Except for the two seasons in which the team was suspended (2016 and 2017), CSK has always reached the play-offs, winning the title three times. They are the second most successful team in IPL history, behind Mumbai Indians, who have won the title four times.
However, the 2020 season has not been kind to the yellow brigade. Of the 10 games he has played so far, MS DhoniThe team has managed to win just 3. The 7-wicket loss to the Rajasthan Royals on Monday was their seventh loss this season. Unbelievably, CSK’s mighty unit is at the bottom of the IPL points table this time, with only 4 games left to play in the league stage, prompting many to ask, ‘Will this be the first season that CSK does not participate in the classification? IPL playoffs?
CSK ARE DOWN, BUT THEY WERE NOT YET
So can CSK make the playoffs this season? The simple answer is yes. However, the road ahead is far from easy for Dhoni and company.
In order for them to make the play-offs, of course, they will have to win the remaining four games. That will bring your point count to 14 points.
They will also have to significantly improve their net execution rate, which is currently at an abysmal -0.463.
They may also have to wait for other results to come out well and in case it comes down to NRR they can sneak into the top four.
SEASON 2020 VERY COMPETITIVE
The current 2020 season is turning out to be an extremely competitive season. And that can be both an advantage and a disadvantage for CSK.
Overall the top three teams this season have been Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. The Kolkata Knight Riders haven’t found their mojo yet, but they’re still on the run. Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad have had a start and stop season, but they are also very much in the reckoning. Kings XI Punjab, like CSK, hang on to their lives.
In many ways, KKR, RR, and SRH are the biggest threats to CSK. If these three teams win more than they lose, the chances of CSK entering the bottom four could be very tough.
However, if the top three teams currently (DC, MI and RCB) are way ahead of the pack, while KKR, RR and SRH stutter and CSK win all of their remaining games, 14 points could make them reach the playoffs. Remember last season in 2019, the top three teams, MI, CSK and DC were all with 18 points at the end of the league stage and the fourth team to reach the play-offs was Sunrisers Hyderabad with 12 points, just barely outperforming KKR and KXIP. they both had 12 points, but a worse NRR than SRH.
WILL CSK MAKE WHOLESALE CHANGES TO ITS GAME XI?
This is the million dollar question that no one has an answer to. CSK has traditionally been a team that doesn’t like to cut and change too much. But this time, with their backs to the wall, they might have to.
In the season’s top 10 races so far, CSK has only one hitter (Faf du Plessis with 375 runs in 10 games).
In the season’s top 10 wickets so far, there are no CSK bowlers (Deepak Chahar and Sam Curran with 10 wickets each rank 11th and 12th on the list).
CSK has reached a stage where they may have to consider giving players like Imran Tahir (winner of the purple cap last season), Lungi Ngidi, Micthell Santner, Narayan Jagadeesan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, etc., more games in rotation. and leave the players who have not. he’s really been pulling his weight.
MATCHES ON THE LEFT FOR CSK TO PLAY
The three-time champions have four games left to play. Their opponents in the remaining matches will be Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab. Since every match from now on will be a must-win game for them, CSK will have their homework short on the remaining four matches of the league stage.
NEXT MATCHES OF CSK
October 23 (Friday) – CSK vs MI in Sharjah
October 25 (Sunday) – RCB vs CSK in Dubai
October 29 (Thursday) – CSK vs KKR in Dubai
November 1 (Sunday) – CSK vs KXIP in Abu Dhabi
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