IPL 2018: Dhoni's tactics help CSK beat KXIP by 5 wickets; RR in playoffs

In the 56th and the last league match of the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018, Chennai Super Kings defeated Kings XI Punjab by 5 wickets and ended the latter's journey in this year's IPL, helping Rajasthan Royals to make it to the playoffs. Overall, after a dismal start with the batting, KXIP regained the ground through Tiwary and Miller's partnership and Nair's cameo, CSK too suffered early losses and Punjab's pace-battery wreaked havoc initially, CSK maintained a slow approach and made in road into the game. Things came under control for Chennai, the match was already gone for KXIP as they couldn't maintain the 53-run plus margin to make it to the playoffs, CSK smashed their hopes and slowly marched towards clinching the match, Raina made his half-century and took the team towards victory, in the end he gave the strike to Dhoni to finish it, the captain ended it in his trademark style-- hitting the winning run with a six-- sealing a meeting with SRH for the first playoff on Tuesday. On the VIVO IPL points table, SRH are on top followed by CSK, KKR and RR. All these teams make it to the playoofs.

Earlier, Chennai Super Kings won the toss and decided to field against Kings XI Punjab. Gayle perished soon, Finch and Lokesh Rahul followed him. Manoj Tiwary and David Miller stabilised KXIP innings by adding a 50-run partnership. Jadeja dismissed Tiwary, Miller too fell. Wickets kept falling from the other end but Nair held one end and went on to make his fifty. After Nair's wicket, the innings ended soon. KXIP managed to score a decent total of 153 runs. CSK lost its opener Ambati Rayudu off Mohit Sharma's swinging delivery. An outswinger by Rajpoot proved lethal for du Plessis and the next ball removed Sam Billings on a golden duck. The pace battery had tightened the noose around CSK batting. Rajpoot finished his four overs, clinching 2 main wickets from it, KXIP was searching for a wicket but amidst all this, Ashwin struck on his first ball by removing Harbhajan. The batsmen were just on a run-a-ball spree and KXIP were in a hurry to clinch more wickets as they had very less time to pull a miracle. Ultimately, KXIP were handed a defeat and this ended their journey in IPL 2018.