IPL 2024 Playoffs Scenario: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Thursday got its third play-off-qualified team in SunRisers Hyderabad. The Pat Cummins-led side reached 15 points in 13 games after its match against Gujarat Titans got washed out due to rain in Hyderabad. It ensured that SRH will be among the top-four sides along with Kolkata Knight Riders (19 points in 13 matches) and Rajasthan Royals (16 points in 13 matches). SRH still have a game left against PBKS on Sunday.

With three spots already sealed, the fight is among three teams for the final playoff spot –  Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Lucknow Super Giants. Out of the three, the real fight is between CSK and RCB. LSG have only mathematical chance of advancing in all practical sense.

Here’s the full details of the scenario for the four teams after SRH pocketed the third playoff spot.

Chennai Super Kings (14 points in 13 matches, NRR +0.528)

Matches remaining – 1 (vs RCB)

The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team is best-placed to grab the fourth playoff spot. A win against RCB on Saturday will see them through. If RR and SRH lose their last matches against KKR and Punjab Kings respectively, CSK can dream of a top-two finish too, provided they have better Net Run-rate. 

They can also advance even if they lose to RCB. For that, the side must ensure that the losing margin is not big. That will see their NRR remain better than RCB and hence finish above the rivals in the final points table.   

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (12 points in 13 matches, NRR +0.387)

Matches remaining – 1 (vs CSK)

The Faf du Plessis-led side has to win the last game to have a shot for the last playoff spot. And not just win, they have to triumph by a handsome margin to ensure their run-rate remains above CSK. 

Lucknow Super Giants (12 points in 13 matches, NRR -0.787)

Matches remaining – 1 (vs MI)

The KL Rahul-led team is facing an improbable scenario. The only way they can qualify is to hope they win their last match by a very humongous margin. Then, RCB beat CSK but not by a big margin. That might see their NRR get better that RCB and CSK. However, the scenario looks almost impossible.

Delhi Capitals (14 points in 14 matches, -0.377)

Matches remaining – 0

The side is out of the playoff race as it has no more matches left. They don’t have any other matches left to improve it.

The newly-built Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, near New York, was launched on Wednesday with the sport’s world body “excited” to conquer new territories through the T20 World Cup in June. The 34,000-capacity stadium, with infrastructure from the Las Vegas Formula 1 circuit and drop-in pitches prepared in Florida, will host the hotly-anticipated India-Pakistan clash on June 9, among its eight scheduled World Cup games.

The showpiece 20-over event will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States starting June 1 with New York, Florida and Dallas as venues.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) remains happy with the focus on the India-Pakistan clash and the Nassau project as part of bringing the game to the US.

“Yeah, absolutely! We can run that game anywhere and the interest in the fixture would be immense,” Chris Tetley, the ICC’s head of events, told reporters in a media roundtable.

NEW YORK CRICKET STADIUM IS READY FOR INDIA VS PAKISTAN.

– The capacity will be around 34,000.pic.twitter.com/cBtwY0hPU0

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 15, 2024

“The news stories that we have seen and the media coverage in the US itself as well as amongst the cricket media around the world. I have not seen that before around an ICC event.”

Tetley added: “We are really excited to bring the T20 World Cup cricket to the US and the opportunity that it presents to the sport and from what I can see there is an audience really waiting for us to come.”

“Whenever a new stadium comes up, there are a lot of questions about the size. But the Nassau County ground is not a token-sized ground – it is 75 yards east west and 67 yards north south from the centre. It is similar to the size of Wankhede. The drainage facilities, too, will be world-class,” Tetley was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

T20 Cricket will also feature as one of five new sports at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Making a cricket stadium in Nassau remained a huge challenge for the ICC, who got in Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough for the job.Hough created the first drop-in pitch in Adelaide in 2013 and the latest strips at the Nassau County ground promise good cricket and balance between bat and ball.

“People shouldn’t be concerned about drop-in pitches,” said Hough.

