IPL 2017 play-offs: MI, KKR, SRH in striking distance of securing top four berths

The fight for play-offs in the Indian Premier League 2017 is turning out to be a real thriller. IPL table toppers Mumbai Indians and second-placed Kolkata Knight Riders are set to feature in the final four teams. The race for the remaining two spots looks like a tricky affair as other teams are upping the ante to book their berths and a lot depends on the upcoming matches.

Interestingly, there is still hope for some teams which are marred by some degree of inconsistency.

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai side is just a win away to seal the spot in the play-offs.  Mumbai Indians have secured 16 points from 10 matches with eight wins. There are four more matches in the pipeline for them. A win in any of the game will ensure the team a berth in the last-four. If the side manages to win three of their remaining games, they may end up in the top-two slots and will need a win for their ticket to the final match.

Kolkata Knight Riders
The star-studded team need two wins to ensure a slot in the play-off. However, KKR will be in safe zone if they manage just one win. If they want to feature in the top two slots of the play-offs, they need to win two of their remaining four matches. KKR have 14 points from 10 matches and they still have matches at hands against Rising Pune Supergiants, Kings XI Punjab, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH have 13 points from 11 matches and three matches in the pipeline. If they manage to win two of them, it will be sufficient for them to feature in the play-offs. They have to rely upon the results of other games if they fail to win in those two matches.

Kings XI Punjab
KXIP need to win four of their five remaining games to ensure a berth in the play-offs. Otherwise, they will have to see if Sunrisers Hyderabad lose all their remaining matches or Rising Pune Supergiant fail to win three of their four remaining games. 

Rising Pune Supergiant
The RPS side need to win two of their remaining four matches. They have 12 points from 10 matches. The Pune squad are yet to play against Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab.

Gujarat Lions
The Gujarat squad have just 6 points from 10 matches with three wins with four games in hands. They need to win all their remaining matches if they want a play-off slot. If they lose even a single game, they will have to rely upon Rising Pune Supergiant and Kings XI Punjab. 
If Pune fail to register a win in all their remaining matches and Punjab manages to win just two off their five matches, GL could still seal a spot in the play-offs. 

Delhi Daredevils
Delhi Daredevils just have six points from 9 matches. They need to win all their remaining five matches to keep their play-off hopes alive. That too will depend on how Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions fare in their remaining games.