Why CSK are hot-favourite contenders for the IPL title?

Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday night registered a 2 wicket win in a nail-biting encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad in qualifier 1 and entered the finals of the IPL for a record 7th time.

Statistics suggest that the team that has finished second on the points table at the end of the league stage has clinched the coveted IPL trophy for the most number of times over the years. Here’s an analysis of the past 10 seasons.

The team who has finished 1st in the points table

• Has won the tournament 2 out of 10 times, Rajasthan Royals in 2008 and Mumbai Indians in 2017; Success rate 20%.
• Has reached the finals at an impressive figure of 7 out of 10 times; Success rate 70%.
• This year Sunrisers Hyderabad finished first in the points table after all the league games.

 The team who has finished 2nd in the points table

• Has won the tournament 5 out of 10 times, Chennai Super Kings in 2011, Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012 and 2014, Mumbai Indians in 2013 and 2015; Success rate 50%.
• Has reached the finals at an impressive figure of 7 out of 10 times; Success rate 70%.
• This year Chennai Super Kings finished second in the points table after all the league games.

 The team who has finished 3rd in the points table

• Has won the trophy 2 out of 10 times, Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, Success rate 20%.
• Has reached the final 4 out of 10 times. Success rate 40%.
• This year Kolkata Knight Riders finished third in the points table after all the league games.

The team who has finished 4th in the points table

• Has won the coveted trophy only once in the past 10 years, Deccan Chargers Hyderabad in the year 2009; Success rate 10%.
• Has reached the finals on 2 occasions in the past 10 years; Success rate 20%.
• This year Rajasthan Royals finished fourth in the points table after all the league games.