24 out of 30 over but where is the first 4?

HIL 2016: What will happen if Dabang Mumbai wins all the three matches

Hockey India League, started on 18th January, is just six matches left before the knock-out phase starts. The simple task of the first phase — which features 30 matches — is to find out the top four for the semifinals.

24 out of 30 matches were completed as of yesterday (11th Feb). Still, no team is fully sure of its semifinal passage.

Ranchi Rays, coached by Indian Harendra Singh, keeps its top position in the table with five wins and 27 points and looks almost certain. However, it has lost continuously last two matches which together with Dabang Mumbai. Mumbai team has lost first four matches before it won the next three, and with rising Delhi the league has opened up.

Ranchi took on otherwise under-performing Delhi yesterday with the hopes of early guaranteeing of its semifinal berth, but had lost badly 4-7. The heavy defeat meant it will not even get a bonus point that losing teams get if the margin of defeat is less than three goals.

Delhi Waveriders and Mumbai were at the bottom before two days, but Mumbai’s win over Delhi (8-3) at Delhi on Tuesday and then the yesterday’s astonishing bounce back further narrowed the gap between haves and have nots in the points table.

Mumbai is at present at the bottom of the table, with 3 wins and 19 points, but it is only team left with three matches to be played. All other teams have played out 8 matches.

Mumbai will play Punjab Warriors today at home, Ranchi Rays at their home on 14th before returning home and taken on Uttar Pradesh at Churchgate.

If Mumbai wins all the three matches, which is a feasibility besides being technical possibility, it will have gained 15 points and total 34.

This case it can even top the table provided Ranchi lose both of its engagements.

Dabang Mumbai may have lost first four contests, but interestingly it has got at least a point from every loss. It will come handy at the final moment of reckoning.
As of now, except Ranchi can get past 34 points.

UPW and Kalinga has 4 wins and 23 points each. While Delhi and Punjab has 4 wins each but 22 points. But Delhi has played 9 matches, cannot cross 27 points.

If Delhi fails to win its last match, which will play at home on last day of league phase, it will be out of semis. Its fate will be so even if Mumbai will only two matches.

What is important for teams at present is keep winning and importantly not losing heavily.

Every team cannot win as things have narrowed down.

As of now, if Ranchi wins either against UPW or DM, it will shut the door for both the losers.

Hockey India League is really in an interesting stage at this point. The last six matches will decide the last four. Amazing.