Looking back at IPL 2019

As we saw earlier, the positions at the end of the league phase were:

1) MI:  18

2) CSK: 18

3) DC:  18

4) SRH: 12

Now the final rankings after the rounds are exactly in the same order, i.e. MI, CSK, DC, SRH. This did not happen in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

 

IPL 2019-looking ahead to the last 4

As we now know, the last four after the group stage are:

1. MI    18
2. CSK  18
3. DC    18
4. SRH  12

Can we predict anything about the final result? Let us see how the past 3 editions have turned out.

2016

1 GL (RIP) 18, 3rd place

2 RCB        16, 2nd place

3 SRH        16, won

4 KKR       16, 4th place

2017

1 MI         20, won

2 RP (RIP)18, 2nd

3 SRH       17, 4th

4 KKR      16, 3rd

2018

1 SRH       18, 2nd

2 CSK       18, won

3 KKR      16, 3rd

4 RR         14, 4th

Notes: In 2019 SRH qualified with 12 points, which must be the lowest points to qualify in the 56-match format. Last year RR qualified with 14 which may be the second lowest.

Based on the history given above, the winner could be the 1st, 2nd  or 3rd placed in the group stage.

 

 

 

No 2 always tries harder (IPL)

Comparing the league table position with the final result of IPL from 2015 to 2018:

2015: The winner MI had come second in the league

2016: The winner RCB had come second in the league

2017: The winner MI had come first in the league

2018: The winner CSK had come second in the league

Reminds one of the famous advertising slogan of Avis which ran for a few decades:

https://othmarstrombone.wordpress.com/2015/02/28/we-are-number-two-but-we-try-harder-the-underdog-narrative-of-progressivism/

and

http://www.adwomen.org/2012/05/we-try-harder-technology-vs-ideals/avis2/

 

IPL 2018-Looking forward to the playoffs

First the 2018 league table:

And the corresponding tables of 2015, 2016 and 2017 (in that order):

Note that the 2018 table shows a slight departure from the past. From 2015 to 2017, 16 points was a clear demarcator for qualifying for the playoff rounds. In 2018 RR has qualified with 14 points.

Does the position in the league table give a clear indication of the final winner?

In 2015: Winner MI (2nd in league), runners-up CSK (1st)

In 2016: Winner RCB (2nd), runners-up SRH (3rd)

In 2017: Winner MI (1st), runners-up RPS (2nd)

We see that in recent history the 2nd-ranked team in the league has slightly better chances – so CSK can be said to be the favourite (if one is superstitious).