Chennai: Sunrisers Hyderabad stormed into the IPL 2026 playoffs with a crucial five-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Monday, leaving CSK on the verge of elimination.
Batting first, Chennai Super Kings posted 180/7 in their allotted 20 overs. However, the total proved insufficient as Hyderabad chased down the target of 181 in 19 overs, losing five wickets.
Ishan Kishan starred for Sunrisers with a composed 70-run knock, anchoring the chase and guiding the team to a vital win in the high-pressure encounter.
The match was a must-win fixture for Chennai Super Kings to keep their playoff hopes alive. But the defeat has pushed them to the brink of elimination from the tournament.
CSK now have only one league-stage match remaining. Even if they manage to win that game, their qualification chances will depend on other results and net run rate calculations.
With six wins and seven defeats from 13 matches, Chennai currently sit sixth on the points table with 12 points. Sunrisers Hyderabad, meanwhile, strengthened their position with the win and officially sealed a playoff berth
