Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) edged out Rajasthan Royals (RR) by just one run in a nail-biting last-ball thriller in their IPL 2024 clash on May 2. This victory propelled SRH to fourth place in the IPL 2024's points table, having now won six out of their ten matches. The win by SRH resulted in a shuffle in the top five. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who lost their previous match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 1, slid down to the fifth position. At the top of the table, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) remain strong contenders, occupying the second and third spots respectively. Both teams have secured six victories – KKR in nine matches and LSG in ten. Notably, KKR dominated their last outing against Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) with a convincing seven-wicket win in Kolkata on April 29th. Similarly, LSG emerged victorious in their most recent clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 30.
Top of the table stays Steady, bottom heats up
Despite a recent loss, Rajasthan Royals (RR) under Sanju Samson's leadership remain firmly at the top of the IPL points table. This setback was only their second defeat in ten matches, highlighting their impressive consistency throughout the season. Meanwhile, the five-time champions, Mumbai Indians (MI), find themselves in dire straits. Languishing in ninth place with just three wins from ten matches, their playoff hopes are dwindling rapidly. In fact, they've suffered defeats in their last three encounters. Sharing the same number of wins, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) occupies the bottom spot in the standings. However, unlike MI, RCB did manage to break their losing streak with a win against Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 28th.
Here's how IPL 2024's points table looks like after SRH vs RR's clash:
| Team | Mat | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
| 10 | 8 | 2 | 16 | +0.622 |
| 2. Kolkata Knight Riders | 9 | 6 | 3 | 12 | +1.096 |
| 3. Lucknow Super Giants | 10 | 6 | 4 | 12 | +0.094 |
| 4. Sunrisers Hyderabad | 10 | 6 | 4 | 12 | +0.072 |
| 5. Chennai Super Kings | 10 | 5 | 5 | 10 | +0.627 |
| 6. Delhi Capitals | 11 | 5 | 6 | 10 | -0.442 |
| 7. Punjab Kings | 10 | 4 | 6 | 8 | -0.062 |
| 8. Gujarat Titans | 10 | 4 | 6 | 8 | -1.113 |
| 9. Mumbai Indians | 10 | 3 | 7 | 6 | -0.272 |
| 10. Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 10 | 3 | 7 | 6 | -0.415 |
KKR vs MI: A Battle for Different Reasons
The upcoming match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and MI on April 3 at Wankhede Stadium promises to be a crucial one, but for different reasons. KKR, currently holding onto the second spot with 12 points, can solidify their position and potentially secure a playoff berth with a victory. On the other hand, MI desperately needs a win to salvage their dwindling playoff chances. This clash is a must-win for Hardik Pandya's men if they want to stay in contention.
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