IPL 2021 playoffs scenarios for defending champions Mumbai Indians

In order to qualify for the playoffs, Mumbai Indians needs to first win today's game and that too with a huge margin. Check IPL 2021 playoffs schedule and match timings here

The defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) would be chasing an improbable chance of IPL 2021 playoffs qualification, when it will play its last league this season against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi today. After Kolkata Knight Riders’ big win over Rajasthan Royals last night, MI’s chances for playoffs has diminished comprehensively but the defending champions are trying to make impossible as Ishan Kishan provided a stupendous start followed by Suryakumar's blitzkrieg. Mumbai Indians needs to bowl out SRH inside 66 runs to qualify for playoffs. But the defending champions failed to do so and thus they are out of IPL 2021 playoffs race. 

 
Check SRH vs MI LIVE SCORE AND MATCH UPDATES HERE

In order to qualify for the playoffs, Mumbai Indians needs to first win today’s game and that too with a huge margin.

MI possibilities for playoffs 2021
 
For MI, the best scenario is tied fourth with KKR, which can happen if they win their last game against SRH. But that would almost certainly mean KKR are through given their much higher NRR. 
 
Here's how tough it is for the defending champions to catch up with KKR's NRR. If MI were to bat first and score 220 against SRH and then bowl them out for 50 (which would beat the record margin of 146 for all IPL seasons) ie MI needs to win against SRH by 171 runs today. 

KKR's win means PBKS and RR can no longer make the playoffs. RR will finish 7th and PBKS can at best finish tied fifth. The race boils down to KKR and MI, one already on 14 points and the other with a possibility of getting there.

2021 IPL points table and team rankings

2021 IPL latest news 
 
How can RCB finish in top 2
 
Delhi Capitals is assured of finishing at number 1 with no ties even if Rishabh Pant-led side lose its last game against RCB.
 
CSK can be either second by themselves (if RCB lose to DC) or in a tie with RCB. But even in a tie, its vastly superior net run rate would see them finish second.

 
RCB can tie with CSK by beating DC, but that will almost certainly not be enough to make the top two
 
Teams in IPL 2021 playoffs
 
The bottom-line: DC and CSK will almost certainly face off to enter the finals directly in the knock-out stage. Almost as surely, RCB will take on KKR in the first eliminator.
 
IPL 2021 playoffs schedule and match timings:
 

Date	Knockout phase	Matches	Timings (IST)	Venue
10-10-2021	Qualifier 1	Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings	7:30 PM	Dubai International Stadium
11-10-2021	Eliminator	Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders	7:30 PM	Sharjah Cricket Stadium
13-10-2021	Qualifier 2	Losing team in Qualifier 1  vs Winning team in Eliminator	7:30 PM	Sharjah Cricket Stadium
15-10-2021	FINAL	Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2	7:30 PM	Dubai International Stadium

2021 IPL playoffs and final schedule

IPL 2021 points table ahead of today's double headers

Teams	Play	Won	Loss	Tie	NR	PTS	NRR
DC	13	9	3	0	0	20	0.526
CSK	14	10	5	0	0	18	0.455
RCB	13	8	5	0	0	16	-0.159
KKR	14	7	7	0	0	14	0.587
PBKS	14	6	8	0	0	12	-0.001
MI	13	6	7	0	0	12	-0.048
RR	14	5	9	0	0	10	-0.993
SRH	13	3	10	0	0	6	-0.422