IPL 2019: Can RCB still make it to the playoffs?

Stranger things have happened in the IPL. But if Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) make it to the playoffs, it would be magical. No team after losing their first six matches have made it to the knockout phase.

IPL SCHEDULE | IPL POINTS TABLE

In 2014, Mumbai Indians lost their first five games and made it among the top four teams. Remember, the magic number to qualify for the IPL playoffs is 7. That's a maximum of seven matches that a team is allowed to lose in the league stage to have any chance of progressing to the knockouts.

With their fourth win this season (read three on the trot) by 17 runs against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) Wednesday night, RCB still feature low in the points table - seventh out of eight teams. But it doesn't get any closer in the tournament's last quarter. There's no margin for slip-ups and the points table could change just as drastically as RCB's fortunes have in IPL 2019.

One of the bright spots for RCB is that the bowling attack's finally showing some steel. Against KXIP Wednesday night, they also got their bowling combination right - making provision for an extra spinner. Their top scorer and talisman AB de Villiers isn't required for World Cup duty and will be available for their final charge.

There's new impetus from wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel opening the batting. Add to this, there will be home advantage for two of their three remaining games.

The worries? The departures of Australia's Marcus Stoinis and Englishman Moeen Ali will certainly leave a big void, both in the batting middle order and in terms of bowling options. Not that RCB don't have other overseas imports. But New Zealand's Colin de Grandhomme and West Indies' Shimron Hetmyer haven't exactly inspired confidence. Heinrich Klaasen too just had one insignificant outing. Also, RCB's net run-rate of -0.683 - the worst in the tournament - could queer the pitch in their push for a playoffs spot.

So here's their final run-in for the season. Having done the double over KXIP in 2019, RCB now have a gap of three days before they take on Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Feroz Shah Kotla. DC last defeated RCB in April 2016, and have lost their last five meetings.

In fact, RCB haven't lost at the Kotla since the 2010 edition. Kohli & Co would also do well to capitalise on any slacking off by DC, who are sitting pretty in the top half of the table.

If they win that game, it's the comfort of the Chinnaswamy Stadium for the last two matches - against the current No. 8 team Rajasthan Royals and No. 4 Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Expect RCB's clash with SRH to be the playoffs decider.

Finally, in Virat Kohli they have a captain who has a never-say-die attitude. So, keep fighting like "cornered tigers", RCB!