marked RCB's ninth qualification for the IPL playoffs. Conversely, CSK failed to qualify for only the third time in their 15 editions of the tournament.

The Qualifier 1 match of IPL 2024 will feature KKR and either RR or SRH. KKR, with 19 points from 13 matches, is set to finish as the top-ranked team at the league stage. The second-place finish is contested between Rajasthan and Hyderabad.

Qualifier 1 is played between the top two teams at the end of league stage matches. Rajasthan Royals, with 16 points, need to beat Kolkata Knight Riders in their final league match on Sunday to secure second place. They will also finish in the top two if SRH loses their last league game against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday.

Sunrisers Hyderabad, with 15 points, will hope for an RR loss and aim to win their final league match against PBKS to finish behind KKR. If both RR and SRH lose, Qualifier 1 will be played between KKR and RR at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, May 21.

RCB has finished in fourth place and will face either RR or SRH in the IPL 2024 Eliminator at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, May 22. The Eliminator is contested between the third and fourth-placed teams after the league stage concludes.

Qualifier 2 will be held on Friday, May 24 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium between the winner of the Eliminator and the loser of Qualifier 1. The team winning Qualifier 1 will directly advance to the IPL 2024 final in Chennai on Sunday, May 26.