IPL 2018 play-offs: Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Rajasthan qualified

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The ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw one of the closest fights between teams for a place in the knockouts as there were as many as three sides who were gunning for the last spot on the final day of the league games. Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders had already sealed the three spots. But after the results from the two games on Sunday, Rajasthan Royals booked the playoff berth.

In the first match between Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians, the latter succumbed to 11-run defeat that ended their campaign in this year's IPL. As far as the second match is concerned, Kings XI Punjab lost to Chennai Super Kings by 5 wickets, and that helped Rajasthan to make the cut.

Prior to Sunday's matches, both RR (-0.250) and KXIP (-0.490) had terrible net run-rates. KXIP needed to beat Chennai Super Kings in the last game of the league stage at least by a margin of 53 runs to qualify for the playoffs. The equation was much easier for MI as they needed to win their game against DD to qualify. But unfortunately for MI and KXIP, things did not go the way as they would have hoped for.

Rajasthan will be a relieved outfit as they had to rely on other games' results to make it to the last-4. In the latter half of the tournament Rajasthan won 4 out of their last five games and got their campaign on track, that helped their cause.

Whereas Punjab lost seven out of their last eight matches and that severely dented their chances of making it into the playoffs. This loss to CSK ensured they ended the tournament with the worst NRR.

Now on Tuesday, Hyderabad will face Chennai in the Qualifier 1 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Who will win?
With nine wins each, SRH and CSK are top two sides and Qualifier 1 gets the play-offs going with a bumper fixture. Spurred on by Watson and Rayudu when these two teams last met, CSK chased 180 with eight wickets in hand, and given their history in the play-offs, it is difficult to see them lose on Tuesday.

KKR should overpower Rajasthan again, given that they beat them both times during the league stage. When they met last week, KKR bowled out RR for 142 in 19 overs, and without Buttler the Rajasthan batting lacks oomph.

Prediction: CSK edge SRH to reach the final, KKR beat RR to reach the Eliminator, where KKR just manage to pip SRH to set up a cracking final with CSK. On the biggest day, back the team with more batting depth, which looks like KKR who in Karthik and Andre Russell have two devastating finishers.