Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans, IPL, 2026 Apr 26 Full score card

SIX! That's it, Jos Buttler finishes things off in style and GT have crossed the finish line with 20 balls to spare. Akeal Hosein gives this one a bit more air and drifts it in fuller onto middle. Buttler backs away well and tees off, launching it straight back over the bowler's head for a biggie. GUJARAT TITANS WIN BY 8 WICKETS!

Shorter again, outside off, pulled off the back foot and down to deep mid-wicket for one.

The next batter in is Washington Sundar.

OUT! CAUGHT! A stunner in the deep from Dewald Brevis and Sai Sudharsan will be disappointed here. Akeal Hosein bowls a quicker short ball on off, and the ball skids through a bit. Sudharsan rocks back and pulls it flat and hard to the right of deep mid-wicket. Brevis moves swiftly to his right, puts in a horizontal dive and grabs it with both hands at full-stretch to bring some joy to the home fans. Sudharsan departs for a fine knock of 87, with GT only needing 4 to win.

A flatter length ball on middle and leg, Buttler nudges it away between square leg and mid-wicket for a single.

Strategic Break! Gujarat Titans are on the verge of a win here, and it has been a splendid performance from the visitors. With just 5 runs needed and 4 overs to go, GT will also improve their NRR after taking a big hit against MI, losing by 99 runs. Sai Sudharsan has been excellent again, with Jos Buttler providing good support, and once again the top 3 have done the job for them. Chennai Super Kings will need to quickly get this game out of their minds before going ahead into the next ones.

SIX! Gujarat Titans are just one hit away from victory! Bumper from Singh, on middle, shaping in. Sai Sudharsan swivels on his back foot and pulls it away, using the pace of the bowler to sail it over the deep fine leg fence for half a dozen.

Slower now, around the middle and leg stump. Jos Buttler flicks it to deep mid-wicket and gets a single.

Fullish again, on middle and leg, Sai Sudharsan rolls his wrists and flicks it to the right of square leg for another single.

Singh drags his length back and shapes it in, around off. Jos Buttler stays on his back foot and dabs it to cover to get a single.

On a good length, angling in, around leg, Sai Sudharsan tucks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Up, up and over! This is sensational from Sudharsan. Slower one, overpitched, on middle and leg. Sai Sudharsan makes room and bends his back to slam it over the head of the bowler for six more runs.

Gurjapneet Singh is back on.

Another single to end the over. Dropped short, aimed at the batter. Sudharsan goes hard at the pull and hits it flat and on the bounce to the right of Anshul Kamboj at deep backward square leg.

Tap and run. Slightly short and outside off, Buttler presses back and eases it through the vacant gully region for a single.

Short and outside off, Jos Buttler cuts it away to point.

Ahmad drags his length back and offers a googly, on middle. Jos Buttler looks to defend it but gets beaten on the outside edge and wears on his pad. Appeal from Noor Ahmad but the umpire shakes his head. It seems the height is an issue here.

Fuller, on off, Sai Sudharsan pushes it to long on and gets a single.

SIX! That has been smoked away! Noor Ahmad offers a bit of flight and pitches it much fuller, just outside off. Sai Sudharsan takes a big stride to his front and lofts it down the ground, to the left of long off, and for a biggie.

FOUR MORE! Shorter in length again, outside off. Buttler hops up a bit and angled the cut shot to the left of the backward point fielder, picking up four more runs.

FOUR! Finds the gap with ease, does Jos Buttler. Dug in well short and on leg stump, Buttler swivels a bit to get inside the line and pulls it flat and hard to the left of the fine leg fielder for a boundary.

Back of a length and outside off, Buttler gets on his toes and taps it down to backward point.

WIDE! Attempted bumper, just down the leg side and left alone by Buttler.

Did that carry? Sanju Samson does look a bit disappointed. Replays show that it did carry quite comfortably and Sanju should be taking that all day. Back of a length, angled across off, Sai Sudharsan lets the ball come on and glides it away but gets an outside edge. Samson puts in a lazy dive across to his left and goes with one hand. The ball hits the left wrist and deflects past his helmet as the batters get a single.

Back of a length, slightly straighter, worked away off the back foot through mid-wicket for a run.

That's stayed low and there's a bit of an appeal for a caught behind from the keeper as well. Overton bashes the good length and bowls it around off, Buttler stays back and has a swipe across the line but gets beaten on the inside edge.

SIX! Pumped over the fence. Another drag down from Hosein, around off. Sai Sudharsan rocks onto the back foot, leans to the off side and clobbers it flat and to the right of the deep mid-wicket fielder for a biggie. 16 off the over, GT now need 41 off 42 balls.

Fuller now, straighter too, clipped away through the mid-wicket region for a single.

The call is for two and they get it with ease. Quick and short outside off, Jos Buttler rocks back and glides the cut to the right of deep backward point for a couple of runs.

