IPL 2024 Playoff scenarios: How can CSK finish in top 2 of the points table?

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have had a mixed run in IPL 2024. They are fourth in the points table, with 14 points, having won seven and lost six of their 13 matches so far. While Kolkata Knight Rider, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad have qualified for the playoffs, CSK are yet to confirm their berth in the top four.

Chennai's last league match in IPL 2024 will be against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, May 18. A win in the contest would confirm a place for CSK in the playoffs.

The margin of victory wouldn't matter, as Chennai would then finish with 16 points, while RCB would stay on 12. Lucknow Super Giants also cannot cross 14 points.

Apart from the securing a place in the IPL 2024 playoffs, Chennai Super Kings also have a chance of finishing in the top-two of the points table, which will give them two shots at the final. KKR (19 points) are assured of finishing first, but CSK can move to second if they beat RCB, and RR and SRH lose their respective last league matches in the tournament.

In the above scenario, Chennai and Rajasthan would finish on 16 points each and Hyderabad on 15. Chennai Super Kings, though, have a superior net run rate and thus would finish above Rajasthan on the points table. While Chennai have a net run rate of +0.528, Rajasthan’s run rate is +0.273.

If SRH's last league match against Punjab Kings at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on May 19 is abandoned due to rain, Hyderabad will finish on 16 points.

And if RR lose their last league game to KKR in Guwahati on May 19, three teams could finish the league stage with 16 points each. Chennai still have the upper hand here since SRH have a net run rate of +0.406.

Meanwhile, if Sunrisers Hyderabad win their last league clash and Rajasthan lose their match against KKR, SRH will finish in second place with 17 points. CSK would end on 16 points even if they beat RCB in their last league match of IPL 2024.

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CSK beat RR by 5 wickets in their last match in IPL 2024

In their previous match, Chennai Super Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by five wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Bowling first, Chennai held Rajasthan to 141-5 as pacer Simarjeet Singh starred with 3-26.

In the chase, the defending champions got home in 18.2 overs. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad guided the innings with 42* off 41, while Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell contributed crucial 20s.