Following a comprehensive 8-wicket defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 11, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are in a precarious situation this season. With just 2 points from 6 games and a net run rate (NRR) of -1.554, MS Dhoni’s outfit is placed ninth on the points table.

But with 8 league games remaining, their chances of reaching the playoffs are not gone just yet.

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What Does CSK Have to Do to Make the Playoffs?

In order to stay in the hunt for the IPL 2025 playoffs, CSK needs to win 6 of their last 8 games to reach 14 points. This may get them to a fourth-place finish, depending on others’ performances. To ensure qualification, however, CSK must aim for a clean sweep, winning all 8 remaining games, which would get them to 16 points—a number that has previously been sufficient for playoff qualification.

CSK can take a leaf out of IPL 2024, when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) staged a stunning comeback, winning 6 games on the trot after losing 7 of their first 8 matches. With 14 points, RCB somehow pushed themselves into the playoffs, beating CSK in their last league match because of a better NRR.

The Net Run Rate (NRR) Challenge

Even if CSK can collect 14 points, NRR might prove to be the clincher. Having an NRR of -1.554 presently, CSK will have to record big-margin wins from their upcoming games to cover the gap. They also need to rely on other teams’ positive results to stay in contention for the playoffs.

CSK’s Major Setback: Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Injury

One of the greatest challenges for CSK is the injury to their regular captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad. Gaikwad had been performing well before his injury, and his absence creates a huge void in the batting lineup of the team. MS Dhoni has taken over as the stand-in captain for the remainder of the season.

Against KKR, the batting weakness of CSK came to the forefront as they managed only 103/9 from 20 overs. The squad has not had success chasing a total over 180 runs in the post-2019 season, which depicts their weakness from an attacking stand. Dhoni has shown disappointment with CSK’s consistent failures at the bat, which is likely to turn out to be a significant impediment for the team as a playoff qualification appears on the cards.