Good length around off, sits up a bit, but Buttler jars at it and hits it straight to extra cover.

Short again, this time outside off, Sudharsan hops back and cuts it wide of point for a single.

SIX! Down the wrong line and put away with disdain. Dug in short and down leg, Sai Sudharsan gets on one knee and pulls it over deep backward square leg for a six and then falls over as well. The 50-run stand is also up between these two.

Goes short and outside off, Sai Sudharsan cuts it away to deep point for one more. GT need 57 runs in 48 balls now!

Fires this one full and on middle, Jos Buttler tucks it through mid-wicket for one.

Sloppy fielding! Dragged back and around off, Jos Buttler punches it towards cover-point for a quick run. The fielder lets it through and the batters get another one as well. 100 UP FOR GT!

Swing and a miss! A wrong'un, full and around off, turns away, Jos Buttler has a big swing through the line but fails to connect.

FOUR! Classy shot! Flatter, full and on middle, Jos Buttler brings his wrists into play and times his flick beautifully, bisecting deep mid-wicket and long on for a boundary.

FIFTY FOR SUDHARSAN! He follows up his hundred in the last game with a fine knock but will want to make sure this counts in a winning cause now. This is short and on middle, Sai Sudharsan clips it towards square leg for a single.

Short again and around off, Sai Sudharsan steers it away but fails to beat short third. One taken.

Quicker, shortish and around off, keeps low, Sai Sudharsan tucks it through mid-wicket for a brace.

SIX! Incredible effort in the deep though! Tossed up, full and on middle, Sai Sudharsan skips down the track to loft it straight down the ground but gets more height than distance on this one. It flies towards long on, where Dewald Brevis plucks it out of thin air with his right hand while falling over the ropes. He realises that Ruturaj Gaikwad is trying to back him up and tries to throw the ball with a backhand flick, but while doing so, his trailing leg touches the ground. The replay confirms it is a six, but we have to appreciate the effort.

Arm ball, short and on middle, angling in, Jos Buttler flicks it through square leg for a run.

Flatter, full and on middle and leg, Jos Buttler changes his stance for the reverse sweep but plays all around it. The ball pops up off his gloves onto his helmet and falls safely into pitch.

Dragged back, on middle, Sai Sudharsan moves back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Akeal Hosein (1-0-11-0) is back on.

FOUR! Pure timing! Good length and on off, Jos Buttler makes a bit of room again, gets his hands through the shot and crashes it through covers for a boundary.

Just short! Short of a length and on middle, takes pace off. Jos Buttler backs a long way away and tries to muscle it down the ground but gets a thin outside edge behind. Sanju Samson dives forward but the lack of pace on the ball means, it drops in front of him.

Good fielding! Hard length and on off, Sai Sudharsan lets the ball come to him and using the pace glides it wide of short third. Anshul Kamboj dives to his left and saves a certain boundary. They cross.

Back of a length and around off, Jos Buttler takes a couple of steps across and heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Touch fuller and on off, Jos Buttler pushes it towards short cover.

On a length and around off, Sai Sudharsan opens the bat face and steers it towards backward point for a quick single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Gujarat Titans are acing the chase at the moment and need a further 84 runs from 66 balls. However, they haven't quite managed to get out of sight and with their fragile middle order, Chennai Super Kings will still feel they are in the game. However, CSK do need a couple of wickets before it's too late and GT will hope that Sai Sudharsan converts this start into a big score and gets the side over the line. Let's see how the next phase of play pans out. Shivam Dube now comes on to bowl.

Another short delivery, on leg, Sai Sudharsan works it through square leg for one more.

Sai Sudharsan seems to be struggling with his fitness here. However, for now, he doesn't call for the physio and carries on.

Pushed through quicker, shortish and on off, Sai Sudharsan flicks it off the back foot towards deep mid-wicket and comes back for the second run, making it comfortably. There is a check for a short run and the replay shows that Sai did not drag his bat over the crease while taking the first run.

Shorter in length again, on middle, turns in. Sai Sudharsan tucks it with soft hands towards the vacant mid-wicket region for a brace.

Dragged back, on the pads, Jos Buttler clips it through square leg for a run.

Tossed up, full and outside off, Sai Sudharsan drives it through covers for a single.

Floated, short and around leg, Sai Sudharsan nudges it to short fine.

Pitches it up, angling in, on leg, Sai Sudharsan tucks it behind square leg for one.

FOUR! What a shot that was! Gurjapneet Singh delivers it full once again, on the fourth stump. Sai Sudharsan plants his front foot toward the pitch of the delivery, leans on it, and drives it neatly to beat the left of the diving mid off fielder for four runs.

On a length, just outside off, Jos Buttler knocks it from the toe end of his willow to long on for a single.

