WPL 2024: How each team can make the Playoffs

RACE TO THE FINISH LINE

Delhi Capitals & Mumbai Indians, the finalists from the inaugural edition, are both a win away from qualification.

Points table after match #15

Teams Mat Won Lost Points NRR
DC 6 4 2 8 1.059
MI 6 4 2 8 0.375
RCB 6 3 3 6 0.038
UPW 7 3 4 6 -0.365
GG 5 1 4 2 -1.278

 

Remaining fixtures

MI vs Giants, Mar 9

Capitals vs RCB, Mar 10

Giants vs Warriorz, Mar 11

MI vs RCB, Mar 12

DC vs Giants, Mar 13

Delhi Capitals & Mumbai Indians

The finalists from the inaugural edition last year are both well placed and sit in the top two spots with eight points apiece. Both have the same opponents to face in their last two games - RCB and Giants. A win is enough to secure a Playoffs berth for both while two wins could give them a realistic shot to a direct spot in the finals. Capitals are ahead of MI currently in terms of NRR and should they win their last two matches only by a run each, MI would need to have a combined victory margin of at least 83 runs (presuming all make 160 each in the first innings). In the unlikely scenario of Capitals and MI losing both their remaining matches, RCB would finish on top with ten points with a three-way tie on eight points each by Capitals, MI, and the winner of Warriorz-Giants clash.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

RCB have been an improved lot from a disastrous campaign in 2023, sitting on six points from as many games with a positive NRR separating them from the fourth-placed Warriorz, with a game in hand. Two wins will assure them of a qualification and even possibly a top of the table finish if other results go their way. One win will also put them in contention given only one of Warriorz or Giants can get to eight points. If RCB loses both their remaining fixtures and get stuck on six points, they would require Giants to beat Warriors and then lose to at least one of Capitals or MI.

UP Warriorz

The stunning one-run win against the table toppers Capitals have kept the flame alive for Warriorz who are on six points with just a solitary game in hand. The best case scenario for Alyssa Healy-led Warriorz is RCB losing both their remaining fixtures and them beating Giants in their final league game and getting to eight points. If Warriorz lose to Giants by one run chasing 160, they would require the combined defeat margin for RCB in their last two matches to be 54 runs or more (assuming they chase 160 on each occasion) to break the six-point deadlock on a superior NRR.

Gujarat Giants

The wooden spoon holders from WPL 2023 haven't had a big turnaround in their fortunes this time as well, with a solitary win to show for after five matches. The most direct way of them going through is by winning all their matches left - two of them against the two table toppers - and reach eight points and hope RCB drops both their games and stay on six. A defeat to Warriorz would mean curtains to them irrespective of other results while a defeat in any of the other games would mean they would need RCB also to lose both their remaining matches and get into a three-way tie at six points each for last place. If it comes down to NRR, Giants are worst placed at -1.278 and would need a cumulative winning margin of nearly 120 runs to just take it to a positive territory.