Will CSK dash KXIP’s play-off hopes in its last match?

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is all set to take the field for one last time tomorrow during the ongoing IPL-2013. In Sunday’s double-header, CSK takes on Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). In its last league match, KXIP needs to beat CSK to keep alive its chances of making the play-offs.

After making the play-offs in IPL’s earlier editions, CSK had already exited the IPL this year. As such, the result of the match has no significance for it while KXIP badly needs to win. It may be recalled that in its last match, CSK defeated KKR, which also needed to win badly.

KXIP’s chances of making play-offs hang by a thin thread: it has to defeat CSK, win handsomely to improve its net-run-rate (NRR) to be in the reckoning to go to the next stage in the tournament. However, whosoever wins in the KKR Vs RR match (the other match of the double-header) would further dent KXIP’s chance of play-offs.

On the other hand, CSK would certainly like to sign off with a win, at least to prove to its fans and well-wishers that it has the wherewithal to beat any team on any day. As such, it would be looking to make life tough for KXIP.

KXIP’s road to play-offs

SRH has a better NRR than KXIP; as such, nothing less than a win against CSK would be of any help to KXIP. Meanwhile, SRH is in a better position to defeat RCB at the time of this article getting published. If it happens, SRH would also get 12 points and would tie with KXIP if the latter loses to CSK. As stated earlier, only a win on Sunday would help KXIP stay in the hunt.

KXIP registered five successive wins before going down to RR the other day. Had it won against RR, it would have been in a better position now. KXIP can’t afford a tight win against CSK which would force it to hope that RR doesn’t beat KKR by 64 runs or KKR doesn’t beat RR by 84 runs. Either of the possibility would knock KXIP out of the tournament for sure!

KXIP would, however, be thanking CSK silently for defeating RCB and KKR in its previous two matches. KXIP is also happy that ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle is in peak form; also, KL Rahul’s purple patch is also of great use. As far as CSK is concerned, it would certainly love to stick to the basics and sign off with a huge and emphatic win! Meanwhile, both the teams are awared that Abu Dhabi pitch may assist spinners.

Expected XI:

CSK: Ruturaj, du Plessis, Rayudu, Jagadeesan, Sam Curran, Dhoni, Jadeja, Santner, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir and Monu Kumar

KXIP: KL Rahul, Mandeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Glen Maxwell, Deepak Hoda, Ravi Bishnoi, M Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Chris Jordan and Arshdeep Singh.