IPL 2024 Qualification Scenarios: How can Chennai Super Kings qualify for playoffs after loss against PBKS in Match 49?

Chennai Super Kings. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings exchanged blows in Match 49 of the Indian Premier League 2024 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 1. Punjab Kings’ outstanding bowling performance combined with a comfortable chase of 163 runs helped them defeat Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets on Wednesday.

PBKS chose to bowl first on a red soil pitch. They put CSK under pressure by restricting their scoring in the middle overs, only conceding 56 runs. Combining eight overs, spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar claimed four wickets while giving away just 33 runs. In response, Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw scored quickly, easing the burden on the middle order, and Punjab inflicted their fifth consecutive defeat on Chennai in their head-to-head encounters.

CSK need to pull up their socks as IPL 2024 nears playoff stage

CSK had a strong hold thanks to their significant 78-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad before Wednesday’s game, which improved their net run rate. With 10 points from 10 games, their consistency in the upcoming matches could easily secure them a playoff position. Winning three of the remaining four matches would almost guarantee Men in Yellow’s spot in the playoffs.

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“Probably 50-60 runs short, the pitch wasn’t great when we batted, it got better later on. With the impact rule as well, we were well short. I’ve practiced the tosses (during the practice sessions), it’s not going well in the match, not sure what to do. To be truthful, I’m under pressure when I go to the middle (for the toss). We were also surprised that we won by a big margin in the last match considering the conditions (win by 78 runs against SRH),” said Ruturaj Gaikwad at the post-match presentation.

“I think the last two games, the conditions and pitch was better, it allowed us to fight hard and get to 200+, today, it wasn’t good enough to get to even 180. It’s a real problem (on the player missing due to injuries and Chahal walking away in the first over), there are phases where you want wickets, but you have only two bowlers, the dew took the spinners out of the equation. It was tough, but there’re four games left and we will try and come back to winning ways,” he added.