Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are almost there in terms of sealing a place in the playoffs, after putting on a dominant performance in the UAE to continue from where they left off in the first part of the IPL 2021 season in India. CSK will meet bottom-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday, and a win will mathematically guarantee a top-three finish. With a win, they will maintain their lead in the IPL table, with Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals level on points despite having played one more game and having a lower net run rate.

CSK will try to improve on their last performance, in which a late Ravindra Jadeja cameo helped them scrape off a win from the jaws of defeat.
CSK had gotten off to a terrific start in their hunt thanks to Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis, and the team will be hoping for a similar start this time.
In terms of SRH, mathematically, a playoff berth is not absolutely out of the question. However, with four points from ten games, their chances are all but gone at this point.
Nonetheless, Kane Williamson’s club will be hoping for a strong finish to the season. A seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in their previous match would have boosted their confidence.
Jason Roy made a half-century after replacing the ineffective David Warner in the playing XI, and the Englishman may have done enough to earn a spot in the line-up for the remaining games.
Jason Holder has been one of the team’s top players in the UAE, and his performance against CSK will be crucial.