Gujarat Titans qualified for the IPL 2022 final after defeating Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets in the Qualifier 1 match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday (May 24). They are now awaiting their opponent in the championship match, which will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (May 29). The Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore match will determine the Gujarat Titans' final opponent. The preview of the qualifier 2 match of the 2022 IPL is discussed in this article. IPL 2022 Qualifier 2 Preview: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore  Both sides have met each other twice in this season’s Indian Premier League, with each winning once. So, the qualifier 2 match will be their third encounter in the ongoing season. Since this will be a do-or-die contest and the winner will secure a place in the IPL 2022 final, therefore, no team should be considered as favourite. Whoever plays with full potential and executes their game plan properly in order to overcome their opponent is likely to advance to the championship match. Rajasthan Royals The individual brilliance of a couple of players has carried Rajasthan Royals this far in the competition. One of them is English power-hitter Jos Buttler. His contribution to the bat has been unbelievable. The charismatic batter has made 718 runs with a record of 3 hundred. Buttler has maintained a 51.28 average and is striking the ball at a 148.34 rate, which clearly indicates his contribution to the team. Along with him, skipper Sanju Samson has continued his strong batting performance this season. Read IPL 2022: The Qualified Teams in the Playoffs and Fixtures Besides, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been outstanding with the ball, giving Rajasthan the necessary breakthroughs when needed. He is the highest wicket-taker in the IPL 2022 season with 26 wickets in 15 innings. These three players have to be in their best shape against Bangalore. However, other players like Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Ashwin, Jaiswal, and Hetmyer also have to raise their performance levels in order to take Rajasthan to the final.  Predicted Playing XI Top-Order: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (captain); Middle-Order: Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult; Lower-Order: Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna, Obed McCoy. Read IPL 2022: Who will make the playoffs from Delhi and Bangalore? Royal Challengers Bangalore  The Bangalore side’s biggest strength is their bowling. Sri Lankan recruits Hasaranga de Silva, Harshal Patel, and Josh Hazlewood have all been in great form with the ball. They have the ability to pick up wickets even though the economy is quite high. So, these players will be crucial for Bangalore against Rajasthan. However, none of their batters have been consistent this season. Skipper Faf du Plessis is the highest run-scorer for them with 443, while Virat Kohli is the second-highest scorer with 334. Heading into the qualifier-2 match, Bangalore can take some inspiration from Rajat Patidar’s whirlwind 112 off 54 ball knocks against Lucknow SuperGiants, which literally sealed the match for them. He will be crucial again in the next match for the Challengers, along with Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik, and Harshal Patel.  Predicted Playing XI Top-Order: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar; Middle-Order: Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel; Lower-Order: Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj. Read IPL 2022: Favourites to Reach the Playoffs Match Time (RR vs RCB) The qualifier-2 match will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday (May 27). The game will start at 8 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time). Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals: Head-to-Head Record Both sides have met each other 27 times. Bangalore have a slight advantage in head-to-head duels, having won 13 times while Rajasthan have won 11 times.  Verdict The Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore match is expected to be fiercely contested. Therefore, picking a winner is extremely difficult. However, given both teams' overall performances in the IPL 2022 season, Rajasthan should be confident in their ability to defeat Bangalore and go to the IPL 2022 final. Read Mushfiqur, the world's best Test scorer!

