Sunrisers Hyderabad have clinched their place in the IPL 2024 playoffs following the abandonment of their match against Gujarat Titans due to persistent rain at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday. The washout meant both teams shared a point, pushing Hyderabad to third place on the points table with 15 points.
Gujarat Titans, already out of the playoff race after their previous match against Kolkata Knight Riders was also abandoned due to rain, now find themselves completely out of contention. With Hyderabad securing their playoff spot, the focus shifts to the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who are leading the chase for the final playoff berth. Both teams are gearing up for a crucial encounter that will determine their playoff fate.
Current Standings and Scenarios:
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are assured of the top spot.
Rajasthan Royals (RR): A win in their last game against KKR guarantees them second place with 18 points. A loss keeps them at 16 points, allowing SRH to overtake them by winning their final game.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): With 15 points, a win in their last game would place them second or third with 17 points. A loss could see them fall behind RR, with CSK potentially overtaking them by defeating RCB.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Currently at 14 points, a win against RCB secures them at least fourth place with 16 points.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Need to win against CSK to reach 14 points, matching CSK and potentially surpassing Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) based on Net Run Rate (NRR).
Delhi Capitals (DC): Effectively out of contention as KKR, RR, and SRH are already ahead. A CSK win would also put CSK ahead of DC.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): Still in the running theoretically. They must beat Mumbai Indians (MI) and hope RCB beats CSK to tie for fourth place at 14 points. However, their NRR disadvantage makes this highly unlikely.
In summary, KKR, RR, and SRH are confirmed for the playoffs. The final spot will go to either CSK or RCB, with their head-to-head match playing a crucial role.