Summary of this article
Chennai Super Kings face a must-win match against SunRisers Hyderabad today
CSK lost the first three games, but revived their IPL 2026 season with six wins in the next nine outings
CSK's final league game will be against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, on May 21
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) host SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a crunch Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match at MA Chidambaram Stadium today (May 18). Ahead of the CSK vs SRH clash in match 63 of IPL 2026, let's have a look at the playoff qualification scenario for the five-time champions.
CSK lost the first three games, but the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side revived their IPL 2026 season with six wins in the next nine outings. They enter the Chepauk outing as the fifth-placed team (12 points with a Net Run Rate of +0.027).
After tonight's SRH fixture, CSK will be on the road for their final league game against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, on May 21.
Updated IPL 2026 Points Table
| Pos | Team | Matches | Win | Loss | NR | Points | NRR |
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Q) | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 1.065 |
| 2 | Gujarat Titans | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 0.4 |
| 3 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 0.331 |
| 4 | Punjab Kings | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 0.227 |
| 5 | Rajasthan Royals | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 0.027 |
| 6 | Chennai Super Kings | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 0.027 |
| 7 | Delhi Capitals | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 12 | -0.871 |
| 8 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 11 | -0.038 |
| 9 | Mumbai Indians (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -0.504 |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants (E) | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 8 | -0.701 |
Chennai Super Kings' IPL 2026 Playoff Qualification Scenario
CSK will qualify with 16 points, the most they can accumulate:
If RCB beat SRH or Rajasthan Royals lose at least one game (against already eliminated Lucknow Super Giants or Mumbai Indians). No NRR questions asked!
On NRR, if SRH won both their games, or if SRH beat RCB.
CSK can also qualify with 14 points. But for that to happen, they will need favours from other teams:
RR lose both; Lucknow Super Giants beat Punjab Kings; Kolkata Knight Riders beat Delhi Capitals, but lose to Mumbai Indians.
The IPL Playoffs
The top four teams after the league stage qualify for the playoffs:
Qualifier 1: 1st place vs 2nd place, with the winners advancing directly to the final;
Eliminator: 3rd place vs 4th place, with the winners earning another chance to make the title round.
Qualifier 2: the losers of Qualifier 1 against the winners of the Eliminator, and the victors qualify for the final.
As things stand, defending champions RCB have qualified for the playoffs, leaving seven teams fighting for the three available spots.
'Yellove' Sans Joy
Under the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni, they have lifted the trophy five times, a record they share with the Mumbai Indians, and have made the playoffs 12 times, an unmatched feat, despite missing two seasons (2016 and 2017) due to suspension.
But their on-field fortunes have taken a nosedive.
CSK last won the title in 2023, effectively Dhoni's final season at the helm, but have since endured indifferent seasons. Out of playoffs in back-to-back editions, and still struggling in transition, there's little joy in the Chennai camp.
A big win tonight and a subsequent top-four finish, however, could rejuvenate 'Yellove'. CSK, of course, remain the most consistent outfit in the IPL, the world's most lucrative cricket league.
