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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season is reaching its climax, and the upcoming clash between SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Gujarat Titans (GT) in Hyderabad on Thursday will have a significant impact on the playoff race.
So far, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals have already secured their spots in the playoffs, while Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants' hopes are fading due to their poor Net Run-Rate (NRR).
The real battle for the remaining two playoff spots is between Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and SRH.
SRH has two matches remaining, and even a single win will guarantee them a playoff berth. However, if both RCB and CSK win their remaining matches, SRH's NRR will come into play.
Meanwhile, the weather forecast for Hyderabad on Thursday is casting a shadow over the SRH vs GT match, with a 50% chance of rain throughout the evening.
If the match is washed out, both teams will receive one point, which would be enough for SRH to qualify for the playoffs.
In such a scenario, the RCB vs CSK match on Saturday becomes a virtual knockout, with the winner advancing to the playoffs. RCB needs to beat CSK to reach 14 points, but their NRR must also remain higher than CSK's.
CSK, on the other hand, will be hoping for a win, but even a loss may not eliminate them entirely. They need to minimize their margin of defeat to keep their NRR above RCB's and secure the fourth playoff spot.
With the playoff race heating up and the weather playing a potential spoiler, the upcoming matches promise to be thrilling and unpredictable.