Should five teams qualify for IPL playoffs in a ten-team tournament?

The Indian Premier League expanded its dimensions this year by adding two new teams in the tournament and providing an even bigger stage for the players to showcase their talent. Though there were changes in the format of the game for the league stage, with the introduction of the virtual group system, the playoffs rules remained unchanged.

Even with 10 teams fighting for the trophy, the playoffs scenario of a four-team qualification system remained in place as the top four teams play the playoffs, with two qualifiers and an eliminator before the finale. The question that is raised by many is whether the playoff should be expanded as well, with five teams qualifying instead of the existing rule of four? However, a change in the qualification system, by allowing the fifth team, would affect the quality of the tournament.

If half of the teams qualify, then the tournament won’t hold much value. Playoffs should be present wherever the round-robin system is adopted. If the team performs well during a season, they will be given extra opportunities and rewards. Even in the Pakistan Super League, four teams qualify for the playoffs out of six. As the league requires more value, a change in the system starts to feel a little meaningless.

Thus, only the top four teams should be allowed to advance. With the four teams’ qualification system, the IPL has witnessed enormous competition between several teams for getting just one spot in the final four. The level of competition remains high in the case of a four-team qualification system.

As the ongoing season of the IPL is nearing an end, the top four teams have qualified for the playoffs. While the debutants Gujarat Titans became the first team to qualify, their fellow new entrants Lucknow Super Giants qualified shortly. But their second spot from the points table was occupied by the Rajasthan Royals when they won their final match of the league stage against CSK.

The fight for the fourth spot was on till the penultimate game of the league stage. RCB took the fourth spot, but DC remained in contention as they had a game to spare after RCB finished off their 14 games. The Mumbai Indians ended DC’s run in the tournament and put a brake on their campaign as RCB safely qualified. The four teams will now face off for the championship.