Even if Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad win their remaining IPL 2024 games, it won’t affect Rajasthan Royals as they are going to stay inside top four.
New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals became the second team to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs after Delhi Capitals defeated Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday at the Feroz Shah Kotla. With 16 points from 12 games, Rajasthan Royals are sitting in second position. Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad have one and two matches left respectively. Even if both CSK and SRH win their remaining games, it won’t affect the Sanju Samson-led side as they are going to stay in the top four.
With Delhi Capitals completing their full quota of league matches, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings clash becomes the virtual knockout with the winner confirming one spot in the knockouts. For Delhi Capitals, they will have to pray other teams lose in order to gain a passage into the top four which is highly unlikely because of their negative net run rate of -0.377.
Kolkata Knight Riders were the first team to confirm their playoffs qualification and are assured of a top-two finish after the league stage. In contrast to their previous game against SRH, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka gave a warm hug with a smile to captain KL Rahul despite the defeat. The situation was different on the previous day as Goenka was pictured venting his frustration out to Rahul after SRH humiliated them.
As far as the match is concerned, Delhi Capitals posted 208/4 after batting first. Opener Abhishek Porel scored a 33-ball 58 at the top while a rearguard act by Tristan Stubbs (57 not out off 25 deliveries) took DC over the 200-run mark. In response, LSG ended at 189/9 despite fighting fifties from Nicholas Pooran (61 off 27) and Arshad Khan (58 not out off 33).
After the loss in their penultimate league game, LSG are all but out of the play-off race. Delhi Capitals moved to 14 points, same as Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, and their playoff chances depends on a sequence of other results.