Good-length delivery, around the fourth stump, Sai Sudharsan looks to drive on the up, but gets a thick inside edge. The ball rolls to deep fine leg and the batter gets across for one.

Overpitched, on off, Jos Buttler leans on the delivery and eases it to mid off for a quick single.

Full-length delivery, on off, shaping in. Sai Sudharsan prods and drives it to mid on for a single.

Spin from both ends? Nope, Gurjapneet Singh replaces Anshul Kamboj.

Beaten! Another googly from Noor Ahmad, angling it away from the batter. Jos Buttler, with no footwork, looks to push it to cover, but gets beaten on the outside edge. There is half a shout for a caught behind but the keeper says no. Noor Ahmad wanted to have a look, but won't get his way.

Ahmad drags his length back, outside off, turning a bit away. Sai Sudharsan pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Googly now, on off and middle, Sai Sudharsan stays inside his crease and pats it to square leg.

Fullish, on middle and leg, Jos Buttler clips it to deep square leg for a single. Buttler is off the mark!

A wicket against the run of play. Jos Buttler walks out to bat at number 3.

OUT! STUMPED! Ruturaj Gaikwad knew it straight away, and a bit of lightning work behind the stumps has handed CSK their first wicket. Noor Ahmad bowls this a bit fuller and tosses it up around leg stump. Shubman Gill gets drawn forward as he looks to flick but the ball turns further down the leg side and Gill is beaten. Sanju Samson collects it to his left and dislodges the bails quickly. The third umpire has a look and finds that Gill's back leg is in the air when the bails get lighted. It will be a wide as well, but CSK won't mind it. 101 more needed off 82 balls.

Flat and much fuller, on the fifth stump, Sai Sudharsan gets on his front foot and punches it to long on for a comfortable single.

Short, just outside off, Shubman Gill rocks back and punches it through cover for a single.

Noor Ahmad comes into the attack right after the Powerplay.

A single to end the Powerplay, and the Titans are 55/0. Hard length around off, tapped away in front of covers for a quick single.

Pitched up fuller on off, Gill looks to drive it straight back but gets an inside edge onto the pads, and the ball rolls back to the bowler.

Fuller now, on off and middle, driven off the front foot and towards mid off for one.

FOUR! Oh, nearly chopped on, but the ball rolls to the fence and the 50 is up for GT. Good length from over the wicket, in and around off stump and this one skids through. Sudharsan ends up jabbing at it and gets an inside edge that goes past the stumps and runs away into the fine leg fence.

Uh..oh! Akeal Hosein looks in a lot of pain after hitting his face hard on the ground. The physio runs in to check on him as he lies on the ground. Good signs that he is sitting up and talking with the physio, and going through the concussion protocols. Hosein is up on his feet now and good to go again.

Oh, deary me! Akeal Hosein seems to have taken a blow to his face here, and there's immediate concern for him. Back of a length, angled across off, Gill charges down the pitch, makes room and slaps the ball flat and wide of deep point. Hosein runs to his right, dives to get to the dipping ball but spills it and then his face gets planted into the turf as the batters pick up a single. Hopefully, Akeal is fine here.

SIX! What a free-flowing shot from Gill. Length ball on the stumps, Shubman Gill lunges a long way forward and smokes it high and handsome over cow corner for a biggie.

FOUR! That should have been stopped. Fullish length, in the channel, Sudharsan gets his front leg out and just opens the bat to play it to the right of short third. The fielder over there dives and deflects the ball behind for four more runs.

FOUR! Well played by Sudharsan. Attempted yorker on middle, just a bit too full. Sai Sudharsan initially seems to have been undone and ends up punching it straight back with one hand and for a boundary as well.

Hard length on leg, clipped away to deep square leg for just one more.

Just back of a length, on miiddle and leg, Gill presses back to defend.

Oh, that could have gone anywhere. Sudharsan premeditates a bit and shuffles past the off stump. This is bowled on a good length and outside off, and Sai looks to lap it away. However, he gets it off the gloves and the ball lobs to the right of the keeper. Sanju Samson goes after the ball which falls well short and then overruns it, allowing a single.

Lands it on a fullish length, on middle and leg, Gill tucks it behind square leg and picks up a single.

Gurjapneet Singh comes into the attack now.

Another tidy over from Anshul Kamboj! Just a single from it. Back of a length, wide outside off, Sai Sudharsan attempts to capitalize on the width as he tries to cut it away, but connects it from the inner half of the bat and the ball bounces off toward cover.

Angling away from the off stump, a touch fuller, Sudharsan opens the face of the bat and guides it towards gully.

Pitches it up now, on middle, with pace. Sai Sudharsan is quick to bring his bat down and blocks it back to the bowler.

Back of a length, on off, Shubman Gill dabs it with soft hands to cover for a quick single.

Hard-length delivery, outside off, swinging away, Gill punches it to Akeal Hosein at cover.

