EXPLAINED: How can Delhi Capitals still qualify for IPL 2024 playoffs after victory over LSG, here's the scenario

Delhi Capitals (DC) finished their IPL 2024 league stage campaign on Tuesday with a 19-run win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 14. However, their own playoff fate now rests on the results of other matches.

Delhi Capitals' playoff hopes hang in the balance

Here's why:

Rishabh Pant-led DC ended their season with 14 points from 14 matches, defeating LSG by 19 runs in their final game. Unfortunately, their playoff qualification is no longer in their own control. They need at least one, and potentially two, other teams to also finish on 14 points but with a worse Net Run Rate (NRR) than DC's current -0.377. The upcoming clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) holds the key as a win for Chennai would knock Faf Du Plessis-led side out of playoff contention. So, DC will now have to wait and see how the remaining matches unfold to determine their playoff destiny.

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Delhi Capitals have a narrow path left to reach the IPL 2024 playoffs.

Here's a breakdown of the scenarios that could see DC qualify:

Ideal Scenario:

CSK defeat RCB: This eliminates RCB from playoff contention.
SRH lose both remaining matches by a big margin: This hurts SRH's Net Run Rate (NRR), potentially pushing them below DC's NRR.
LSG lose to Mumbai Indians on May 17: This ensures LSG doesn't sneak into the playoffs.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Gujarat Titans (GT) beat SRH: This further lowers SRH's NRR.
If all these conditions are met, DC would sneak into the playoffs despite finishing with only 14 points.

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However, there are some roadblocks to consider:

SRH win either of their remaining matches: This would eliminate DC as SRH would reach 16 points.
RCB win against CSK: Both CSK and RCB would then finish with 14 points and a better NRR than DC, ending their playoff hopes.
LSG win against MI by a huge margin (practically impossible): This could potentially lift their NRR above DC's, eliminating them.
Overall, DC's qualification hinges on other teams losing and having a lower NRR. It's a complex scenario, and they'll have to watch the remaining matches unfold with bated breath.

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