IPL 2024 Qualification scenarios: Have RR qualified for playoffs after their 7-wicket win over LSG?

Rajasthan Royals registered their eighth win in nine matches in IPL 2024 as they consolidated their top spot in the points table by beating the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana International Stadium on Saturday. However, the inaugural IPL champions haven't yet qualified for the playoffs.

The Royals have already beaten LSG and Mumbai Indians twice in the competition. The remaining wins have come against the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Delhi Capitals and the Punjab Kings.

Despite having 16 points, they have not officially qualified, as they need one more win to effectively seal a spot in the playoffs.

Their only defeat this year has come against the Gujarat Titans, when Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan joined hands to complete a miraculous chase at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Sanju Samson stars to drive Rajasthan Royals to a seven-wicket win over LSG

Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel. (Credits: Twitter)

RR openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler got their side off to another brisk start. Yash Thakur delivered the Super Giants with their first breakthrough, casting Jos Buttler with a dipping full toss. Marcus Stoinis dismissed Jaiswal with the first ball of his spell, while Amit Mishra got rid of Riyan Parag cheaply.

Nevertheless, Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel absorbed pressure and followed it up by shifting gears quite seamlessly.

Jurel, who was gifted two lifelines by Yash Thakur, scored his half-century. Samson, who has aggregated 385 runs in the competition, stayed unbeaten on 71 and smashed the winning runs. At the other end, Jurel stayed unbeaten on 52 to see the Royals comfortably home against LSG.

Sanju Samson earned the Player of the Match award. Earlier, Sandeep Sharma starred with outstanding figures of 4-0-31-2 to limit the Super Giants to 196-5. Trent Boult, Avesh Khan and Ravichandran Ashwin also snared one wicket apiece.