Oh, that was not too far away from stumps! Kamboj delivers it on a good length, pitching it outside off and shaping it in. Shubman Gill skips down the track and looks to lash it through cover, but gets beaten. The ball flies just away from the top of the off pole.

Fuller now, around the pads of the batter. Shubman Gill clips it gently through square leg and gets an easy single. 17 runs from the first over of Jamie Overton!

On a hard length, just outside off, Sai Sudharsan dabs it to the right of backward point for a single.

SIX! That is just fantastic from Sudharsan! Short of a length, on leg and middle. Sai Sudharsan detects the bouncer, picks the length early and pulls it nonchalantly over deep backward square leg for a biggie.

Good-length delivery, on leg, Gill works it to mid on and gets across for a single.

SIX! Out of the park! Short of a length, angling in, on middle and leg. Shubman Gill stands tall and rolls his wrists to pull it aerially, over the fine leg fence for half a dozen.

Jamie Overton scoots from over the stumps and bowls fuller, on off. Shubman Gill swipes it to the right of the mid-wicket fielder for a couple of runs.

Just one over for Akeal Hosein and he has been replaced by Jamie Overton.

Back of a length and outside off, hit away square through the off side for a single. Just two runs off Kamboj's first over.

Another dot ball. Good length again, just outside off this time. Gill stays put and jams it out to the left of the bowler.

Oh, big shout from behind. Definitely two sounds but the bowler doesn't seem very excited. Good length on off, nips back in, Gill looks to tuck it leg side but the bat gets a bit stuck behind the front pad and he gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Dug in a bit shorter now and pushed wide of the off stump. Sudharsan reaches for it and cuts it to deep point for a single.

Back of a length, doesn't rise much and Sudharsan pulls it straight to mid-wicket.

Oh, that's done so much after leaving the batter. Nagging length on middle and off, nips away and Sudharsan ends up just backing out of his shot. The ball keeps moving away from the left-hander on its way to the keeper.

An expensive first over from Akeal Hosein. It will be Anshul Kamboj to share the attack.

Much better from Akeal, but GT pick up 11 runs off the first over. Slower through the air, bowled around leg stump. Gill backs away again but ends up blocking it off.

SIX! That is a shot and a half from Gill. Another arm-ball, fuller and angled into the swinging arc. Gill gets across to get inside the line and whacks it wide of long on for a huge six.

FOUR! Off the outside half of the blade. Hosein holds his length well and angles it into the stumps. Shubman Gill backs away to hit it over covers but gets it wide of short third and the ball rolls away into the fence. Gurjapneet Singh is the fielder chasing after it but he ends up tumbling over the ropes and into the advertisement board. Thankfully, he is fine.

Good length, darting back into the leg pole. Gill backs away to cut but gets more of an outside edge towards short third.

A bit fuller, at 92 kph, drifted into the right-hander. Shubman Gill gets a big stride forward to defend.

Tap and run. Bowled flatter, attacking the middle stump. Sudharsan stays back and compact, nudging it gently towards square leg for a quick single.

FOUR! A boundary to end the innings! Manav Suthar bowls this quicker, full and outside off. Ruturaj Gaikwad stays put, extends his arms and muscles it down the ground, beating long off to his right for four more runs. Chennai Super Kings finish on 158/7.

Darts this one in the blockhole, on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad jams it out to long on but turns down the run.

WIDE! Fires this one full but down the leg side, Ruturaj Gaikwad fails to paddle it away. Wided.

FOUR! Fine use of the feet! Floated, full and around off. Ruturaj Gaikwad skips down the track to get to the pitch of it and thumps it to the long off fence for a boundary. Suthar under pressure now. Also, 150 up for CSK.

Flatter, full and on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad uses his feet and bunts it down the ground, to the left of long on for a brace.

Slower through the air, full and around off, turns away. Ruturaj Gaikwad leaves it thinking it is a wide but it is not.

FOUR! Good start to the over for CSK. A full toss, on middle and leg, Ruturaj Gaikwad gets down on one knee and sweeps it away to the deep square leg fence for a boundary.

Akeal Hosein is the new batter in, but for now, he will be at the non-striker's end. Also, it will be Manav Suthar (2-0-7-1) to bowl the final over for GT.

OUT! TAKEN! End of a fine little cameo from Jamie Overton. Arshad Khan digs it into the surface, just outside off. Overton targets the straighter boundary and, using his bottom hand, tries to hit it like a tennis player's smash. He fails to get the elevation and the ball flies straight to long off, where Shahrukh Khan pouches it safely.

FOUR! Nothing is working for Arshad Khan! He goes fuller and on off, pace on this time. Jamie Overton cleverly shuffles across and scoops it well wide of short fine for four more runs.

