IPL 2024 Playoff Preview - RCB's storming finish, KKR's dominance, SRH's power game & the RR slump

The Top Order Cricket Podcast

In this episode of the show, Binksy and Stu look back at the final week of the IPL 2024 regular season before previewing the upcoming knockout fixtures.

Recorded on 20 May, we talk about a week that saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru storm into the playoffs, Sunrisers Hyderabad snatch second place, Kolkata Knight Riders watch some rain fall, Rajasthan Royals extend their losing streak and missed opportunities for Lucknow Super Giants and the Chennai Super Kings.

We discuss the epic match between RCB and CSK, which essentially became a quarterfinal thanks to LSG's slip up earlier in the week, and then take a closer look at all four playoff teams as we move to the business end of the season.

• KKR have been superb all season, but will Phil Salt's absence and consecutive washouts leave them vulnerable?
• The Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling attack has improved throughout the season, but are their chances tied heavily to the success of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head at the top of the order?
• With the Rajasthan Royals in a slump and Jos Buttler gone - is Ravichandran Ashwin at 5 really the answer?
• Virat Kohli's form has been immense all season for RCB, but have they become an all-round threat during this six-game win streak?
• Plus predictions and much more!

We might be back again later in the week with more news and views if there's an incredible game we can't wait to talk about, but if not we'll be in your feed again about this time next week to wrap up the final and also look ahead to the T20 World Cup. Until then please take the time to give us a like, follow, share or subscribe on all our channels (@toporderpod on Twitter & Facebook, and @thetoporderpodcast on Instagram & YouTube) and a (5-Star!) review at your favourite podcast provider, or tell a friend to download. It really helps others find the show and is the best thing you can do to support us. You can also find all our written content, including our Hall of Fame series, at our website.

You can also dip back into our guest episodes - including a recent conversation with Mike Hesson, plus chats with former World Cup stars Shane Bond and Mike Hussey, current players such as Matt Henry, Sophie Devine and Ish Sodhi, coaches Gary Stead, Jeetan Patel and Luke Wright, as well as Barry Richards, Frankie Mackay, Bharat Sundaresan and many more fascinating people from all across the cricketing world.

And if you'd like to reach out to us with feedback, questions or guest suggestions, get in touch at [e-mail].

Thanks for listening.

0:00 Intro

1:30 RCB beat CSK to roar into the playoffs

5:20 Rachin Ravindra's contribution

7:45 Virat Kohli's fantastic season

10:50 RCB's all-round game

14:50 Rajasthan's losing streak - can they turn it around?

21:15 Rajasthan's middle order struggles

24:05 KKR fully deserve their number-one spot

29:20 Potential for KKR v SRH to be a run-fest

31:30 Do the Sunrisers chances rest solely on whether Head and Sharma fire?

36.50 Predictions

40:30 Final general thoughts

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