The IPL 2022 playoffs were finalized after the round-robin league round ended on Sunday (May 22). A new arrival to the Indian Premier League, Gujarat Titans ended the league phase in first position with 20 points. Understandably, they will be favourites to advance to the knockout stage. In addition, the Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow SuperGiants, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have all qualified for the playoffs. Let's take a look at the schedule and the favourites to make it to the championship game. Lineups for the IPL 2022 Playoffs The Gujarat Titans were the No. 1 team in the points table. The Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow SuperGiants, and Royal Challengers finished second, third, and fourth, respectively, in the league phase. There will be three matches in the playoffs: Qualifier 1, Eliminator, and Qualifier 2. The final match of the IPL 15 will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (May 29). Read IPL 2022: Who will make the playoffs from Delhi and Bangalore? Qualifier 1 (Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals) Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Date: May 24 | Time (Bangladesh Standard Time): 8 pm Gujarat Titans are having a fantastic season in IPL 15. They secured 10 wins out of 14 in the league phase, including a 37-run victory over Rajasthan Royals. Gujarat have found the right balance and they are the most confident side at the moment. On the other hand, the Rajasthan Royals are also having a great season. For the first time since winning the inaugural IPL in 2008, they have seemed like a competitive team to win another edition of the tournament. It will be a tough game, but Gujarat can consider themselves the favourite. Verdict: Gujarat Titans Gujarat Titans predicted playing XI Top-Order: Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Middle-Order: Matthew Wade, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Yash Dayal, Lower-Order: R Sai Kishore, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Shami Rajasthan Royals predicted playing XI Top-Order: Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Middle-Order: Riyan Parag, Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, R Ashwin, Trent Boult, Lower-Order: Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Obed McCoy. Read RR vs MI: Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2022 playoff dream is about to sink Eliminator (Lucknow SuperGiants vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore) Venue: Eden Gardens | Date: May 25 | Time (Bangladesh Standard Time): 8 pm Lucknow is one of the new teams in the IPL. Like the Gujarat Titans, they have done an excellent job so far and have secured a place in the playoffs by finishing third in the league phase. They will be up against Royal Challengers Bangalore, who tipped Delhi Capitals to finish fourth in the points table. Predicting the winner of this match is difficult as both teams are pretty confident of overcoming each other. Verdict: Lucknow SuperGiants Lucknow SuperGiants Predicted Playing XI Top-Order: KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Evin Lewis, Middle-Order: Deepak Hooda, Manan Vohra, Marcus Stoinis, Jason Holder, K Gowtham, Lower-Order: Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi Royal Challengers Bangalore’s probable playing XI Top-Order: Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Middle-Order: Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lower-Order: Mohammed Siraj, Siddharth Kaul, Josh Hazlewood. Read IPL leader Gujarat beats Bangalore despite Kohli 58 Qualifier 2 (GT/RR vs LSG/RCB) Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | Date: May 27 | Time (Bangladesh Standard Time): 8 pm The winner of the eliminator and the loser of qualifier 1 will battle for the last berth in qualification 2. No one stands out as a clear favourite at this stage. Whomever plays to their best capacity can defeat their opponent on that particular day. Given the teams' accomplishments this season, the loser of qualifier 1 may be the favourite to win qualifier 2. Verdict The Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals are the favourites to reach the IPL 15 final this season. They will try to continue their good run of form into the playoffs round for the quest for the championship match. Oppositely, the Lucknow SuperGiants and Royal Challengers are also very competitive teams. They will hope to find a way to reach the championship game. However, they will have to win two matches in the playoffs round to do so. Three of the four knockout round teams have never won an IPL trophy. Therefore, a new team can win the IPL 2022 this year.  Read IPL 2022: Favourites to Reach the Playoffs

The round-robin league phase of the ongoing IPL 2022 season will come to an end on Sunday (May 22). Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants have already secured their place in the playoffs, while Rajasthan Royals’ participation in the knockout phase is all but confirmed given their current position in the points table and significant edge over others in terms of run rates. Therefore, only one spot is left for the playoffs, and as per the latest standings, a team from Delhi or Bangalore will advance to the next stage. Let's have a look at who has the best chance of making it to the playoffs round. Also read: IPL 2022: Favourites to Reach the Playoffs Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Who are the favourites to reach 2022 IPL Playoffs? The Delhi Capitals are ahead of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2022 round-robin league points table at the moment. Delhi also have better run rates than Bangalore, which could be vital in the end if both teams finish the first phase with the same points. Both Delhi and Bangalore have accumulated 14 points in 13 games. However, what really separates the two teams are the run rates. Delhi have a 0.255 in comparison to Bangalore’s -0.323 run rate. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals’ place in the playoffs haven’t been secured yet. If they lose against Chennai Super Kings and both Delhi and Bangalore register big wins in their respective final fixtures, then Rajasthan won’t advance to the next stage. However, this scenario is highly unlikely, just like Punjab and Hyderabad’s chances of securing a place in the next round. The Punjab and Hyderabad teams will play against each other in their final fixture of the league stage, and the winner of this match has a chance to advance to the playoffs. However, to make that happen, both Delhi and Bangalore have to lose their respective matches. The IPL 2022 playoffs scenario is now down to the last few games, which will determine which two teams will join Gujarat and Lucknow in the next round. Also read: IPL leader Gujarat beats Bangalore despite Kohli 58   Delhi Capitals The 2022 IPL season has been an up and down season for the Delhi Capitals. They have won seven matches and lost six so far in the league phase. With one game remaining in the league stage, the Delhi Capitals have yet to confirm a playoff spot. However, they have maintained a solid position in the race for the playoffs since the beginning of the season. Delhi’s fate is in their hands, which means they will advance if they beat Mumbai Indians in their league stage final fixture. Delhi Capitals’ final fixture 21/05/2022 (Saturday): Mumbai Indians (at Wankhede) | Time: 8 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) Royal Challengers Bangalore Like the Delhi Capitals, the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL 2022 season hasn’t been so consistent. They have also won seven matches and conceded six defeats so far this season. They have to push hard against Gujarat Titans in their final league fixture in order to increase the run rates. Because only winning won’t take them to the next round if Delhi win against Mumbai.  Royal Challengers Bangalore’s final fixture  19/05/2022: Gujarat Titans (at Wankhede) | Time: 8 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) Also read: RR vs MI: Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2022 playoff dream is about to sink Verdict As per the current scenario, the Delhi Capitals team should feel confident in advancing to the IPL 2022 playoffs as they will face the bottom team, Mumbai Indians, in their last fixture of the league phase. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Gujarat Titans, the top team in the points table. So, they not only have to win the fixture but also have to rely on the outcome of the Delhi vs Mumbai fixture. Therefore, the RCB vs GT match on Thursday evening will be a do-or-die contest for the Bangalore side.

