IPL 2025 qualification scenarios: Two wins in nine matches - can CSK qualify for playoffs?

Chennai Super Kings suffered a five-wicket defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, severely impacting their IPL 2025 Playoffs chances. The loss kept the MS Dhoni-led team to the bottom of the IPL points table with just 4 points from 9 matches, marking their seventh defeat.
CSK now face an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs, trailing six points behind fourth-placed Mumbai Indians. While mathematical possibilities exist, they must win all their remaining five matches and depend on favourable results from other teams.
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The defending champions currently hold the worst Net Run Rate of -1.302 among all ten teams, further complicating their qualification scenario. Three teams already have 12 points, while three others are positioned with 10 points each.

The qualification mark is expected to be higher than the previous season's 14 points, when Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured the final playoff spot. RCB had qualified last season by defeating CSK in their final league match, advancing on superior Net Run Rate.

CSK's remaining schedule includes matches against Punjab Kings in Chennai, Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Bengaluru, Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata, Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, and Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
The current IPL 2025 points table shows Gujarat Titans leading with 12 points from 8 matches, followed by Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru with the same points. Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants occupy the middle positions with 10 points each.
Kolkata Knight Riders holds the seventh position with 8 points, while Sunrisers Hyderabad sits at eighth with 6 points. Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings are tied at the bottom with 4 points each.

MS Dhoni has indicated the team will approach the remainder of the tournament one game at a time while maintaining hope. Historically, CSK has never missed playoffs in consecutive seasons when participating in the IPL.
The team's current position marks a significant departure from their usual performance, as they've traditionally been strong contenders in the playoff race. Their remaining matches will be crucial in determining their fate in IPL 2025.
The current scenario requires not only perfect execution from CSK in their remaining matches but also depends heavily on other teams' results. Their negative Net Run Rate adds another layer of complexity to their qualification hopes.