Forty-six matches of IPL 2024 have been made and dusted. So far, new franchises Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants dominate the points table. However, the fight for playoff positions is far from over. While both GT and LSG appear well on course to qualify for the knockout phase, two positions are still up for grabs.
| IPL Points Table as of 1 May 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise | M | W | L | Pt | NRR |
| GT | 9 | 8 | 1 | 16 | 0.377 |
| LSG | 10 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 0.397 |
| RR | 9 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 0.450 |
| SRH | 9 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 0.471 |
| RCB | 10 | 5 | 5 | 10 | -0.558 |
| DC | 9 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 0.587 |
| KKR | 9 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0.006 |
| PBKS | 9 | 4 | 5 | 8 | -0.470 |
| CSK | 9 | 3 | 6 | 6 | -0.407 |
| MI | 9 | 1 | 8 | 2 | -0.836 |
Highlights of the Week Gone by
So, here are the highlights of the previous week.
LSG Take Giant Strides
With convincing wins over Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants have all but qualified for the playoffs.
LSG vs PBKS on 29 April in Pune
Put in to bat, LSG lost skipper KL Rahul’s wicket with only 13 runs on the board. However, they bounced back with an 85-run stand for the second wicket between De Kock and Hooda. But, Hooda’s unfortunate run out was the start of a mini-collapse. In the event, LSG managed to score only 153 while losing eight wickets. On the other hand, Rabada was the pick of the PBKS bowlers, grabbing 4 for 38.
In reply, PBKS got off to a decent start with an opening stand of 35. However, LSG’s new-ball bowlers Chameera and Mohsin Khan hit back to reduce them to 58 for 3 in 8 overs. Barring Agarwal (25) and Bairstow (32), the PBKS batters failed to contend with some brilliant bowling on a wearing track.
In the bargain, LSG restricted PBKS to 133/8 in their allotted overs. In fact, Mohsin Khan (3/24), Chameera (2/17) and Krunal Pandya (2/11) helped LSG in their successful defence of a modest target.
LSG vs DC on 1 May at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai
In a day game on Sunday, LSG won the toss and elected to bat. Moreover, Skipper Rahul (77) and Hooda (52) got together in a 95-run stand for the second wicket. Thus, LSG built on the platform to reach a score of 195/3 in their allotted overs. Barring Shardul Thakur (3/40), none of the other DC bowlers made an impact.
On a batting-friendly wicket, the target was not beyond the strong DC batting lineup. Nonetheless, the loss of both openers with just 13 runs on the board did not help their cause. However, a breezy stand of 60 between Pant and Marsh created the perfect platform at 73/3 in 7 overs.
But the innings lost momentum after Pant got out, with the scorecard reading 120 for 5 in 13 overs. Despite quickfire cameos from Powell and Axar Patel, DC fell short by six runs.
Gujarat Titans Roll on
GT continued their relentless march at the top of the points table with impressive wins over SRH and RCB. In fact, they chased down targets of 196 and 171, underscoring their batting depth. Moreover, Rahul Tewatia has been particularly impressive this season.
RCB and DC Could Make a Late Bid
It’s too early to rule out either RCB or DC. Possibly, both teams could bounce back in what could be a decisive upcoming week. While RCB faces off against CSK in their next game, DC will take on SRH.
Bet on the IPL
Showcase your ability to predict the results of IPL games. In addition, grab the Royal Panda bonus code and the PokerStars bonus code offers from the best betting sites.
