IPL 2018: Three teams which might not qualify for the Playoffs

#1 Chennai Super Kings

CSK are fighting with a lot of external factors.

Now, this may annoy a lot of people, especially with CSK winning two of their three matches so far, but in my view, there are few chinks in the Chennai Super Kings armour that may derail their surge towards the playoffs in IPL 2018.

In the three matches that Chennai has played, two things have become pretty evident. Firstly, they lack a quality death bowler, in the absence of which it is pretty difficult to stop the flow of runs at the backend of the innings, which is evident from its bowlers bleeding a plethora of runs, thus shifting the momentum to the batting side.

That said, Chennai is also plagued with injuries. While Faf du Plessis has not yet recovered to full-fitness, Suresh Raina has already missed one game and is expected to miss another due to the calf injury. Also, with the majority of the CSK squad on the wrong side of the 30s, the manner in which players hold up during the course of this long tournament will certainly define their campaign.

Apart from the above-listed factors, the most pivotal point that could play a massive part in CSK's fortunes is that they will no longer play their home games at Chepauk, a ground that they managed to convert into a fortress over the years.

Home advantage is pivotal for any team's fortunes in the IPL and with Chepauk no more their home ground, it may turn out to be catastrophic for the franchise.