The four teams to contest the IPL 2020 playoffs have almost been decided with just one match in the round robin phase to play.
That match – between the Sunrisers Hyderabad and table-topping Mumbai Indians – will determine the playoff contenders.
If the Mumbai Indians win, they will join the Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders in the playoffs.
However, should Sunrisers Hyderabad prevail, they will knock the Knight Riders out of contention.
That key match will take place at 16:00 SA time (GMT +2) on Tuesday, November 3.
QUINTON DE KOCK’S MUMBAI INDIANS IN TOP SPOT
So where do the South African players stand in terms of their teams and also on the individual batting and bowling charts?
The Mumbai Indians have Proteas wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock in their side. Win or lose that final match against the Sunrisers, they are guaranteed top spot in the standings.
They will face second-placed Delhi Capitals – spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje – for a place in this year’s final.
The loser at that match isn’t eliminated from the tournament and gets a second chance in a ‘semi-final’ against the winner of the “eliminator” between Royal Challengers Bangalore (AB de Villiers and Chris Morris) and either of the aforementioned Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders (neither of whom have any SA players).
Confused?
In simpler terms:
MI v DC – winner into final, loser into semi-final
RCB v SRH/KKR – winner into semi-final, loser eliminated
KAGISO RABADA IS THE TOP WICKET TAKER TO DATE
In terms of individual performances to date:
Batting:
In terms of batting averages, AB de Villiers is 11th with an average of 44.22 and is in sixth place in terms of strike rate at 163.78.
Faf du Plessis is in 17th place with an average of 40.81 and a strike-rate of 140.75 (20th), while Quinton de Kock is 21st in the averages with 38 and 26th in strike rate (135.71).
Bowling:
Kagiso Rabada is fourth with an average of 17.80, Lungi Ngidi is seventh with 18.85, Chris Morris ninth at 19.90 and Anrich Nortje 13th at 21.10.
Rabada has taken the most wickets in the tournament with 25 and Nortje is seventh with 19.
Morris has the best economy rate among the South Africans in ninth place overall at 6.63 per over, followed by Imran Tahir at 6.9 with Nortje and Rabada further down around the 8 an over mark.
It must be said though that they bowl the expensive ‘power play’ overs at the beginning and the even-more expensive spells at the death.
RCB WILL NEED SOME AB DE VILLIERS MAGIC
So as a South African cricket fan who should you support?
If you hope to have the best chance, then the Mumbai Indians (De Kock) have been the best team in this year’s IPL and would seem to have the best chance of winning.
De Villiers fans will need something special from him for the Royal Challengers and Morris to win.
Delhi have been the underdogs all season, but have really produced some magic so it would be great to see the twin speedsters Rabada and Nortje pull something out of the hat.
All to play for!
For the Chennai Super Kings’ SA contingent Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir and Ngidi Lungi, the Kings XI Punjab’s Hardus Viljoen, and Rajasthan Royals’ David Miller it’s a case of better luck next year.
The final is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10 at 16:00 SA time.
