The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were in a prime position to burst into the top four. They have won three matches in a row and had gained momentum, while the likes of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have endured tough defeats.
Particularly with PBKS (13 points) and RR (12 points) on a dipping rut in the second half of the season, CSK (12 points) had a golden chance to leap over both of them and propel themselves to the third or fourth spot.
However, they were downed by the bottom-placed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday evening in Lucknow. Chennai Super Kings posted 187 batting first, but that was hauled down by LSG owing to a brutal assault from Mitchell Marsh of 90 (38) as LSG equaled the Mumbai Indians for eight points, with these two teams currently in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon at the end of IPL 2026.
What this meant for the five-time champions from South India is that Chennai Super Kings remained in the sixth position on the points table with 12 points to their account and their playoffs chances taking a dent.
Let’s look at the CSK qualification scenario for playoffs in IPL 2026.
Chennai Super Kings have 12 points in 12 matches, with matches against SRH and GT remaining. The maximum number of points Chennai Super Kings can reach now is 16. However, Chennai Super Kings won’t be assured a playoffs spot even if they get to 16 points as four other teams still stand a chance to go past 16 points.
Alternatively, Chennai Super Kings can reach the playoffs even with 14 points if PBKS and RR suffer defeats in the rest of their matches and if DC lose to KKR and KKR don’t win all three of their leftover games. If, by a quirk of unbelievable fate, all those results materialize, then RCB, SRH, GT, and CSK would finish at 14 points.
Anyways, the equation for now remains clear for Chennai Super Kings: win their remaining two matches and give themselves the best chance to finish in the third or fourth slot.
When is Chennai Super Kings’ next match?
Chennai Super Kings’ next match will be their 13th league game of the season. It will be against SRH on May 18 at Chepauk. The Chennai fans would be hoping to see MS Dhoni as this will be Chennai Super Kings’ last league game at home; CSK’s14th group stage match will be in Ahmedabad.
Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings have lost the services of England all-rounder Jamie Overton, who sustained a right thigh injury. He has been replaced in the squad by South African all-rounder Dian Forrester, who made his international debut in March this year.
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