FOUR! Poor delivery and rightly punished! Short and wide outside off, slower as well. Jamie Overton knows there is no protecting in the deep. He waits for it, reaches out and slaps it over backward point for another boundary.

Arshad Khan is under pressure here. He seems to be struggling with some cramps and has a long chat with the skipper regarding the bowling plans. The 12th man for CSK runs out to provide the batters some quick rehydration.

SIX! BOOM! Jamie Overton goes big now. Short of a length and on middle, not short enough to trouble the batter. Overton backs away a bit, climbs onto it and powers it over the bowler's head for a biggie.

FOUR! Crucial runs! Pitched up and on off, Jamie Overton gets under it and lofts it with a straight bat wide of mid off. Shubman Gill dives to his left and tries to grab it with his outstretched hand, but the ball touches his fingertips and rolls behind to the fence for a boundary.

A slight halt in the play as Arshad Khan seems to be struggling with his fitness. The physio has a look and thankfully, Arshad is fine to continue.

WIDE! Tries the slower bouncer, but bowls it a bit too outside off, Jamie Overton fails to reach out for it. Arshad also falls over on his follow-through and looks like he has cramped up here.

WIDE! Full again but down the leg side, Jamie Overton fails to make any contact. Called a wide.

Fuller and on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad heaves it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Arshad Khan will also bowl out here.

Slower, outside off, short of a length. Jamie Overton misses his pull as the ball stays low due to a lack of pace. Rabada finishes with fine figures of 4-0-25-3.

Jamie Overton walks out to bat at number 8 for CSK.

OUT! TAKEN! Kagiso Rabada has the last laugh and gets his third of the game. He bangs this into the pitch, outside off, keeping it away from the batter. Kartik Sharma tries to reach out for it and swat it away but fails to get on top of the bounce. It flies off the top edge towards third man, where Jason Holder moves to his right, settles under it and takes a fine catch. CSK are 122/6 now.

Dot ball! Back of a length and on middle, takes pace off. Kartik Sharma goes through the pull shot early and toe-ends it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Nicely executed by Sharma! This will hurt Rabada even more. On a good length, on off. Kartik Sharma shuffles across the stumps and ramps it over the short fine leg region for four runs.

FOUR! What happened there? The fielding has not been up to the mark from GT. This is a slower bouncer, on middle. Kartik Sharma connects his heave but fails to time it well. The ball loops toward the deep square leg region. Rashid Khan and Manav Suthar converge toward the skier, one from the deep mid-wicket and one from deep backward square leg. Both fielders get close to the ball, but due to a lack of communication, no one attempts the catch. The ball drops safely and bounces over the fence for four runs.

On a length, angling down the leg side. Ruturaj Gaikwad makes room and swings it to long on for a single.

An over each left for Arshad Khan and Kagiso Rabada. Shubman Gill will have to use one of his spinners at the death for at least 1 over. For now, Rabada is back on to finish his spell as well.

In the air... just short of the fielder! Another slower bouncer, outside off. Ruturaj Gaikwad connects the ramp. The ball flies flat toward the deep third fielder. Shahrukh Khan is the man, and he runs forward to take the catch, but the ball drops much short of him. Single taken.

Slower and shorter, outside off, Kartik Sharma upper cuts it to deep third for a single.

Attempt for a predetermined shot, but Sharma fails to execute it. Much fuller, just behind the yorker length, on the fifth stump. Kartik Sharma shuffles across the stumps and looks to ramp it over short fine. He connects from the inner half of his blade, but the ball hits his left leg.

Full and outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad swings across once again and gets it off the inner half of the bat, toward deep mid-wicket. Single taken.

SIX! KABOOM! This is a good length delivery, on off, not much movement on the ball. Ruturaj Gaikwad heaves it across and finds the middle of the bat. The ball sails over the deep square leg fence for a huge six.

FIFTY FOR RUTURAJ GAIKWAD! Not the most fluent of knocks from the CSK skipper, but he is fighting for his team. Fuller delivery, on middle, Gaikwad drills it wide of long on and comes back for the second run. First half-century of the season for him and this should give him confidence going ahead.

Mohammed Siraj (3-0-12-1) is back on to finish his spell.

Bangs this into the pitch, around leg, Kartik Sharma hooks it wide of deep fine leg for a brace.

Hard length and on off, Kartik Sharma keeps it out to the off side.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Short of a length and just outside off, Kartik Sharma frees his arms and uses the pace to cut it through point for a boundary. 100 UP FOR CSK.

The next batter is Kartik Sharma.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Arshad Khan eventually gets his man. He lands this on a good length and on middle and off, nips back in a bit and skids through as well. Shivam Dube clears his front leg and has a heave across the line but misses it completely. The ball goes through and hits the top of off, flattening the stump. Arshad gives Dube a send-off, and Siraj will be a relieved man.

