May 12, 2009

KKR Cannot Reach IPL 2009 Semifinals

Leave a Comment
Can Kolkata Knight Riders still reach the semi-finals of IPL 2009? I don't think so. I think they have become the first team to be out of contention for the semi-finals. In my article yesterday, titled "Can Kolkata reach Semifinals?", I told that Deccan Chargers should lose all their remaining matches. But, in yesterday's match, Deccan Chargers beat Rajasthan Royals quite convincingly. And that win has eliminated Kolkata Knight Riders from the race for the semi-finals.

Current Points table
Delhi Daredevils - 14
Chennai Super Kings - 13
Deccan Chargers - 12
Rajasthan Royals - 11
Kings XI Punjab - 10
Mumbai Indians - 9
Royal Challengers Bangalore - 8
Kolkata Knight Riders - 3

Interesting arrangement as the top seven teams are separated by a single point each. The tournament is so competitive that any of the four teams from the top seven can qualify to the next stage.

Status of KKR
With just four games in hand, Kolkata can finish with 11 points at the most considering optimistically that they win all the remaining games. So, it is clear that they cannot challenge Delhi Daredevils, Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers. So, the only way for them to qualify to the next stage is to move above the other four teams. It is not possible, even theoretically, now. Let me explain why.

Just consider two of the 16 remaining games,
Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians and
Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians.

Scenario #1:
Match #1: Kings XI Punjab beats Mumbai Indians - Kings XI will have 12 points and KKR are eliminated.
Other results are irrelevant to KKR

Scenario #2:
Match #2: Rajasthan Royals beats Mumbai Indians - Rajasthan will have 13 points and KKR eliminated.
Other results are irrelevant to KKR

Scenario #3:
Match #1: Mumbai Indians beats KXIP - MI will have 11 points.
Match #2: Mumbai Indians beats RR: MI will have 13 points and KKR eliminated.

Scenario #4:
Match #1: Washed out - MI - 10 points.
Match #2: If MI beats RR, MI will move up with 12 pts; If RR beats MI, RR will move up with 13 pts; KKR eliminated.

Scenario #5:
Match #2: Washed out - RR will move up with 12 points
Other results are irrelevant to KKR

So, it is clear that Kolkata Knight Riders had been knocked out of the tournament. Hope they put up a good show in the remaining matches and provide some interesting matches. Kolkata Knight Riders started off the season with controversy and finishes off the season silently. Better luck next time.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks for visiting my blog. We value your comments. All comments will be published, positive or negative.