In the current 02 edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), defending champions Mumbai Indians and runners-up Delhi Capitals have secured their spots in the knockouts with 5 wins and 2 losses each from 7 games. The league’s competitiveness this year is highlighted by the fact that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), UP Warriorz, and Gujarat Giants are all vying for the final qualification slot. Below are the potential scenarios for each of the three teams.
Royal Challengers Bangalore Qualification Scenario
The destiny of the RCB rests in their own hands; securing a victory against Mumbai in the March 12 contest would solidify their top-three position. This would propel them to eight points, surpassing Warriorz, who completed their league games with six points, and Gujarat Gujarat Giants, who can only achieve a maximum of six points.
Even if RCB lose to Mumbai, it doesn’t eliminate the possibility of a top-three finish. Their net run rate (NRR) of 0.027 ensures they maintain an edge over the UP Warriorz (NRR -0.371) unless the losing margin is approximately 60 runs when chasing or with seven overs to spare when defending.
To illustrate, to stay above the UP Warriorz, RCB would need to score a minimum of 115 runs if Mumbai sets a target of 175 while batting first. In a scenario where Royal Challengers Bangalore bat first, they would aim to extend Mumbai’s chase to at least the 14th over.
UP Warriorz Qualification Scenario
If Royal Challengers suffer a significant loss and drop below UP Warriorz in NRR, the latter will secure the third spot. Nonetheless, this won’t guarantee Warriorz a spot in the playoffs, as Gujarat Giants can surpass them in NRR by achieving a substantial victory in their final league match against top-seeded Delhi Capitals. Currently, Gujarat Giants hold the lowest NRR among all teams at -0.873.
In the event that Gujarat Giants bat first, their win margin would need to be between 54 – 61 runs, depending on the total they score. For instance, a 54-run win would suffice if they score 120, while a 61-run win is required for a 200-run total. If Gujarat Giants are chasing, they must reach their target in approximately 45 balls (between 43 and 47 balls, depending on the target).
Gujarat Giants Qualification Scenario
While we understand Royal Challengers’ efforts to avoid slipping below Warriorz in NRR (as mentioned earlier), they also face a potential threat from Gujarat Giants. The Giants could surpass both Royal Challengers and Warriorz if they win by around 57 runs (when batting first) or with around 45 balls to spare (when chasing).
Similar to Warriorz, Gujarat Giants will be rooting for a substantial defeat for the Challengers on March 12. The narrower the losing margin for the Challengers, the more challenging the task becomes for the Giants. To provide context, the highest winning margin for the Giants in four matches across two WPL seasons so far is 19 runs. However, Gujarat Giants have the advantage of playing their match last, allowing them to determine precisely what they need to achieve.