IPL 2024 Playoff scenarios: How can RR and SRH finish in top 2 of the points table?

Following their 27-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2024 match at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, May 18, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) became the fourth team to qualify for the playoffs. They joined Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, who had confirmed their top four berths earlier.

With 19 points from 13 matches, KKR are assured of finishing atop the IPL 2024 points table. Also, RCB will remain in fourth position, with 14 points from 14 matches. One of SRH or RR will occupy the No. 2 slot, and the same will be decided following Sunday's results.

Rajasthan Royals are second with 16 points from 13 matches, while Sunrisers Hyderabad are third with 15 points from 13 matches. SRH take on Punjab Kings in Hyderabad in the day match of the double-header, while RR face KKR in the evening game in Guwahati.

A win for Sunrisers against Punjab will take them to 17 points. They will finish second if the Knight Riders beat the Royals in the last match of the IPL 2024 league stage. In such a scenario, RR will be stuck on 16 points and finish third.

Meanwhile, if SRH go down to PBKS and RR beat KKR, Rajasthan will occupy the second position, while Hyderabad will finish third. In such a scenario, the Sunrisers will be stuck on 15 points while the Royals will end with 18 points.

In case both Sunrisers and Rajasthan lose their last league matches, RR (16 points) will finish second, while SRH (15 points) will finish third. If both matches are washed out, Rajasthan, with 17 points, will remain second, while Hyderabad, with 16 points, will finish third.

---

What if both SRH and RR finish on 16 points each in IPL 2024 points table?

There is another interesting scenario that could also play out. If SRH's match against PBKS is washed out and RR go down to KKR, both teams will finish on 16 points each.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (+0.406) have a superior net run rate to Rajasthan Royals (+0.273). However, RR would still finish above SRH in such a scenario.

As per IPL rules, in case of a tie between two teams after the league stage, the number of wins would determine who finishes higher in the standings. In the above scenario, RR will end the league stage with eight wins and SRH seven.

The second-ranked team in the IPL 2024 points table will meet KKR in Qualifier 1, while the third-placed side will face RCB in the Eliminator.