Hardik Pandya shows mirror to Sanjay Manjrekar on Mumbai Indians' chances of qualifying for playoffs in IPL 2024

Mumbai Indians defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad to end their four-match losing streak. They are mathematically alive to qualify for the playoffs in the Indian Premier League 2024. But skipper Hardik Pandya refused to buy the crazy calculations.

“I’m not sure about what mathematical scenario we are talking about. However, I’m more keen on playing good cricket,” Hardik said in the post-match presentation when asked by Sanjay Manjrekar about his team’s chances of making it to the second round.

Indian Premier League 2024 Points Pos Team P W L D T NR Points NRR 1 11 8 3 0 0 0 16 1.453 2 10 8 2 0 0 0 16 0.622 3 11 6 5 0 0 0 12 0.700 4 11 6 5 0 0 0 12 -0.065 5 11 6 5 0 0 0 12 -0.371 6 11 5 6 0 0 0 8 -0.442 7 11 4 7 0 0 0 8 -0.049 8 11 4 7 0 0 0 8 -0.187 9 12 4 8 0 0 0 8 -0.212 10 11 4 7 0 0 0 8 -1.320 View full table

This was MI’s first victory in the last games. However, they were able to move up to the ninth spot in the points table. In addition to MI, three teams are tied for eighth place: Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Compared to the five-time champs, others have played lesser games. Delhi Capitals have registered 10 points. Chennai Super Kings (12 points), SRH (12 points), and Lucknow Super Giants (12 points) are also fighting for top spots.

If other games go their way, MI have a chance to either catch up with or surpass these seven teams. With 16 points apiece, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals lead the play-off race by a significant margin.

MI have two games remaining against the Lucknow Super Giants and the Kolkata Knight Riders. They must first ensure that they win both games. Their work won’t be done, though, because they will be depend on the outcomes of other teams to advance in the tournament.

For them, it would be vital that the league’s top two teams RR and KKR finish on the top. The Sunrisers vs. Super Giants game will also determine a lot for MI because the loser of that contest should lose in the remaining games in order to finish with 12 points.

In order to maintain MI’s chances of making it to the playoffs, CSK must also lose their final three games in order to finish the season with 12 points.

The remaining teams, who are currently ranked in the bottom four, also need to finish with less than 12 points in order for MI to qualify.

Despite everything, MI will have to count on the NRR of other teams to advance in the league.

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