IPL 2024: Heavy rain at the venue of SRH vs GT match in Hyderabad on Thursday.© Twitter
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 got its third play-off team on Thursday in SunRisers Hyderabad. SRH’s match against Gujarat Titans in Hyderabad on Thursday was abandoned due to rain. It meant that SRH reached 15 points from 13 games to be assured of a top-4 finish in the IPL 2024 points table. The IPL 2024 playoff race will be hugely impacted, because of the washout. So far, Kolkata Knight Riders (19 points in 13 matches) and Rajasthan Royals (16 points in 13 matches) are through. Delhi Capitals (14 points in 14 matches, -0.377) became the latest team to be eliminated while Lucknow Super Giants (12 points in 13 matches, NRR -0.787) have only a faint hope of qualifying but their poor Net Run-Rate is a big deterrent.
The real race is now between Chennai Super Kings (14 points in 13 matches, NRR +0.528), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (12 points in 13 matches, NRR +0.387).
RCB vs CSK
The RCB vs CSK match in Bengaluru on Saturday then becomes a straight knockout with only one of the two teams progressing.
The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team is best-placed to grab the fourth playoff spot. A win against RCB on Saturday will see them through. If RR and SRH lose their last matches against KKR and Punjab Kings respectively, CSK can dream of a top-two finish too, provided they have better Net Run-rate.
They can also advance even if they lose to RCB. For that, the side must ensure that the losing margin is not big. That will see their NRR remain better than RCB and hence finish above the rivals in the final points table.
The Faf du Plessis-led side has to win the last game to have a shot for the last playoff spot. And not just win, they have to triumph by a handsome margin to ensure their run-rate remains above CSK.
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