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Once again rain played spoilsport, but hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad weren't complaining as they marched into the play-offs after their IPL 2024 match against Gujarat Tians was abandoned without a ball being bowled at the Rajiv Gandhi international stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Playing in their penultimate league match, SRH secured their place in the play-offs with a game in hand, joining Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals in the last four stage.
Following the result, Saturday's Chennai Super Kings versus Royal Challengers match has become a virtual knockout game. Defending champions CSK just need a victory to advance, but RCB need to win with some margin to go above their opponents in top four of the points table.
While KKR have been assured of the top spot, the second spot could turn out be a thrilling tussle between SRH and Rajasthan Royals. If Royals win their final match -- a tough ask against high-flying KKR -- then SRH will finish third on the table, despite the outcome of their final league game against Punjab Kings on Sunday.
However, if RR lose to KKR, then SRH could finish second if they defeat Punjab Kings in their final league game.
Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants are only mathematically alive, while Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans are already out of the running for a place in the play-offs.
Courtesy of back to back washouts, 2022 champions Gujarat Titans completed their league engagements with five wins from 14 games to finish a disappointing eighth, as they failed to advance to the play-offs for the first time.
A look at the play-offs scenarios:
Chennai Super Kings
League Standing: 4th
Matches: 13; Points: 14
NRR: +0.528
The five-time champions have blown hot and cold in the second half of the league stage, with two wins and as many defeats in their last four games.
Following SRH's qualification, CSK dropped to fourth on the points table. The defending champions need to just pick up a win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their final league game to seal their place in the play-offs.
Even if they go down to their southern rivals, they could still progress with 14 points if the margin of defeat is not big.
Not only that, if RR and SRH both lose their final games and CSK beat RCB, they can finish second on the list and make it to the Qualifier 1 match.
Remaining Match:
May 18: vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, Bengaluru.
Delhi Capitals
League Standing: 5th
Matches: 14; Points: 14
NRR: -0.377
Delhi Capitals kept their slim hopes alive with a 19 run victory against LSG on Tuesday, but fate is not in their hands.
The narrow margin of victory against LSG hasn't improved DC's net run rate by much and their chance of making it to the play-offs are next to impossible.
Their hopes were heavily dented with SRH picking up a point and going through with a game in hand.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
League Standing: 6th
Matches: 13; Points: 12
NRR: +0.387
Chasing their maiden IPL title, RCB have produced a sensational comeback to put themselves back into contention.
Following a disastrous first half, winnings just one of their eight matches, RCB have made a complete U-turn, picking up five wins on the trot. From languishing at the bottom of the table, the rejuvenated side are currently placed sixth on the points table.
After the SRH-GT match was washed out, the CSK-RCB contest has become a knockout game.
It's a perform-of-perish side for hosts RCB on Saturday. For the Faf du Plessis-led RCB, the equation is very simple: Win by 18 runs (if they score 200 or above in a full 20 overs game) or within 18.1 overs (assuming CSK score 200 or above) to equal CSK's points and go past them in the net run rate.
Remaining Match:
May 19: vs Chennai Super Kings at Bengaluru
Lucknow Super Giants
League Standing: 7th
Matchesl 13; Points: 12
NRR: -0.787
Following their loss to Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants' hopes of making it to the play-offs are all but over.
The K L Rahul-led side are placed seventh with 12 points from 13 games. Even if they down Mumbai Indians in their final match, with their dismal net run rate it will be impossible to dislodge the other teams in contention. They are alive just mathematically.
Remaining Match:
May 17: vs Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Photographs: BCCI