Sunrisers Hyderabad join Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2024 playoffs.
New Delhi: Sunrisers Hyderabad became the third team to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs aft their home game against Gujarat Titans on Thursday was washed out without a ball being bowled. The 2016 champions, thus join Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals in the top four. With 14 points from 12 games, SRH needed just one point to cement their place in the playoffs. That means the match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings becomes the virtual knockout as one among them will take the final spot.
SRH’s qualification means both RCB and CSK won’t be able to qualify for the playoffs. Had SRH lost both their final two matches, chances were there where both CSK and RCB would have qualified for the final four. The Sunrisers received one point to take their tally to 15 points with one match to go. They will face Punjab Kings, who have already been eliminated, on May 19 in their last league assignment.
It also means Delhi Capitals stand eliminated. A win against KKR will confirm Rajasthan Royals’ second finish. SRH will finish second if they beat Punjab Kings and KKR beat Rajasthan Royals. CSK can finish second if they beat RCB and Rajasthan Royals and SRH lose their respective games.
Gujarat Titans, the last year’s runners-up and 2022 champions, were knocked out of the play-off race after their previous match was also abandoned due to rain. They thus end the season with 12 points from 14 matches. The toss didn’t happen at scheduled time of 7 PM IST due to rain and wet outfield. The rain intensified before settling into a steady shower as the covers and outfield stayed covered.
The cut-off time for a five-over game was 10:56 PM IST, which meant the drizzle needed to stop for mop-up to begin by around 10:15pm but with rain showing no signs of abating, the official decided to abandon the match. It is the second game to be called off in this IPL, because of rain and wet outfield. Four teams — Chennai Super Kings (14), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (12), Delhi Capitals (14) and Lucknow Super Giants (12) — are still in fray for the battle for the last spot.
If LSG win against Mumbai Indians on Friday, they will move to 14 points to stay mathematically alive but CSK will seal the spot if they beat RCB or the game is washed out on Saturday. If RCB beat CSK by at least 18 runs or 11 balls to spare then they will grab the fourth available spot on the basis of net run-rate as they would be on 14 points, same as DC, CSK and LSG (if they win).