IPL 2024 Playoffs: 50 matches of the season completed, no team except RR… 2 teams are out, fate of 5 is in the hands of others

New Delhi. The 50th match in IPL 2024 was played on Thursday. This match took place between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). SRH defeated Rajasthan by one run in a very exciting match. This was SRH’s sixth win and Rajasthan’s second defeat. Despite this defeat, Rajasthan remains on top in the points table with 16 points and it is almost certain that it will play the playoffs.

Apart from Rajasthan Royals, there is no other team about which it can be said with full confidence that it has or can qualify for the playoffs. Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Supergiants and Sunrisers Hyderabad are second, third and fourth respectively in the points table with 12 points each. After this, two teams are at 5th and 6th position respectively with 10-10 points. Chennai Super Kings is at fifth position in the points table after winning 5 out of its 10 matches. Delhi Capitals is at sixth position with 10 points in 11 matches.

In the first half of the IPL, it seemed that Chennai Super Kings would easily make it to the playoffs. But Hyderabad’s victory over Rajasthan has complicated the equation for CSK. Ever since there were 10 teams in IPL, the equation of playoffs has changed a bit. Earlier, even with 14 points, teams could easily qualify for the playoffs. Now even 16 points are not a guarantee of playing playoffs.

In the last two seasons of IPL, three of the four teams that qualified for the playoffs had more than 16 points. Yes, the fourth team had qualified with 16 points. This time too, the team which wants to play playoff will have to score at least 16 points. If we look at this mathematics from the perspective of Chennai Super Kings, then they will have to win three of their remaining four matches at any cost. On the other hand, if Kolkata, Lucknow and Hyderabad, who are in the top-4, win even two of their matches, then their chances of qualifying for the playoffs will become very strong.

When Sunrisers Hyderabad faced Rajasthan Royals on Thursday, Chennai Super Kings must have been keeping a close eye on it. The fans of Chennai must have hoped that Sanju Samson’s team Rajasthan would win this match so that the path of CSK becomes a little easier. It did not happen. By defeating Rajasthan, SRH not only shocked the hopes of Chennai Super Kings but also the hopes of Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. Gujarat and Punjab have 8-8 points in 10 matches. Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore have 8 points each and only a miracle can take them to the playoffs.

tag: Chennai Super Kings, ipl 2024, IPL play-off, ipl playoff, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad