Sunrisers Hyderabad became the third team to make it to the playoffs of IPL 2024 after their match against Gujarat Titans was abandoned without a ball being bowled on May 16.
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SRH vs GT called off due to rain
Heavy rain before the start of the game delayed the toss. As the rain relented close to the originally scheduled start of play, a delayed toss was scheduled at 8 pm local time. However, just before that, a second spell of rain came which never stopped, leading to the officials having to take the inevitable call of abandoning the game.
This was the second consecutive washout for Gujarat Titans, who also had their home game against KKR abandoned due to rain three nights back.
IPL 2024: SRH join RR and KKR in the playoffs
With rain winning in Hyderabad, SRH climbed to 15 points and secured qualification in the process. They became the third team to secure a berth in the top four after Kolkata Knight Riders, who have already booked their place in Qualifier 1, and Rajasthan Royals.
SRH will now need to win their last league game against PBKS, also in Hyderabad, on May 19, and hope that Rajasthan lose their last game against KKR on the same day, to finish second and play the Qualifier 1 against KKR in Ahmedabad.
Kolkata Knight Riders ✅
Rajasthan Royals✅
Sunrisers Hyderabad ✅SRH became the third team to secure a spot in the IPL 2024 playoffs 🥳#SRHvsGT #IPL2024 #Cricket #IPLPlayoffs #PatCummins pic.twitter.com/s4EgrMCpF0
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) May 16, 2024
Having finished bottom of the table last year, this is a massive achievement for the new-look SRH side under the leadership of Pat Cummins. They last qualified for the playoffs in IPL 2020, where they lost in Qualifier 2 against Delhi Capitals.
So far, none of the three teams who have qualified for the playoffs in IPL 2024, finished in the top four in IPL 2023. The fourth spot will be decided by the result of the RCB vs CSK clash in Bengaluru on May 18.
If CSK win, they will qualify. If RCB win, but by less than a certain stipulated margin, CSK will qualify. If RCB win by a big enough margin, RCB will qualify, and if the match is abandoned, CSK will qualify in that scenario as well.
This result also means that DC and LSG have been eliminated from the playoffs race. DC have 14 points from 14 games, but their NRR is worse than both CSK and RCB. LSG have 12 points and one game remaining, but their NRR is so low that even an unrealistically big victory won’t take it beyond that of RCB or CSK.
GT, meanwhile, finished their IPL 2024 campaign with this game. They ended their first two seasons on the top of the table, but will finish their third year either eighth or ninth wit 12 points.
