The race is on, with as many as eight teams still in contention for the four playoffs spots in IPL 2024.

The equations are so complicated that even Gujarat Titans — with 8 points from 11 games and currently occupying the last spot on the table — are still hanging in hope, though they will be eliminated if they lose to Chennai Super Kings on Friday. Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings are the only sides who have been knocked out of the race.

Among the rest, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals are best-placed with 16 points each. Both have three matches left and so one assumes they will qualify, possibly even as the top two teams. Sunrisers, on 14 points, though can hope to snatch a top-two place if they win their remaining two games and KKR and Royals drop points. But if they lose both, they can even miss out on a playoffs spot.

Things get knotty beneath the Sunrisers (No. 3) on the points table. Three teams — CSK, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants — are on 12 points.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are on 10 points after Thursday's win and are also in the mix. CSK, having played 11 matches, have an extra game in hand as the others have played 12 each.

Needless to say then that there are multiple possibilities before the last-four line-up is confirmed. And if one takes the net run-rate factor into consideration, it becomes even more complicated. One has to wait for a few games for that.

While all the remaining matches are crucial, special focus would be on RCB's home game against Delhi Capitals on Sunday. The result of that contest can untangle a few equations.