As the Indian Premier League 2025 approaches its final stages, the playoff race is heating up. Chennai Super Kings, previously eliminated from playoff contention, turned the tables by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders.
Sports News: MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings, already out of the IPL 2025 playoff race, dealt a significant blow to Kolkata Knight Riders' playoff hopes on Wednesday with a thrilling victory. Kolkata, batting first, posted a challenging 179 runs. CSK's chase started poorly, losing five wickets within 60 runs.
However, Dewald Brevis (52 runs) and Shivam Dube (45 runs) steadied the ship with a composed and aggressive partnership, guiding CSK to a thrilling win.
Match Highlights
Kolkata Knight Riders had set a b target of 179 runs. Chennai initially struggled, losing five wickets for just 60 runs. However, Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube turned the tide. Brevis played a blistering innings of 52 runs off just 25 balls, including four fours and four sixes.
Shivam Dube contributed a steady 45 runs, and Dhoni's calm and experienced batting in the final overs secured a two-wicket victory with two balls to spare.
KKR's Playoff Hopes Diminish
This was KKR's sixth loss of the season, leaving them with 11 points from 12 matches. Currently sixth in the standings, even winning their remaining two matches would only take them to a maximum of 15 points. Their playoff chances now heavily depend on other teams' performances. Their net run rate is also not in their favor, further complicating their situation.
Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants are the biggest beneficiaries of Kolkata's loss. Delhi, with 6 wins from 11 matches, can reach a maximum of 19 points. Lucknow, with 5 wins from 11 matches, can reach a maximum of 16 points. Winning their remaining three matches could put them in playoff contention based on net run rate.
Gujarat, RCB, and Mumbai Strong Contenders
Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bangalore are currently in the top 2, both boasting 8 wins from 11 matches and 16 points each. Gujarat's net run rate (+0.793) is better than RCB's (+0.482). Both need one more win to secure a playoff spot. Mumbai Indians, under Hardik Pandya's captaincy, have won 7 out of 12 matches, accumulating 14 points.
With two matches remaining, they can reach 18 points. Mumbai's biggest advantage is their net run rate, currently the best in the league (+1.156). Punjab Kings, with 7 wins from 11 matches and 15 points, have 3 matches remaining. Winning 2 of these would comfortably secure them a playoff spot with 19 points. Winning only one would require favorable results from other teams.
