<p>Rutaraj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis hit quickfire runs Thursday to see Chennai Super Kings to a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad and become the first side into the Indian Premier League playoffs.</p>.<p>The hard hitting openers put on 75 for the first wicket as Chennai reached 139 for four with two balls to spare after Hyderabad were restricted to 134 for seven.</p>.<p>Gaikwad hit 45 off 38 balls and South African veteran du Plessis 41 from 36 balls to set the three-time champions on the road to the key victory.</p>.<p>Captain M.S. Dhoni hit a six to complete the win in Sharjah.</p>.<p>Hyderabad were put in to bat and immediately suffered with Jason Roy going for two and captain Kane Williamson for 11.</p>.<p>Wriddhiman Saha's 44 off 46 balls kept the innings alive but once he was caught by Dhoni off master spinner Ravindra Jadeja, Hyderabad slowed and never looked likely to set a target to seriously challenge Chennai.</p>.<p>Chennai now lead the eight-team table with 18 points from 11 games, two ahead of Delhi Capitals, and are guaranteed a place in the four playoff spots.</p>.<p>Dhoni said it had been crucial to reach the last four for the 11th time in 12 years after the team was criticised for failing to qualify in 2020.</p>.<p>"Last time, we said we wanted to come back strong. We are known for that and there was a lot at stake," said Dhoni.</p>.<p>"You won't always win games and a lot didn't go our way last time, and it's important not to make excuses and we have done that this year," he added.</p>.<p><strong>Teams</strong>: </p>.<p>Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood</p>.<p>Sunrisers Hyderabad: Jason Roy, Wriddhiman Saha, Kane Williamson (c), Priyam Garg, Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma.</p>
<p>Rutaraj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis hit quickfire runs Thursday to see Chennai Super Kings to a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad and become the first side into the Indian Premier League playoffs.</p>.<p>The hard hitting openers put on 75 for the first wicket as Chennai reached 139 for four with two balls to spare after Hyderabad were restricted to 134 for seven.</p>.<p>Gaikwad hit 45 off 38 balls and South African veteran du Plessis 41 from 36 balls to set the three-time champions on the road to the key victory.</p>.<p>Captain M.S. Dhoni hit a six to complete the win in Sharjah.</p>.<p>Hyderabad were put in to bat and immediately suffered with Jason Roy going for two and captain Kane Williamson for 11.</p>.<p>Wriddhiman Saha's 44 off 46 balls kept the innings alive but once he was caught by Dhoni off master spinner Ravindra Jadeja, Hyderabad slowed and never looked likely to set a target to seriously challenge Chennai.</p>.<p>Chennai now lead the eight-team table with 18 points from 11 games, two ahead of Delhi Capitals, and are guaranteed a place in the four playoff spots.</p>.<p>Dhoni said it had been crucial to reach the last four for the 11th time in 12 years after the team was criticised for failing to qualify in 2020.</p>.<p>"Last time, we said we wanted to come back strong. We are known for that and there was a lot at stake," said Dhoni.</p>.<p>"You won't always win games and a lot didn't go our way last time, and it's important not to make excuses and we have done that this year," he added.</p>.<p><strong>Teams</strong>: </p>.<p>Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood</p>.<p>Sunrisers Hyderabad: Jason Roy, Wriddhiman Saha, Kane Williamson (c), Priyam Garg, Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma.</p>