RR Playoffs Qualification Scenario: Can Rajasthan Royals Finish in Top 4 of IPL 2023?

In IPL 2023, RR will be competing with at least six other teams for a playoff spot. And after losing four of the last five matches, the last season’s runners up have their task cut out in the close playoff race.

IPL 2023 playoffs will see the top four teams contest in four matches – Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and then the Final – to decide the winner of the 16th season. The top two earn a second chance at making the final.

The top two will face in the Qualifier 1 with the winner of that match earning a direct entry into the final, while loser gets a second shot at making the final via Qualifier 2, where they will face the winner of the Eliminator.

In the Eliminator, the third placed team and the fourth placed team faceoff in a knockout match. So, most teams, including Rajasthan Royals, will aim for the top two positions in the points table.

IPL 2023 Playoffs Schedule: Qualified Teams, Date, Time Table, Venues, Live Streaming Info

As it stands, Gujarat Titans are the table toppers with 16 points, while CSK are in second place with 13 points followed by Lucknow Super Giants in third place with 11 points. RR, who are in fourth position, can move up with a win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

RR are currently locked with three other teams on 10 points – Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings, but the Royals have a better Net Run Rate compared to the three other teams on 10 points.

The rest of the table is made up of Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals, who have slim chance of reaching the playoffs with 8 points, followed by the bottom-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad, who are on 6 points.

RR will play SRH, KKR, RCB and PBKS in their remaining four matches. RR has so far beaten CSK (twice), GT, SRH (reverse fixture) and DC once so far, while they have lost to LSG, GT (reverse fixture), RCB (reverse fixture), MI and PBKS (reverse fixture).

After losing five of ten matches, can Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals reach the playoffs for the second year in the row and also go all the way to lift their second IPL title?

RR IPL 2023 Playoffs Qualification Scenario

Scenario 1: RR need to win their remaining four matches, meaning they will have to do the double over SRH, beat KKR and avenge reverse fixture defeats over RCB and PBKS to give themselves the best chance of finishing in the top four.

If they win the four matches, RR will end up on 18 points, which may be enough for a top four finish. But they will need LSG, PBKS, RCB and MI to drop points. Also, they will want GT to beat RCB and MI.

Scenario 2: If RR win only three of their remaining matches, they will want the other teams that are on 10 and 11 points also to drop points as 16 points may be enough for a playoff spot. But, that depends on other teams results and NRR.

RR face challengers KKR, PBKS and RCB in their remaining fixtures. So, by beating those three, they will weaken at three challengers chances of making the playoffs. However, that four defeats in five matches may come back to haunt them in the end.

RR Playoffs race remaining IPL 2023 fixtures