The league stage of IPL 2023 concluded with a bang as Mumbai Indians became the fourth team to qualify for the playoffs at the end of the last league match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans. The level of competition in the Toughest T20 can be gauged by the fact that the fourth and final team to book the playoffs berth was decided after the result of the last league game of the tournament after GT prevailed over RCB.
GT and Chennai Super Kings finished as the top two teams and gave themselves one more shot at lifting the coveted trophy. They will be taking on each other in the Qualifier 1 on May 23 at MA Chidambaram. While MI and Lucknow Super Giants will be locking horns with each other in the Eliminator at the same venue, a day later.
The losing team in Qualifier 1 will then take on the winner of Eliminator in Qualifier 2 on May 26 at the Narendra Modi Stadium to set up a title clash with the Winner of Qualifier 1 on May 28 in Ahmedabad. In the first match of the doubleheader on Sunday, MI showcased the batting skills of the highest order to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad in a big run chase at home. Cameron Green - who notched up his maiden IPL century with the winning shot for MI - lived up to the billings in his debut season and sent a warning to LSG ahead of the knockout game.