Oh, the disease has caught on. We saw plenty of costly dropped catches on Saturday and we have seen a couple in quick succession in this game as well.

Hard length and on middle and leg, Shivam Dube misses his flick and gets hit on the pads.

DROPPED AGAIN! Shivam Dube gets lucky for the third time in this game. Short of a length and around off, Dube looks to flat-bat it over mid off but gets hurried on the shot. It spoons towards mid off, where Mohammed Siraj initially thinks the ball is coming to him, but in the end has to put in a dive forward and spills it out. Hands on head for Arshad.

Five overs left, and was that the momentum-shifting over CSK were after? 21 off it, and they will now be targeting somewhere around 160 from here. Arshad Khan switches ends now.

FOUR! A massive over for CSK, just what they needed here! Flatter, full and on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad gets down across and swipes it away nicely through square leg for a boundary. 21 runs off Rashid's first over.

Oh dear, Jos Buttler gives away an unnecessary run! Flatter, short and around off, Shivam Dube looks to nudge it away to the leg side but gets a bottom edge to the right of the keeper. Buttler collects it but has a wild throw at the bowler's end, allowing a single as an overthrow.

SIX! BANG! That's a clean hit. Tossed up, full and around middle, Shivam Dube stands tall and hits it through the line, launching it over the bowler's head for a biggie.

DROPPED AND FOUR! A good effort though! Flighted, full and around leg, turns away as this is a googly. Shivam Dube clears his front leg to slog it away but does not get the timing right. It flies wide of deep mid-wicket, where Sai Sudharsan runs to his left and dives to grab it with both hands but fails to hold on to it and the ball bounces over the ropes for a boundary.

FIVE WIDES! Bonus runs for CSK! Pushed through quicker, full but down the leg side, turns further down leg. Shivam Dube leaves it alone. Jos Buttler moves to his right, gets some glove on it, but the ball still races behind to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Floated, full and around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad looks to push it away but gets an inside edge towards mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter, full and just outside off, skids through, Ruturaj Gaikwad throws his bat at it but misses.

Will we finally see Rashid Khan have a bowl? Yes, we will. Rashid comes in to replace Arshad Khan in the attack.

On a length, around the thigh pad of the batter. Ruturaj Gaikwad works it to the cow corner and gets an easy single.

Holder hits the deck hard, on a good length, just outside off. Shivam Dube pulls it down to deep mid-wicket and gets across for one run.

Slower now, on a hard length, just outside off, shaping it away from the left-hander. Shivam Dube dabs it to cover.

On a length, around off, Dube pushes it to cover.

Back of a length, on the fifth stump. Ruturaj Gaikwad punches it to mid off and gets a single.

SIX! Excellent shot! Short of a length from Holder, on middle. Ruturaj Gaikwad transfers his weight to his back foot, swivels, and pulls it over the deep fine leg fence for half a dozen. According to Simon Doull on air, Gaikwad has just become the fourth batter for CSK to hit 100 sixes in the IPL.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Chennai Super Kings have just started to build up some momentum but there's still a long way to go. Gujarat Titans are in firm control of the first innings and will know that one more wicket, not too late after the break, and they will have an even better grip on this innings. Ruturaj Gaikwad needs to make it count now. He's held up one end and is starting to fire but his side will need a lot more from him and Shivam Dube if they are to post any sort of a defendable total.

Misfield from the skipper of GT! Much fuller, just outside off. Ruturaj Gaikwad leans on the delivery and drives it gently toward the right of mid off. Shubman Gill moves to his right but lets it through and the batter gets the window to take three runs.

On a good length, around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad lunges and pushes it to cover.

SIX! Gaikwad is changing the gears. Hard-length delivery, on middle and off. Ruturaj Gaikwad opens his stance a bit and pulls it flat and over square leg for another six.

On a length, around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pats it to short cover.

SIX! That's what you call mentality! Arshad Khan delivers it right into the slot, on middle and leg. Ruturaj Gaikwad loads his arms and unleashes it across the line, to swat it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

The physio is in to check Ruturaj Gaikwad. He got hit hard on his right bicep. The CSK skipper is also taking in some fluids to beat the heat and is ready to go again.

Ouch, that surely hurt Gaikwad! Back of a length, on leg. Ruturaj Gaikwad skips down the track to slog it away, but misses the length completely. The ball hits the biceps of his right hand and Gaikwad is looking in pain.

FOUR! A second boundary for Dube, much-needed for CSK as the 50 comes up in the 12th over. Holder goes for the bumper and aims it right at the batter. Dube does well to swivel onto the back leg and manages to pull it wide of short fine leg for a boundary.

Good length on middle, slants across the left-hander. Shivam Dube looks to hit on the up but gets it off the inside half of the bat and back to the bowler.

Short of a length, over off, pulled away off the back foot and in front of deep mid-wicket for a single.

