 "CSK’s road to the playoffs is steep but not shut. Image: Reuters")
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) find themselves in a difficult situation this season, but their hopes of qualifying for the IPL 2025 playoffs are not entirely over. Following a crushing 8-wicket defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on 11 April, MS Dhoni’s side sits ninth on the points table, with just 2 points from 6 matches and a net run rate of -1.554.
However, with 8 league matches still to go, there is still a possibility of a playoff berth for CSK.
What does CSK need to do to qualify for the playoffs?
For CSK to remain in playoff contention, they must win at least 6 of their remaining 8 games to reach 14 points, which could be enough for a fourth-place finish depending on the performance of other teams. However, to guarantee qualification, they should ideally target winning all 8 remaining matches, which would take them to 16 points, which has usually been the qualification mark in the previous seasons.
In IPL 2024, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made an impressive comeback to qualify for the playoffs despite their chances looking slim. The side had lost 7 of their first 8 matches of the league stage. After which, RCB won 6 in a row to finish with 14 points and managed to sneak into the top four. They beat CSK, who were also at 14 points, in their final league match and qualified on a superior NRR.
Even if CSK manage 14 points, net run rate (NRR) could play a crucial role. With their current NRR at -1.554, big-margin wins in the remaining games will be necessary to balance the deficit. Alongside their own winning streak, CSK would need to hope for favourable results from other matches.
The big headache
Meanwhile, the headache for CSK is that they have lost their regular captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, to an injury. Dhoni has been appointed the stand-in skipper for the remainder of the season. Gaikwad looked in good form in the first few matches that he played for the side, and his absence will hurt the side big time because of the hole it has created in their batting order.
In the match against KKR, CSK were restricted to 103/9 in 20 overs. The side has not chased down more than 180 runs since the 2019 season, which shows the lack of attacking prowess in their batting. Dhoni also expressed concerns regarding CSK’s poor batting show in the ongoing season.