“They are proven around the world, definitely in Australia. Some of the best cricket is played on drop-in pitches and are really successful.”

Just over a week remains for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The last spots for the IPL 2024 playoffs are being filled with top teams like Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the race. It will be followed by IPL playoffs with the final on May 26. After a brief break, the Indian cricket team will then embark on a mission to win the 2024 T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA. Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, this will be a chance for the side to achieve redemption post the heart-break of the 2023 ODI World Cup. 

Virat Kohli is a crucial player in India’s scheme of things. upon him will be the responsibility of giving the side a great start. The former Indian cricket team captain is in great form the IPL 2024, leading the run charts with a tally of 661 in 13 games.

Ahead of the IPL, his new hairstyle made quite the news. Now, the star has got another hairstyle ahead of the T20 World Cup. The video of the haircut has gone viral. 

New hairstyle for T20 WC#viratkohli pic.twitter.com/4Vdp4Ha3PQ

— (@wrognxvirat) May 16, 2024

Virat Kohli’s new hairstyle. pic.twitter.com/TTrDbiZapx

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 16, 2024

Virat Kohli’s new Hairstyle

King looks good in all hairstyle #RCBvsCSK pic.twitter.com/oVJjqMjLHW

— I GK18 (@GayakawadPooja) May 16, 2024

Apart from being a star cricketer, Virat Kohli is known to be one of the most stylish Indian cricketers. His clothing sense and hairstyle often is the talk of the town. Ahead of the IPL 2024, Kohli’s new hairstyle, done by celebrity hairdresser Aalim Hakim, became quite a rage. Not only Kohli, Hakim also does hairstyling for MS Dhoni too. The celebrity hairdresser recently opened up on his charges. 

While not revealing directly, how much he charged for Virat Kohli’s hairstyle, Hakim gave an idea. “My fee is very simple which everybody knows how much I charge. So, it starts from Rs 1 lakh. That’s the minimum,” he said on Brut India. 

“Mahi sir and Virat, they are very old friends and they have been coming to me for haircuts for a long time. And since IPL was coming now, so we decided to do something cool and different. And Virat always have references that ‘we need to try this, we will try that next time’,” Hakim said.

He then went on to speak about Virat Kohli’s hairstyle for IPL 2024.

“So we keep chatting all the time that  what should (be) the next look. This time we decided to do something really cool. We did a slit in his eyebrows and kept the sides a little fade, a little mullet at the back. The texture can show and yeah, and we did a little colour in the hair. So when I posted the picture, it really broke the internet and the amount of shares and likes I got on my post, that was insane,” he said.

Fresh under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Chennai Super Kings face a tough task ahead as they bid to qualify for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs and hope to retain the title they had won last under MS Dhoni. Placed 3rd in the points table at present, CSK have their fate in their hands, but their next match is against a hungry Royal Challengers Bengaluru side that has won five games on the bounce. Already sitting on 14 points, CSK are guaranteed progression if they win. But, if they lose things can go either way. (IPL 2024 Points Table)

Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals are the two sides to have qualified for the playoffs while the remaining two spots are being contested between Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants.

DC and LSG are only in the race mathematically, whereas the playoffs battle is quite real for SRH, CSK, and RCB.

How CSK Can Miss Out On A Spot In IPL 2024 Playoffs:

Condition 1: Up against RCB in their final league match of the season, CSK would need to avoid a defeat by 18 runs, if they post 200 runs on the board. Even a 17-run defeat would see them remain ahead of RCB in terms of Net Run Rate. But, a defeat by 18 or more runs would see RCB topple them for a spot in top 4. Then, CSK’s fate would be in the hands of SRH.

A similar scenario would take place if RCB secured a victory against CSK with 11 balls remaining, in a case they are chasing 201 runs.

Condition 2: If CSK do lose by 18-plus runs or concede defeat with 11 balls to go (in case of 200-run total and 201-run target), they still can qualify for playoffs. But, for that to happen, SRH would need to lose both of their remaining matches in the league campaign.