WIDE! Too high. Dug in halfway down the pitch, over middle stump and Gaikwad just watches the ball sail over his head.

Oh, that should have been put away. A length ball, pushed wide of the off stump, Ruturaj Gaikwad extends his arms and slaps it away but can't get it past the point fielder. Gaikwad is on 19 off 35 balls right now.

Back of a length, angled in from wide outside off. Gaikwad hops across to the off side and mistimes it back to the bowler.

Sharp bouncer from Holder! Short of a length, on off and middle. Ruturaj Gaikwad charges down the track, but as he sees the bouncer, he lets the delivery sail away.

Is it finally time for Rashid Khan? Nope, still not! Holder to continue.

Shortish length, at the batter, Gaikwad gets right behind the line of the ball and nudges it in front of mid-wicket for a single.

Back of a length, on leg stump, Gaikwad hops up with the bounce and nurdles it into the leg side. The dot balls are mounting up.

Back of a length and around off, angling away from the batter. Ruturaj Gaikwad tries to cut it but misses.

Pitched fuller now and outside off, Gaikwad drives it straight to the cover fielder.

Good length, darted just across off. Ruturaj Gaikwad looks to hit against the line as he swipes leg side but is well beaten.

DROPPED? Surely that was a woody sound, wasn't it? No, says the umpire, as it is given as leg byes. Good-length delivery, lands it on middle and gets the ball to jag back in sharply, does Arshad. Dube is nearly cut in half as the ball brushes the thigh pad and goes behind. Jos Buttler spills it moving to his right and the batters get a leg bye. Oh, wow. Later on, UltraEdge shows that there was a big spike. That is indeed a huge chance missed for GT.

Arshad Khan has been introduced into the attack now.

Shorter than a good length, around off, the ball stops a bit and comes in with some extra bounce. Gaikwad gets inside the line a bit and blocks it off. CSK are 43/4 at the halfway stage.

Good length again, attacking the stumps, Gaikwad leans on to flick but fails to get it away.

The in-between length, on off, nips back in off the deck, and stays a shade low as well. Gaikwad gets pegged back and just about manages to jam his bat down in time.

Oh, a risky single but Shivam Dube makes it through. Good length, on off, eased on the up to mid off. Dube is a bit sluggish to take off and had to put on the afterburners.

Just back of a length, around off and middle, this time Dube hangs back and defends it onto the deck.

FOUR! Too much width on offer and Dube picks up a boundary. Shortish length, angled well outside off, Dube stands tall and punches it down well to the left of the deep third fielder for a four.

Half an appeal for LBW, turned down. Seemed to be sliding down leg. Straighter this time, fuller on middle and leg. Gaikwad looks to block down the line but the ball beats the inside edge and goes on to hit the pads.

Oh, sharp turn and bounce! Tossed up on a length and just outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad leans on to block but the ball grips and goes well past the outside edge.

Fuller this time and outside off, stroked away to the right of long off for a single.

Flatter one, angled well across off, Dube looks to drive it through covers, but miscues it back to the bowler.

Strategic Break! Chennai Super Kings are in a really difficult spot now, running out of batters. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has held one end, but he is also finding it hard to score freely, as has been the case this season for him. However, he needs to play anchor if Chennai are to get to a fighting total. The pitch has good pace and bounce, which you don't often see here, but the Gujarat Titans bowlers have used it pretty effectively and will want to strengthen their grip on the match even further in the middle overs. Also, Shivam Dube walks out to bat now.

OUT! CAUGHT! Dewald Brevis thought he got a hold of it, but the ball's gone nowhere, and Manav Suthar gets a wicket now. Just a regulation delivery from Suthar, relatively full and drifted into the stumps. Brevis goes on one knee and has a big slog across the line, almost a no-look slog but ends up getting it off the top edge. The ball goes high up and comes down near the cover region, where Shubman Gill does well to keep his eyes on the ball and pouches it just to his right. CSK are now 4 down for 37.

Tossed up fuller, on off, wristed away to deep mid-wicket for a single by Gaikwad.

Manav Suthar to continue. No Rashid Khan yet.

A bit slower now, good length, just outside off. Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes it with soft hands to the front of point and gets across for a quick single.

Back of a length once again, on the fifth stump. Ruturaj Gaikwad hangs back and guides it to backward point.

NOT OUT! Jason Holder serves this fuller and on middle, angling in. Dewald Brevis gets his front foot across to swipe it across the line but misses. The ball goes off his pads towards square leg as the batters cross for a leg bye. Holder appeals for the LBW, and Jos Buttler seems interested as well but the umpire says no. However, Shubman Gill takes the review here. UltraEdge confirms no bat is involved and Ball Tracking shows that the ball is missing the leg stump. GT lose a review.