The Gujarat Titans have surprised everyone by becoming the first team to qualify for the IPL 2022 playoffs with two games left. Oppositely, the first team to be knocked out of the league phase is the Mumbai Indians. There are still three spots up for grabs for the next round. Seven teams are fighting for these remaining spots. With 13 matches left before the end of the league phase, the battle for a place in the next round is heating up. Let’s take a look at the playoffs qualification scenarios for the 15th season of the Indian Premier League. Which teams have the best chances to make the IPL 2022 playoffs? Most teams have three games left in the league round in the fifteenth season of the Indian Premier League. Dropping points now will have a huge influence on the team's chances of making the playoffs. Here is the latest points table situation for the present IPL season. Read: Rain interrupts Sri Lanka’s preparation for Bangladesh Tests 2022 Indian Premier League Points Table (as on May 10) Position Team Match Win Loss Points NRR 1 Gujarat Titans (Q) 12 9 3 18 0.376 2 Lucknow SuperGiants 12 8 4 16 0.385 3 Rajasthan Royals                      11 7 4 14 0.326 4 Royal Challengers Bangalore 12 7 5 14 -0.115 5 Delhi Capitals 11 5 6 10 0.150 6 Sunrisers Hyderabad               11 5 6 10 -0.031 7 Kolkata Knight Riders              12 5 7 10 -0.057 8 Punjab Kings               11 5 6 10 -0.231 9 Chennai Super Kings                11 4 7 8 0.028 10 Mumbai Indians (E) 11 2 9 4 -0.894         Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ Lucknow, Rajasthan, and Bangalore's chances of making the playoffs The Lucknow SuperGiants, Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are in pole position for the quest for an IPL 2022 playoffs berth. Lucknow have 16 points and they can secure a spot in the next round even without winning their remaining matches in the league phase. But for that, they will have to rely on the outcomes of the other fixtures. On the other hand, Rajasthan and Bangalore are currently sitting in the third and fourth positions in the points table with 14 points each. Both teams are one win away from securing a place in the knockout phase. Read: BAN vs SL Test Series 2022: Five Crucial Players for Bangladesh The remaining fixtures of these three teams  Lucknow SuperGiants: Rajasthan Royals (May 15), Kolkata Knight Riders (May 18) Rajasthan Royals: Delhi Capitals (May 11), Lucknow SuperGiants (May 15), Chennai Super Kings (May 20) Royal Challengers Bangalore: Punjab Kings (May 13), Gujarat Titans (May 19) What are the chances for Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Punjab, and Chennai to advance to the next round? Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Punjab all have 10 points each. However, Delhi still have a strong chance to make it to the playoffs as they have three matches left. In addition, the Capitals have better run rates than the bottom teams in the points table. Chennai have 8 points and, mathematically, they are also in contention for a place in the playoffs. However, they have to rely on other fixtures to advance to the next phase. Read: Shakib tests positive for Covid-19 The four teams' remaining matches Delhi Capitals: Rajasthan Royals (May 11), Punjab Kings (May 16), Mumbai Indians (May 21) Sunrisers Hyderabad: Kolkata Knight Riders (May 14), Mumbai Indians (May 17), Punjab Kings (May 22) Kolkata Knight Riders: Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 14), Lucknow SuperGiants (May 18) Punjab Kings: Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 13), Delhi Capitals (May 16) Chennai Super Kings: Mumbai Indians (May 12), Gujarat Titans (May 15), Rajasthan Royals (May 20) Aftermath The Gujarat Titans have shown real promise in their maiden season in the Indian Premier League. They are the most consistent team in the season and have secured a place in the playoffs as the first team in this year’s edition. Among the other teams, Lucknow SuperGiants, Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are in good position for a playoff berth. Read Shakib tests positive for Covid-19 However, the Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, and Chennai Super Kings all have an outside chance to advance to the next round of IPL 2022. Aside from that, the most successful team in Indian Premier League history, Mumbai Indians are having a particularly difficult season this year. They are already out of contention for the knockout phase after only two victories in eleven games.

