LSG dents CSK's playoff hopes after MI toppled PBKS: Eliminated IPL 2026 teams turn 'toll collectors' in top 4 race
TL;DR
LSG's victory over CSK has severely limited CSK's playoff chances to about 25%. Meanwhile, MI's win against PBKS adds to Punjab's five-game losing streak, as eliminated teams influence the top-four race.
Key points
- LSG beat CSK, reducing CSK's playoff chances to 25%
- MI defeated PBKS, extending Punjab's losing streak to five games
- Eliminated teams LSG and MI are influencing the top-four race
Akash Singh LSG
LSG dents CSK's playoff hopes after MI toppled PBKS: Eliminated IPL 2026 teams turn 'toll collectors' in top 4 race originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- LSG beat CSK, cutting their playoff qualification chances to just around 25%.
- Mumbai Indians defeated PBKS, extending Punjab's losing run to five games.
- Eliminated sides LSG and MI are now shaping the top-four race significantly.
IPL 2026: How eliminated teams are deciding who reaches the playoffs
In IPL 2026, the eliminated teams are proving to be the most dangerous ones on the park. Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians have both been knocked out of playoff contention, but they are making life extremely difficult for the sides still fighting for a top-four finish.
Two results in quick succession, Mumbai beating Punjab Kings on Thursday and Lucknow defeating Chennai Super Kings on Friday, have thrown the playoff race wide open and left several teams staring nervously at the points table.
Chennai came into their clash against Lucknow riding a three-match winning streak and genuinely believing a fourth consecutive victory was within reach. Shivam Dube's late cameo had taken them to 187, which appeared competitive enough for Ruturaj Gaikwad's side to defend.
MORE:What was written on Akash Singh's paper after picking Samson's wicket?
But Mitchell Marsh had an entirely different script in mind. The Australian opener went after Anshul Kamboj and Spencer Johnson from the very first over.
Lucknow sat at 86 for 0 after six overs, and from that point, the game effectively had one possible outcome. Marsh's dismissal, an unfortunate run-out at the non-striker's end, briefly gave CSK something to work with.
But the asking rate had already fallen too low, and Lucknow calmly saw out the remaining overs to claim a comfortable victory by seven wickets.
MORE:PBKS IPL 2026 playoff chances: Qualification scenarios, wins and points required
What does this loss mean for CSK?
A win on Friday would have given their playoff qualification a massive boost and potentially lifted them into the top four for the first time this season.
At the very least, they would have moved above Punjab Kings into fourth. None of that happened.
Instead, CSK have slipped to sixth on the points table and now carry only a roughly 25 per cent chance of making the final four. Their path forward is narrow but still open, as they must win both remaining matches and rely on results elsewhere going their way.
Jatin Sapru put it best when he wrote that Mumbai, the previous night and Lucknow, the following evening, had turned knocked-out teams into toll collectors on the highway to the playoffs.
He wrote: "Mumbai last night, Lucknow tonight - The knocked out teams suddenly become toll collectors on the highway to playoffs … Now Rajasthan Royals could gain the most from these two results but wait, Delhi may have other plans !! Funnn week coming up …"
MORE:CSK's IPL 2026 playoff chances: Qualification scenarios, wins and points required
The Cricket News Opinion: The real drama lies ahead next week
There is a cruel beauty to what Lucknow and Mumbai have done this week. Both have nothing left to play for in terms of progression, yet they have handed the rest of the field some of the most significant defeats of the season.
No dead rubbers truly exist because pride, franchise reputation and simple competitive instinct keep every team honest till the very last ball.
CSK and Punjab would have preferred an easier pathway. Instead, they got ambushed by teams who had everything to prove and nothing to lose. Now, the real drama lies next week when IPL will be in its final lap before the playoffs.
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Q&A
What are CSK's chances of making the playoffs after losing to LSG?
CSK's chances of qualifying for the playoffs have dropped to around 25% following their loss to LSG.
How has MI's recent win affected PBKS in the IPL 2026?
MI's win against PBKS has extended Punjab's losing streak to five consecutive games.
Which teams are currently influencing the IPL 2026 top-four race?
Eliminated teams LSG and MI are now playing a significant role in shaping the top-four race in IPL 2026.
What does it mean for eliminated teams to become 'toll collectors' in the IPL?
The term 'toll collectors' refers to eliminated teams like LSG and MI impacting the playoff chances of other teams as they compete in remaining matches.