Such a scenario would see SRH remain on 14 points in the standings, hence the remaining two playoffs spots will be decided between RCB, CSK, and them via NRR. CSK would need to hope that their NRR remains higher than SRH in this case. Else, they would be knocked out.

Rohit Sharma in action© AFP

IPL 2024: Heavy rain at the venue of SRH vs GT match in Hyderabad on Thursday.© Twitter

As soon as the Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri announced his retirement after an illustrious 19-year international career, many big names in the world of sports came out to honour and celebrate the face of Indian football. Chhetri announced his retirement on his official social media accounts with a 10-minute video, reminiscing the first time he was called up to represent the national side and about his decision to call time on his career.

The Indian football legend, a player who redefined the standards of Indian football, emerged as an inspiration not only for his nation but also in the international circuit, decided he would don the national jersey one last time in a match against Kuwait on June 6 while playing in front of the home fans at the Salt Lake Stadium, bringing the curtains down on a 19-year-long career.

The Indian cricket legend and Chhetri’s friend, Virat Kohli, also commented on the footballer’s Instagram video, expressing his pride in his “brother”. He stated, “My Brother, PROUD.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a poignant tribute on Chhetri’s retirement, hailing the 39-year-old as an icon not only for football but also for sports as a whole.

Your career has been nothing short of extraordinary and you have been a phenomenal icon for Indian football and Indian sports. Go well, Captain! #TeamIndia https://t.co/g2a0yXRv5i

— BCCI (@BCCI) May 16, 2024

“Your career has been nothing short of extraordinary and you have been a phenomenal icon for Indian football and Indian sports. Go well, Captain! #TeamIndia,” BCCI posted on X.

India’s goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sadhu also responded to the announcement on social media, saying he wishes he could alter Chhetri’s mind but understands why he made the choice and urged the people to enjoy his incredible career with the national team.

“Never wanted to see this happen, I wish I could do something to change your mind but I also understand why it is happening bhai. The whole country needs to celebrate your International career on the 6th of June in the way you deserve. My Captain,” Gurpreet commented on Chhetri’s post.

Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal wished Chhetri a happy retirement on X and wrote, “What a run you have had! Congratulations on an amazing career @chetrisunil11 Happy Retirement, legend.”

What a run you have had!

Congratulations on an amazing career @chetrisunil11

Happy Retirement, legend pic.twitter.com/eWnEm1W616

— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) May 16, 2024

Chhetri featured at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup and was first named the national team captain at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers and led India to yet another Nehru Cup trophy in 2012.

In a career that spanned over 19 years, the Arjuna Award winner has 94 goals in 150 matches on the international stage. The most-capped Indian footballer is the third-highest goal-scorer on the global stage with icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi ahead of him.

Ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup 2024, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh delved into the details of ex-captain MS Dhoni’s leadership skills that made Men in Blue the inaugural champions of the format back in 2007. In the nail-biting summit clash between the two arch-rivals — India and Pakistan, the result was decided on the final over as Dhoni-led side won the match by five runs in Johannesburg, South Africa. The veteran spinner credited Dhoni for his decision-making and involving team members before taking the final call.

“Not many people know, Dhoni was a very new captain, so he needed that support from all of us. Before matches against teams like Australia, New Zealand, and England, our core group would get together during the game to strategise for the next few overs.

“For example, in a match against Australia, I bowled the crucial 17th or 18th overs because if we managed to give away only 4 runs, it saved us a lot,” Harbhajan said in a special Star Sports Press Room.

Defending 157, India was in a crunch situation in the match after Harbhajan leaked 19 runs in his 17th over as Mishbah-ul-Haq slammed three sixes. With 35 runs needed of the last three overs, Dhoni gave the next over to pacer S Sreesanth in which he conceded 15 runs and a wicket of Sohail Tanvir.

The equation was 20 runs in 12 balls for Pakistan with two wickets in hand. Harbhajan was again given the crucial 19th over as Dhoni saved medium-pacer Joginder Sharma for the final over.

