How can KKR qualify for IPL 2025 playoffs after win vs Delhi Capitals?

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got a new lifeline as they beat the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday, April 29. The two points in Delhi has taken KKR’s points tally to 9 points but the road to the IPL 2025 playoffs is still a distant dream for the 2024 champions.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) played like they had nothing to lose when they visited the Delhi to take an impressive Delhi Capitals on this term of the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

After being asked to bat first, KKR put on 79 runs for the loss of 1 wicket in the first 6 overs as Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for 26 runs off 12 balls. But Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane continued to build a great momentum. However, as soon as Narine departed at 85, KKR were soon reduced to 113-4 with the dismissal of Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer.

From there, both Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh build a solid partnership for the 5th wicket, scoring 61 runs off 46 balls. Both batters eventually scored 44 runs off 32 balls and 36 runs off 25 balls respectively. With some big hits from Russell down the order, KKR eventually posted 204 runs on the board.

As for their bowling, KKR start-it really well with Anukul Roy getting the wicket of Abhishek Porel on the 2nd ball of the inning. Despite Delhi Capitals (DC) building decent partnerships, they lost wickets in regular intervals as KKR reduced them to 60-3 in 7 overs.

However, Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel kept the hopes alive for the hosts with a 76 runs partnership. But the game was turned on its head by KKR’s two world-class spin bowlers. Sunil Narine got the wickets of Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs in the 14 over while Varun Chakravarthy got two in two, getting both Ashutosh Sharma and Mitchell Starc out in the 18th over, taking the game away from the hosts. Eventually KKR won the match by 14 runs and bagged their 4th win of the campaign.

With this win, Kolkata Knight Riders have now 4 wins, 5 losses and one match against Punjab Kings abandoned due to rain, taking their total points tally to 9 points. The defending champions have still 4 more matches to and the road to the playoffs is still a distant dream. But let us take a look at how KKR can reach the top 4.

KKR need to win all of their remaining 4 matches

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have a further 4 matches to play in the IPL 2025 season against the Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the first 3 teams are below them in the points table as of writing this while RCB looks in great position to qualify for the playoffs and could go on to finish in top 2.

KKR could very well qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs if they win all of their remaining 4 matches with 8 points to still play. In that case, KKR would end their season with 17 points, which should be good enough qualify into the playoffs from 3rd or 4th position. The magic number for qualification into the IPL 2025 season is expected to be 16 points, and KKR should clear that threshold if they win all of their next matches.

What if KKR bottles 1 match out of their next 4 matches?

Given how inconsistent the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been in the IPL 2025 season, there is all the possibilities that the Ajinkya Rahane led side don’t win all 4 matches but win 3 and lose 1 in the last 4 games.

In that case, Kolkata Knight Riders would further add 6 points to their 9 points, taking the total points tally to 15 points. Now this should be a bit difficult. KKR could still qualify given RCB qualified with 14 points last season on 4th position. But for that, the defending champions would have to be reliant on other teams to beat KKR’s rival teams for the playoffs position. 

The purple and gold side will have to also keep a net run rate so that they pip their rivals on net run rate in case needed. However, as the magic number for qualification is 16 points, KKR’s chances of qualification with 15 points will be 50-50.

If KKR lose 2 or more, no chance of qualification

Meanwhile, if the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lose atleast 2 of their remaining 4 matches, that should be the end of the race for the defending champions. KKR won’t be able to qualify for the playoffs with just 13 points as they will be well of the minimum cut-off points.