IPL 2020 / How can CSK still qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2020?

Cricket Desk: The three-time champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are having a horrible run in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020). The past 3 games have been do-or-die situations for the Yellow Army, yet they have failed to register even a single victory in those fixtures. They are languishing at the last position in the points table with just three wins in eleven fixtures after they saw a shameful defeat against Mumbai Indians.

Though it seems practically impossible, mathematically there are outside chances of CSK making it to the playoffs. The fans are still hopeful that their favourite Thala (MS Dhoni) can spark a turnaround from their next clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on October 25, Sunday. However, it is no brainer that even after winning the rest of the three matches, CSK’s qualification in the playoffs will extensively depend on the performance of other teams in the T20 Championship.

If the Super Kings want to make it to the top 4, they would have to register victories in all of their upcoming three fixtures with Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab along with winning the matches with a good margin to have the net run rate better than other teams.

Meanwhile, the top 2 teams namely Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals should emerge victorious in all of their upcoming matches or at least in two of them to finish with 18-22 points. The Bangalore outfit needs to finish at the third position in the points table with 16-20 points. They should lose their match against CSK but should register a victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The results of the clashes between Mumbai and Bangalore, Delhi and RCB and MI and DC won’t have any effect on CSK’s campaign in the IPL 2020.

As far as Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab are concerned, they should just win one match out of their remaining fixtures in the league stage. The aforementioned trio is placed at 7th, 5th, and 6th place in the points tally with eight points each. This would mean that all the three franchises will finish the tournament with 10 points each and Rajasthan will be the wooden spooners considering their low net run rate.

Following this, the Knight Riders will finish at fifth position with 12 points. KKR currently have 10 points in their kitty and are placed at fourth place. For gaining two more points, they should defeat Rajasthan but should lose against KXIP and DC.