Tight race for playoff berths

In the scramble for a playoff spot, winning suddenly seems imperative for the Rajasthan Royals as they play the Kings XI Punjab who have already booked their place. Punjab, though, would be wary of letting the momentum dip going into the final phase.

Punjab, who lost to Mumbai Indians in Mohali last night, are currently top of the table with nine wins from 12 games. Rajasthan have seven wins from 12, one less than Kolkata with Mumbai and Hyderabad with a ‘numerical’ chance of making it.

The Royals had been performing as per expectations with little-known players contributing massively to their success. However, they’re coming into this one after a 25-run loss to the Mumbai Indians, paying the price for resting players such as Steven Smith, Pravin Tambe and Ajinkya Rahane. With a win necessary, the winning eleven are likely to be reassembled.

Do or die: Mumbai face Delhi

Mumbai Indians have pulled themselves into a position of pushing for a playoff berth, but have no margin for error as they face the Delhi Daredevils. Their impressive seven-wicket victory at Mohali, without Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh, should offer some hope. The return to their fortress, the Wankhede, where they’ve lost just once in the past 11 games, should be a comforting factor for the Mumbai Indians.

A loss would end any chances of going through. The decision to hire West Indian Lendl Simmons for the home leg seems to have worked wonders with the Trinidadian on a roll. He scored the season’s first century, an unbeaten 100, against the Kings XI Punjab in Mohali.