With all the controversies in previous week, IPL 5 is heading towards the business end with top four lining-up for one great end to this season. Let’s see the four teams of playoffs:

IPL Playoffs – At a Glance

First comes the champions of IPL – Chennai Super Kings. It was Punjab which put CSK to the brink, but it was DC who helped CSK to cross the line with slight difference in run-rate. The Deccan Chargers woke up late in the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League and, strangely or interestingly, whatever way you put it, the Royal Challengers Bangalore had to pay dearly for it, which helped CSK enter playoffs yet again. Chennai Super Kings didn’t perform like champions this season, they have been the best team in the relatively short history of the IPL, two-time winners, past winners of the Champions League, wearing the same colours as they did in those years, showcasing the same personalities but playing like someone else. Now, they have got the rare dose of booster from DC to play in playoffs and hope they grab the chance with both hands.

Mumbai Indians tried out their eighth different opening combination for the season and it clicked – Dwayne Smith and Sachin Tendulkar. They pair put on the highest stand for the first wicket in the tournament to crush Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur. The target put on by RR wasn’t enough as Mumbai Indians went into the playoffs with an extra shot of confidence. MI has power-pack to fight hard against CSK in Eliminator One, and the Champions League winners would love to win IPL for first time.

Kolkata Knight Riders fought hard like their anthem “korbo lorbo jeetbo re”, they have made it to second spot to play the first qualifier match against table-toppers Delhi Daredevils. Knight Riders have a good decent bowling attack lead by mysterious spinner Suniel Narine and experienced Brett. Knight Riders now have two shots to try and get into the final. They will be playing Daredevils on the same ground Pune on Tuesday where there spinners performed well. It will be the match of KKR spin vs. DD pace attack.

Delhi Daredevils embarked on their batting power and successful pace attack has topped the tables. DD are playing with a fearsome opening pair in both departments i.e. batting lead by Captain Virender Sehwag and bowling by their fast bowlers, Morne Morkel and Umesh Yadav. The power-packed Daredevils line-up dismantled Punjab with ease on a spicy pitch in Dharamsala; by virtue of this win they have put Mumbai Indians at the third spot in the playoffs.

Tags: Chennai Super Kings, Cricket, Delhi Daredevils, IPL 2012, IPL 5, IPL Playoffs, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians