The improbable has been achieved quite a few times in the Indian Premier League but what Mumbai Indians need on Friday to qualify for the play-offs borders on the impossible. Kolkata Knight Riders all but sealed a spot in the play-offs of IPL 2021 after a fearless performance against Rajasthan Royals who were bundled out for 85 in chase of 172 in Sharjah on Thursday.

KKR have retained the 4th spot on the IPL 2021 points table. They have 14 points and their Net Run Rate received a huge boost after they hammered RR by 86 runs. POINTS TABLE

Mumbai Indians fans would have hoped for KKR loss on Thursday or at least a close contest between the 2-time champions and Rajasthan Royals but Eoin Morgan’s men came out all guns blazing and blew away the champions of the inaugural edition.

KKR’s massive win ended the hopes of Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals but Mumbai Indians are still not (read mathematically) out of the play-offs race. The defending champions, who were going for a hat-trick of titles, will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday wherein two matches will be played simultaneously for the first time in the history of the tournament. Delhi Capitals take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the other match on Friday.

What Mumbai Indians need to qualify for IPL 2021 play-offs

IPL 2021 points table after the double-header on October 7

Mumbai Indians need to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 171 runs in Sharjah on Friday.

If they bowl first, they can’t overtake KKR on the points table even if they win inside the first over.

MI are sitting at the 5th spot with 12 points but their Net Run Rate is -0.048 while KKR boosted their’s to +0.587 after their victory on Thursday.

Mumbai Indians are likely to pay the price for a sluggish start to their 2nd leg of IPL 2021. They lost three on the bounce but kept their hopes alive winning 2 out of their next 3. They hammered Rajasthan Royals by a huge margin earlier this week to keep their hopes alive but they have been dented by KKR.

Meanwhile, RCB also only have a mathematical chance of displacing Chennai Super Kings from the top 2 if they beat Delhi Capitals on Friday. CSK are currently at the 2nd spot with 18 points and a Net Run Rate of +0.455 while RCB have -0.159.