IPL 2018: Mumbai Indians Can Still Make The Playoffs. Here’s How!

IPL 2018: Mumbai Indians need to ensure they win their remaining two fixtures

By: Ankit Banerjee |
May 15, 2018 12:00 am

Take deep breaths Mumbaikars, it is not all over for Mumbai Indians!

Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) have not had the best of seasons and are on the verge of having their IPL campaign ended. But they seem to be stranded on thin ice as of now. The western franchise can still make the playoffs and for that to happen, they will have to depend on the results of other franchises. So it is a curious situation MI find themselves in and they need more than a miracle to keep themselves afloat!

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MI is languishing at the 6th position with 5 wins from 12 matches. So why do they find themselves in such a precarious situation? It is not that MI have played poor cricket, but one can only blame form and luck. Rohit was not in a good form at the start of the season and same was the case with the openers. The only silver lining for MI this season has been the rise of Mayank Markande, the leggie.

Here are three things MI fans would be hoping for:

Do what can be done!
The first and foremost, MI need to ensure they win their remaining two fixtures. If that happens they should sail on the back of a healthy Net Run Rate. They may be sixth in the points table but they have the third best NRR among the 8 teams, just behind SRH and CSK. That means they have a huge advantage. MI is in this situation with a healthy NRR because they have mostly lost games in close encounters. They have not lost matches by big margins.

Pray RCB Beat RR & Do A Favour!
Rajasthan is currently just ahead of MI by one win. Virat Kohli’s RCB, who are struggling near the bottom of the points table, can do a massive favour for Mumbai Indians if they beat the Royals, who are playing in a spectacular form. Match 53 will be played on May 19, 2018, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, which is considered to be the Royals’ fortress.

The hard work has already begun.

Putting in the hard yards in scorching heat can get very tiresome. _

Strength and Conditioning Coach Paul Chapman explains how the boys beat the heat.#CricketMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/Vaqgx1FEFn

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 14, 2018

SRH Oust KKR!
KKR is at the fourth position on the points table with 6 wins. KKR, who are ahead of MI, need to lose to table-toppers SRH to help MI secure a path to playoffs.

So, this means a lot of factors apart from the personal performance will be required to fall into place for Mumbai Indians to secure a playoff berth.