CSK look to stay alive in playoff race against already-eliminated LSG

Five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will head into Friday’s IPL clash against already-eliminated Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium knowing that their playoff hopes are still alive, even if the campaign so far has been far from smooth.

Despite an inconsistent season, CSK have managed to stay in the race with some crucial wins in the second half of the tournament. The five-time champions are currently fifth on the points table with six victories from 11 matches and remain firmly in contention for a playoff spot. Their path is relatively simple now as they need to win the remaining games besides hoping for other results to go their way.

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Lucknow Super Giants, meanwhile, have already been knocked out of playoff contention after enduring a disappointing campaign marked by inconsistency and underwhelming performances. With only pride left to play for, LSG will now look to finish the season strongly in front of their home crowd.

From Chennai’s perspective, one of the biggest positives in recent matches has been the contribution from several players stepping up at key moments. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has led from the front, while Sanju Samson and young batter Urvil Patel have brought much-needed momentum to the batting line-up.

Urvil, in particular, has impressed with his fearless batting approach in the powerplay, helping CSK attack early and put opposition bowlers under pressure. On the batting-friendly Ekana pitch, Chennai will once again expect important contributions from Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma and Dewald Brevis through the middle overs.

However, CSK’s bowling department has suffered a major setback ahead of the match. England all-rounder Jamie Overton has been ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2026 due to a thigh injury and has returned to the United Kingdom for further assessment.

Overton’s absence is a significant blow considering the impact he had made this season. Before getting injured, he had emerged as one of CSK’s most effective bowlers with 14 wickets in 10 matches, consistently providing breakthroughs during the middle overs.

Even with multiple injuries affecting the squad throughout the season, Chennai have still managed to build a disciplined bowling attack. Akeal Hosein has added variety to the unit, while Mukesh Choudhary and Anshul Kamboj have often delivered with the new ball and at the death. Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad has also played an important role with his control and wicket-taking ability.

Lucknow Super Giants, on the other hand, have struggled to click as a team for most of the tournament. Captain Rishabh Pant’s poor run with the bat has hurt the side badly, while their bowling attack has repeatedly failed to defend competitive totals or control games in crucial phases.

That weakness was evident in the reverse fixture against Chennai earlier this season, where LSG could not defend a total of 203 despite being in a strong position.

Although players like Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh have produced occasional standout performances, Lucknow have lacked consistency across departments. Their inability to perform collectively has left them near the bottom of the table.

Still, with the pressure of qualification no longer present, LSG could become a dangerous side to face. Playing at home without expectations may allow them to approach the contest with greater freedom, and they will also back themselves to make better use of familiar conditions at the Ekana Stadium.

Chennai, therefore, cannot afford to relax despite Lucknow’s position on the table. CSK will be aware that a fearless LSG side could still pose a serious challenge. The head-to-head record between the two teams also reflects how closely matched they have been in recent years. CSK and LSG have faced each other seven times in IPL history, with both sides winning three matches each, while one game ended without a result.

The pitch at the Ekana Stadium has offered more assistance to fast bowlers in recent matches than expected. The average first innings score across the last five games at the venue is only 166, indicating that batting has not been straightforward. Fast bowlers have dominated conditions, accounting for 49 wickets in that period compared to just 12 wickets for spinners. The surface has especially rewarded pacers who can execute well during the death overs.

Weather conditions are expected to remain warm, with temperatures around 32 degrees. Dew is likely to become a factor later in the evening, which could make chasing easier in the second innings. No rain is forecast for the match.

Forrester replaces injured Overton in CSK squad

CSK have picked South Africa’s Dian Forrester as a replacement for Englishman Jamie Overton, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the season due to a right thigh injury. Forrester has joined CSK for Rs 75 lakh.