Harbhajan proved his captain right by only giving seven runs and a wicket of Umar Gul. Then Joginder scripted history for India in the third ball of his over with a wicket of Pakistan captain to take the side over the line in the high-octane encounter.

Recalling the memory, the-43-year old complimented Dhoni’s collective leadership skills behind picking the right bowler for the final over of the summit clash.

“Back then, batters didn’t score 25 runs in an over unlike today. The decision-making was always a team effort. When you play together as a united team, you win more competitions. Dhoni was a great listener, taking collective decisions that benefited the team. It was never about individual performances but about playing as ‘we’,” he said.

“Similarly, the question now is can Rohit Sharma do it? Rohit is not alone; it’s about ‘we’. If we play as a united team, thinking about collective success rather than individual achievements, then we can win. But if we only focus on personal goals, things become difficult. It’s all about the ‘we’ mentality, and that’s when things come to life,” the veteran added.

The two Asian cricket heavyweights are set for another thrilling clash in the upcoming T20 World Cup in New York on June 9.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking for a new head coach for the men’s cricket team as Rahul Dravid’s stint will come to an end after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2024, and if he wishes to continue, he would have to re-apply for the position, which the veteran has been reportedly denying so far. The multi-format coaching role requires the coach to stay with the team for approximately ten months with the busy men’s team calendar. IANS understands that Dravid is ready to step down from the position regardless of the fact whether it ends with the T20 World Cup title or not and wishes to spend time with family.

Even though South Africa, Pakistan and England divide their coaching responsibilities between red-ball and white-ball cricket, the BCCI is still unwilling to adopt a similar strategy because India do not have two distinct player groups for two formats. The BCCI also approached ex-Indian players for the position but they will have to fill the application form to stay alive in the race.

Early speculation said that VVS Laxman would succeed Dravid in the role which he previously filled on a part-time basis in the latter’s absence last year. However, sources confirmed that Laxman is not in the mood to apply and will continue with the India ‘A’ team.

Former Australian cricketer and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer is also in the fray for the head coach position along with other star veterans including Stephen Fleming, Gautam Gambhir and Ashish Nehra. BCCI has also been meeting with IPL coaches and mentors in the hunt for a head coach. Langer ‘is curious’ and interested in coaching the Indian team but according to sources, Ponting had a meeting with the BCCI secretary Jay Shah and chief selector Ajit Agarkar in Delhi in the first week of the month regarding the coaching position. Ponting is currently associated with IPL franchise Delhi Capitals as head coach.

BCCI can also look up to Gambhir, who returned back to his old franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after serving two years at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and has played a key role in steering the side to back-to-back playoff finishes. Gujarat Titans head coach Nehra has also shown interest in guiding the Indian team in the past.

“Why not, if I would be given a chance to coach the Indian team why won’t I. I believe the team not only revolves around the captain it’s the management that plays the key role,” Nehra had said in an event back in 2021. Also, Nehra has proved his managing mettle with GT, winning the IPL in their debut season and a runner-up finish in the next edition.

Since Dravid is ‘not interested’ in extending his role and Laxman wants to stick with the ‘A’ team it is Ponting who is the front-runner in the race but the extensive ten months working load in away conditions will be the key point in his decision. Also, Ponting was appointed head coach of Washington Freedom ahead of the second season of Major League Cricket in the United States, which is set to start form July 6.

Soon after the end of T20 WC, India will be travelling to Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series starting from July 15. So, with MLC ending on June 29, and Ponting serving Washington Freedom in the USA, it will be a very difficult job for the BCCI and the former Australian skipper to come to the conclusion.

BCCI can also look for other options such as Stephen Fleming, who is the longest-serving coach in IPL for Chennai Super Kings. Dravid, who was given a six-month extension post the 50-over World Cup in October-November, has his contract expiring after the T20 World Cup next month. The former India captain has the option of re-applying for the post.

The Indian board on Monday invited applications for the role with a deadline of May 27.