The Indian Premier League's 15th season began on March 26, with 10 franchises competing in this year's edition. A total of 74 matches are to be played in the IPL 2022, with 38 of them already finished. With half of the league stage matches completed, the current position of each team in the point standings is becoming apparent. The Gujarat Titans currently top the points table with 12 points, while the Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions, are in the last position with no wins. Let's have a look at the ten-team IPL 2022 playoffs qualification scenarios. Scenarios for the IPL 2022 Playoffs The fifteenth season of the Indian Premier League has reached the halfway mark. The points table scenario is discussed here. Gujarat Titans Gujarat Titans are having a fantastic season in the IPL 2022. They have only lost one of their seven games so far. The Gujarat Titans are expected to win as many points as possible in the next seven matches in order to finish first in the standings and proceed to the playoff round to play qualifier 1. Read Former South Africa cricket captain Smith cleared of racism Remaining Fixtures: Sunrisers Hyderabad (April 27), Royal Challengers Bangalore (April 30), Punjab Kings (May 3), Mumbai Indians (May 6), Lucknow Super Giants (May 10), Chennai Super Kings (May 15), Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 19) Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow Super Giants, and Royal Challengers Bangalore With 10 points apiece, Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Lucknow, and Bangalore are in second, third, and fourth position, respectively. The net run rates are separating each other in the points standings. They are all in solid positions in the points table and poised to make a push for the top four. Remaining Fixtures (Sunrisers Hyderabad):  Gujarat Titans (April 27), Chennai Super Kings (May 1), Delhi Capitals (May 5), Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 8), Kolkata Knight Riders (May 14), Mumbai Indians (May 17), Punjab Kings (May 22).  Read BAN vs SL Series 2022: Bangladesh Test Squad Analysis Remaining Fixtures (Rajasthan Royals):  Royal Challengers Bangalore (April 26), Mumbai Indians (April 30), Kolkata Knight Riders (May 2), Punjab Kings (May 7), Delhi Capitals (May 11), Lucknow Super Giants (May 15), Chennai Super Kings (May 20) Remaining Fixtures (Lucknow Super Giants):  Punjab Kings (April 29), Delhi Capitals (May 1), Kolkata Knight Riders (May 7), Gujarat Titans (May 10), Rajasthan Royals (May 15), Kolkata Knight Riders (May 18) Remaining Fixtures (Royal Challengers Bangalore):  Rajasthan Royals (April 26), Gujarat Titans (April 30), Chennai Super Kings (May 4), Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 8), Punjab Kings (May 13), Gujarat Titans (May 19). Read BAN vs SL Series 2022: Mustafizur's versatile bowling could have been beneficial for Bangladesh Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Chennai Super Kings Punjab are in the sixth position with eight points from eight games, followed by Delhi and Kolkata, both with six points. Chennai are in ninth place with four points. Among these clubs, Punjab have a greater chance of making the playoffs than the rest. However, Delhi and Kolkata can advance to the next round if they win their remaining games. On the other hand, Chennai have a very slim chance of making the playoffs. Remaining Fixtures (Punjab Kings): Lucknow Super Giants (April 29), Gujarat Titans (May 3), Rajasthan Royals (May 7), Royal Challengers Bangalore (May 13), Delhi Capitals (May 16), Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 22) Remaining Fixtures (Delhi Capitals):  Kolkata Knight Riders (April 28), Lucknow Super Giants (May 1), Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 5), Chennai Super Kings (May 8), Rajasthan Royals (May 11), Punjab Kings (May 16), Mumbai Indians (May 21). Read IPL 2022: Jos Buttler's Record-Breaking Knock Helps Rajasthan Reach the Top Remaining Fixtures (Kolkata Knight Riders):  Delhi Capitals (April 28), Rajasthan Royals (May 2), Lucknow Super Giants (May 7), Mumbai Indians (May 9), Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 14), Lucknow Super Giants (May 18)  Mumbai Indians The most successful team in IPL history, Mumbai Indians are yet to win a game this season. They presently have 0 points and are at the bottom of the standings. In reality, the Rohit Sharma-led team has no chance of progressing to the next round. Aftermath The top four teams in the points table will advance to the playoffs. As a result, teams compete against one another to finish in the top four positions in the standings. As of now, the Gujarat Titans are in a prime position to qualify for the playoffs as the first team. Apart from that, the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow Super Giants, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are all in fine shape in their quest for a playoffs berth. Mumbai Indians, who have failed to gain a point after eight IPL 2022 group matches, are virtually out of playoffs contention among the bottom teams.  Read Sheikh Jamal, Legends of Rupganj in Pole Position to Win DPL 2022