Last chance saloon: CSK host SRH with playoffs on line

Points: 12 points from 12 games, 6th on table, NRR +0.027. Form: Lost last game to LSG by 7 wickets. Won 6, lost 6. Equation: Must win both remaining games vs SRH, GT to reach 16 points and stay alive. Lose vs SRH = eliminated from IPL 2026. Started season 0-3, fighting back since. No MS Dhoni – calf injury kept him out first 12 matches, but likely to return tonight. Injuries to Ayush Mhatre, Khaleel Ahmed, Jamie Overton. Relying on individual brilliance, no set template. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in sixth place, need to win both their remaining games to make the playoffs. They are in this situation because of a poor start, but also, they gave up a winning position in the away game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Coach Stephen Fleming said the team had been hurt by that performance. SRH, in third place, have a chance to make them hurt even more and also fortify their chances of making it through to the playoffs. Points: 14 points from 12 games, 3rd on table, NRR +0.331. Form: Lost last game to GT – bowled out for 86. Equation: Win vs CSK almost seals playoffs. Win both remaining = top-2 chance. Lose one = still qualify if PBKS/RR falter. Strength: Explosive opening pair Travis Head & Abhishek Sharma – smashed 75 in 5.5 overs vs CSK last meeting. Weakness: Batting inconsistency – collapsed for 86 vs GT. Key players: Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen. Pat Cummins' team are coming off a week-long break where the players were given permission to go off and do their own thing. Ishan Kishan, for example, zipped home to launch the Jharkhand T20 league. Will that help them erase the memory of 86 all out against Gujarat Titans? Monday will provide the answer. For CSK: Win = 14 points, playoff dream alive vs GT next. Lose = 3rd straight year missing playoffs after 2023 title. For SRH: Win = 16 points, one foot in playoffs + top-2 alive. Lose = dragged into crowded mid-table fight with PBKS, RR, DC. NRR Factor: Both need convincing wins. SRH +0.331, CSK +0.027. Abhishek Sharma has a strong head-to-head against CSK opening bowler Mukesh Choudhary in the IPL: 66 runs at a strike rate of 220 for one dismissal.. CSK spinners, led by Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad, have an economy rate of 8.5 which is the second best this season. Heinrich Klaasen enjoys facing Noor: 68 runs in all T20s at a strike rate of 219 for one dismissal. Bottom line: Do-or-die for CSK at home. Dhoni likely returns for what could be his last game at Chepauk in IPL 2026. SRH need to overcome batting collapses and Head-Abhishek face a spin test vs Noor. Winner takes massive step toward playoffs, loser faces elimination chaos.