The Indian Premier League is nearing its final stretch and three teams are still fighting for spots in the play-offs, with just a handful of league phase matches remaining.
Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans have already been eliminated from the race for the knockouts, while Kolkata Knight Riders have stormed into the next stage after nine wins from 13 matches.
Rajasthan Royals booked their ticket to the next round after Delhi Capitals' win over Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday. Both Delhi and Lucknow are effectively out of the tournament.
The fight is still on for the remining two play-off spots. Here we take a look at the chances of the rest of the teams still in contention.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Matches: 12, Points: 14, NRR: 0.406
Hyderabad have a very realistic chance of securing qualification as their remaining matches are against teams that have already been eliminated – Gujarat and Punjab. And both matches are at home. Win both and Hyderabad will be vying for a top-two finish. If they win just one, the Sunrisers will finish on 16 points and still qualify for the play-offs as only four teams now can finish with eight wins or more.
However, if Sunrisers somehow lose both their matches, then they will need Chennai to defeat Bengaluru. They will then qualify as the fourth team, despite being tied on 14 points with Delhi and possibly Lucknow, on net run rate.
Chennai Super Kings
Matches: 13, Points: 14, NRR: 0.528
Chennai have one match remaining and that is against Bengaluru away on Saturday. They have the best run rate among the teams still in contention and can qualify for the play-offs with a straightforward victory against the Royal Challengers.
Interestingly, Chennai can qualify even if they lose to Bengaluru. All they then need to ensure progress is not lose by a margin where their net run rate falls below RCB's.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Matches: 13, Points: 12, NRR: 0.387
Bengaluru have the most difficult path to the play-offs as even a victory against Chennai in their last league phase match might not be enough.
However, if there is one team that deserves some luck, it is the Royal Challengers. The Bengaluru side were down and out near the halfway mark after five defeats from six matches. But they have since staged a remarkable turnaround, winning five matches in a row. And they can still squeeze into the play-offs.
Firstly, they need to defeat Chennai at home on Saturday, and by a decent margin. If they bat first, they need to win by 18 runs or more after scoring 200. Or chase down the target with around two overs to spare to go ahead of Chennai on net run rate while on 14 points.
Remaining IPL 2024 league stage fixtures
Wednesday, May 15: Rajasthan Royals v Punjab Kings, Guwahati
Thursday, May 16: Sunrisers Hyderabad v Gujarat Titans, Hyderabad
Friday, May 17: Mumbai Indians v Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai
Saturday, May 18: Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Chennai Super Kings, Bengaluru
Sunday, May 19: Sunrisers Hyderabad v Punjab Kings, Hyderabad; Rajasthan Royals v Kolkata Knight Riders, Guwahati
Weather update for RCB v CSK
There is a chance of weather disruption during Saturday's match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Indian weather department has predicted rain and even thundershowers for the week in Bengaluru. The forecast for Saturday says there is 70 per cent chance of rain.
If there is a washout, Chennai will qualify for the play-offs on 15 points and Bengaluru will be eliminated.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
Name: Colm McLoughlin
Country: Galway, Ireland
Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free
Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs: 2019 Cadillac XT4
Price, base: Dh145,000
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 237hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Honeymoonish
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Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
