With their playoff spots already secured, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will take to the field for their final league games of the IPL 2024 season on Sunday. SRH will face Punjab Kings in the first match of the day, while RR will meet KKR in the evening fixture.
KKR, currently sitting atop the standings with 19 points, will be looking to maintain their top position. However, RR, with 16 points, can potentially leapfrog them with a victory. Meanwhile, SRH, who have 15 points, can also move into second place with a win, provided RR loses their match.
The results of these two matches will have a significant impact on the playoff scenarios. KKR, as the table-toppers, will face the second-placed team in Qualifier 1 in Ahmedabad. The winner of this match will advance directly to the final, while the loser will drop down to Qualifier 2.
RR, if they finish in second place, will have the opportunity to face the third-placed team in the Eliminator. The winner of this match will then face the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2. The winner of Qualifier 2 will join the victor of Qualifier 1 in the final.
The fourth-placed team in the league phase, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), will take on the third-placed team in the Eliminator. RCB secured their playoff spot in dramatic fashion on Saturday, pipping Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a high-scoring thriller.
With just one round of league matches remaining, the excitement is building as the teams vie for the best possible positions heading into the playoffs. The final league games are set to provide plenty of drama and intrigue, with the playoff picture still very much up for grabs.
