IPL 2025: Can CSK qualify for the playoffs after defeat to SRH? Find out how the equation is being created

Chennai Super Kings have met another blow in IPL 2025. Five-wicket loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday at MA Chidambaram Stadium put a huge question mark over their chances for playoffs.It was MS Dhoni's seventh defeat in eight matches this season which brought the side to the bottom of the points table.Dhoni has already said that the team will watch every match one by one and keep hope, but now the situation has become such that CSK needs a miracle to reach the playoffs. Looking at the current performance and points table, the path for Chennai has become extremely difficult.

Big blow to CSK's playoff hopes

Chennai Super Kings have managed only 4 points in 9 games so far. CSK are six points behind fourth-placed Mumbai Indians. In that case, in order to make it to the playoffs, the team will need to win all their remaining five games and even the other teams' results must go in their favor. Even though arithmetically Chennai's potential is still not over, the circumstances should be highly favorable for it. The team can learn from their biggest rival Royal Challengers Bangalore, who made it to the playoffs last season with only 14 points. RCB beat CSK in the final league match to qualify for top-4 based on a higher net run rate. 

CSK will have to improve their net run rate as well

This time Chennai must not just win, but win by a substantial margin as well. The team's current net run rate is -1.302, which is the lowest among all 10 teams. Three teams have already reached 12 points and the remaining three are on 10 points. Under these circumstances, the qualification threshold of the playoffs will probably exceed 14 points this time, further diminishing Chennai's chances.

CSK Match Fixture

April 30: CSK v PBKS, Chennai

May 3: RCB v CSK, Bengaluru

May 7: KKR v CSK, Kolkata

May 12: CSK v RR, Jaipur

May 18: GT v CSK, Ahmedabad