IPL 2018: 5 Best remaining Matchups

Two weeks are left in the regular season of IPL 2018, and Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings are standing at the top of the points table comfortably. These two teams have almost secured their place in the playoffs already, even with two more weeks of games left.

The third team, Kings XI Punjab, aren’t too far away with 12 points. Kolkata Knight Riders are currently at number 4 with 10 points. Thanks to Mumbai Indians' upset win over Kolkata Knight Riders, they are still in the playoff race.

Even though the bottom three teams are not mathematically eliminated yet, they have a steep climb to enter the Top 4. All these teams are tied with 6 points each and are separated by net run rate. These teams will try to play spoilsport for the teams that are in the playoff race.

As we enter the back-end of the regular season of IPL 2018, the games start to get more interesting. Teams will start to try and improve their net run rates to get ahead of the teams they are tied to.

This season, the net run rate could play a major factor in deciding who could end up at the top of the table. There are quite a few games remaining in the schedule that could have a greater impact on the points table. Let’s have a look at the top 5 matchups remaining in the IPL 2018.

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#5 Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab - May 20, Sunday 8 pm IST

This is the final game of the regular season for IPL 2018. This game could decide which team ends at the top of the points table. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings are both tied on 12 points but SRH are on the top thanks to their superior NRR.

The first time these two faced this year in Mohali, the game went down to the wire. They played all 40 overs and Punjab just escaped with the win by just 4 runs. Dhoni's heroic 79 off just 44 balls wasn't enough, thanks to some tight bowling by Mohit Sharma in the last over of the game.

The Chennai Super Kings will likely be eyeing the top spot. Kings XI Punjab could also be in the mix at this point to enter the Top 2. They are just one game behind CSK and SRH at this point of the regular season.

#4 Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders - May 12, Saturday 4 pm IST

Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab swapped places in the points table after last weekend's matchups. KXIP are currently at number 3 with just one game behind the top 2 teams. KKR, on the other hand, are at number 4 with 10 points.

The last time these two teams played rain played a spoilsport. Punjab beat Kolkata by 9 wickets by DL method. They chased down the target of 125 in 11.1 overs with 11 balls to spare. The in-form batsmen, Rahul and Gayle, went berserk and made the target look small. In the first innings before the rain, KKR scored 191 in 20 overs thanks to Chris Lynn's heroic 74 off just 41 balls.

Expect some fireworks in this game with two of the best batting attacks in this year's IPL squaring off on Saturday, May 12. With a win, KXIP could try to compete with CSK and SRH for the coveted Top 2 spots in the playoffs. KKR would like to get a win here and move above the Kings in the points table due to their superior NRR.

#3 Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders - May 19, Saturday 8 pm IST

KKR will travel to Hyderabad to face the most brutal bowling attack of the league in SRH. This will be the last game for both teams in the regular season of IPL 2018.

The last time these two teams faced each other, SRH recorded their first win at Eden Gardens by restricting the hosts to just 138 in 20 overs. They chased down the target in 19 overs and stayed at the top of the table. Expect a similar game where the three ex-KKR players, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan and Shakib-Al-Hasan, play a key role for the Sunrisers to win.

SRH, are currently at the top of the table, and this game could decide if they remain there as the regular season ends. KKR, on the other hand, could very well be fighting for a spot in playoffs as Mumbai Indians are closing in on them. A win here could boost their points total and a healthy net run rate that could decide their fate.

#2 Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab - May 16, Wednesday 8 pm IST

Here is a matchup that involves a team that is, at present, outside the playoff spots. Mumbai Indians, who are at number 5 on the table, are still in the race for a spot in the playoffs. They are the only team outside of the top 4 that has a realistic chance to get into the playoffs. They need to win all their games and hope some results fall in their favor. Kings XI Punjab, meanwhile, would like to bag this win and clinch their spot in the playoffs.

The last time these two teams played, Mumbai Indians chased down the target of 176 in 19 overs, thanks to a 50 by Surya Kumar Yadav at the top, and a quick 31 by Krunal Pandya, which helped the team get the much-needed win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

They will need a similar effort to beat the Kings XI Punjab again. They have the home field advantage in Mumbai and could win the game if they can get the in-form Rahul and Gayle out early.

#1 Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - May 13, Sunday 4 pm IST

The battle of the table-toppers. This game could decide who ends up on the top of the points table. SRH will travel to Pune to face CSK.

When CSK beat SRH in Hyderabad earlier in the season, they made SRH's strong bowling attack look easy. Since that loss, SRH has defended three sub-par totals in a row and remained at the top of the table. They did this without their best bowlers - Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Billy Stanlake. While Bhuvi came back on Saturday night to beat the Delhi Daredevils, Stanlake has been ruled out of the rest of the IPL due to a thumb injury.

SRH would be hoping to beat CSK and keep the lead they have over them and on the other hand, CSK would like to sweep the Sunrisers and have a slight edge over SRH. Net run rate is going to play a crucial role in deciding which team will end up at the top. Both teams could try not only to win and get those two points but also try to win convincingly to get a leap in net run rate.

Could this game be a preview of the IPL 2018 finals? These two teams are currently the favorites to win IPL 2018. Expect a cracker of a game on a hot Sunday afternoon.