Chennai Super Kings team file photo.
Chennai Super Kings team file photo.
In the 16th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), 61 matches have been played so far and no team has confirmed its place in the playoffs so far. The points table of IPL 2023 is getting complicated everyday. Defending champions Gujarat Titans have retained the top spot in the points table this time too with their blistering performance. Gujarat Titans, captained by Hardik Pandya, currently have 16 points. While Chennai Super Kings (CSK), led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, popularly known as Captain Cool, is at number two with 15 points. Chennai Super Kings had to face defeat in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday. After this defeat, along with Chennai Super Kings, the difficulties of Dhoni’s fans have also increased. So far Chennai Super Kings have played a total of 13 matches, out of which Dhoni’s team has won 7 matches. At the same time, they have faced defeat in 5 matches, while the match against Lucknow Supergiants was rained out. Due to which the points were divided between both the teams. Where CSK could have won 2 points by registering an easy win. Chennai Super Kings have 15 points after winning 7 matches so far and have not been able to qualify for the playoffs so far.
How did CSK’s problems increase?
Dhoni’s team CSK was in a strong position against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 45th match of IPL, when the LSG team was struggling losing seven wickets for 125 runs in the 20th over. But after that match got washed out due to rain, Chennai had to settle for just one point. At the same time, CSK suffered a 6-wicket defeat against KKR at their home ground MA Chidambaram on Sunday. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, the Chennai team managed only 144 runs in 20 overs in front of Sunil Narine 2/36 and Varun Chakraborty 2/36. After which Kolkata Knight Riders won the match thanks to the half-centuries of captain Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh.
Chennai will have to win the last match at any cost
Chennai will play its last match of the league stage against Delhi Capitals. Chennai Super Kings would like to win this match at any cost, because after the defeat in this match, only 15 points will be left in the points table of Chennai Super Kings. Due to which his difficulties will increase further. Because Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings are the three teams who still have a total of 2 matches left. In which Mumbai has 14 points and RCB and PBKS have 12-12 points. If all these three teams win their next two matches and CSK lose their next match, then CSK will be left with fifteen points. On the other hand, Mumbai will have 18 points and RCB and PBKS will have 16-16 points. In such a situation, the dream of Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings to win the IPL 2023 trophy may be shattered and Dhoni and CSK fans may have to be disappointed.
The next matches of Mumbai Indians, RCB and Punjab Kings are from these teams
Mumbai Indians next two matches
16 May, Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Supergiants
May 21, Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Next two matches of Royal Challengers Bangalore
May 18, Sunrisers Hyderabad vs RCB
May 21, GT vs RCB
Next two matches of Punjab Kings
17 May Delhi Capitals vs PBKS
May 19, PBKS vs Rajasthan Royals
If these three teams Mumbai, RCB and PBKS win their last two matches, then their points in the points table will be 18, 16, 16 respectively, while CSK will be left with 15 points, thus Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, Punjab in the top four Kings and Royal Challengers will be Bangalore. In such a situation, Chennai Super Kings may have to be out of the playoffs due to having 15 points in the points table.