A big shout for LBW from Jason Holder, but the umpire turns it down. Shubman Gill rushes towards the bowler and has a long chat before taking the DRS just in time. The third umpire comes in and checks UltraEdge first and there's a flat line on it. Ball Tracking shows wickets as missing and it stays NOT OUT.

On a hard length, on off and middle, Dewald Brevis covers the stumps and just pats it to the leg side.

Holder hits hard on the length, on off. Dewald Brevis rocks back and dabs it down the track.

Back of a length, just outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad steers it to deep third for a single.

Jason Holder comes in to replace Kagiso Rabada now.

Tossed up, fuller, on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad eases it to wide of cover and gets across.

Flatter, full and on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad drills it to sweeper cover for a brace.

Short, outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad rocks back and punches to cover.

Floated, full and on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad drives it towards cover-point.

WIDE! Much fuller outside off, beyond the tramline. Ruturaj Gaikwad makes a leave at it.

Full, on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes it to cover.

Manav Suthar starts off with a fuller one, just outside off. Dewald Brevis looks to take on the bowler as he looks to slog it, but doesn't quite connect it well. The ball zips to long on and the batter gets a single.

What a Powerplay for the bowling side. Just 28 runs and 3 wickets, a stark contrast from what we saw in the games yesterday. Also, Manav Suthar comes on to bowl now.

Finishes the over with a sharp bouncer, on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad sways away from the line of it. CSK are 28/3 at the end of the Powerplay!

Much fuller and on off, Dewald Brevis drives it firmly but straight to cover again. The fielder fumbles a bit and allows the run.

Pitched up and on off, Dewald Brevis drills it away to cover.

Hard length and on off, angles in, Ruturaj Gaikwad runs it down to deep third for a single.

Back of a length and around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad punches it towards cover.

Fuller delivery, on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad strides out and drives it to short cover.

Time for a bowling change? Nope. Kagiso Rabada gets a third over on the trot as well, as GT look to go for the jugular.

Goes fuller and on middle, Dewald Brevis knocks it towards mid on. Just one run and a wicket off Siraj's third over.

Mohammed Siraj welcomes Dewald Brevis with a fiery bouncer, on middle. Brevis ducks under it.

The Super Kings are in tatters right now, and out walks Dewald Brevis to bat at number 5.

OUT! CAUGHT! CSK's Impact Sub goes without making any impact. It's Mohammed Siraj's turn now to bowl a well-directed bumper, and he too gets some help from the deck. Sarfaraz Khan, looking to put pressure on the bowler, decides to take it on and goes for the pull shot. However, just like the previous dismissals, the extra bounce does the trick. It kisses the outer half of the bat and flies high in the air behind the stumps, where Jos Buttler calls for it, moves to his left, and takes a dolly. Golden duck for Sarfaraz and CSK are 26/3 now.

Length again, on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

On a length and around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad strides out and pushes it to cover-point.

Confident appeal from Siraj, but once again the umpire is unsatisfied. Good-length delivery, pitching it on middle and leg, angling in sharply. Ruturaj Gaikwad looks to clip it but misses and gets thumped on his pad.

Kagiso Rabada seems to have finally found some reward for his persistence throughout this season. Well, CSK have been forced to use their Impact Sub after just 4 overs. Sarfaraz Khan replaces Urvil Patel in the lineup and walks out to bat now as well. This means CSK won't have the cushion of an extra out-and-out bowler in the second innings.

Urvil Patel is substituted by Sarfaraz Khan

OUT! TAKEN! Kagiso Rabada with the double strike and CSK are in early trouble now. He once again bangs this into the pitch, on middle, takes off a bit. Urvil Patel looks to give charge and pull it away but is rushed as the ball gets big on him. It takes the top edge and loops straight up in the air over the bowler's head, as Jason Holder from mid on runs to his left and takes a good catch.

FOUR! Some aggressive intent now! Full-length delivery, pitching it on the stumps and angling it in. Urvil Patel charges down the track and drills it hard toward the left of the mid off fielder for four runs. The ball goes like a tracer bullet, and Patel is off the mark.

Pitches it up this time, on the fifth stump. Urvil Patel prods and pushes it to short extra cover.

An early wicket for the Titans, and it is a big one as well. Urvil Patel is the batter who walks in at number 3 for CSK today.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! The edge has finally been found, and Sanju Samson departs cheaply. Kagiso Rabada bends his back and hits the deck hard at 148.2 kph, a bit outside off, and once again gets extra bounce off the deck. Samson sees this as a scoring opportunity and throws his hands at it but only manages to get a thin outside edge behind, where Jos Buttler makes no mistake.

Good length, outside off, Sanju Samson pushes at it, but gets it from the inner part of his bat to mid-wicket.

That's some bounce off the deck! Rabada delivers it on the back of a good length. Sanju Samson understands the radar and tries to heave it off, over the mid-wicket region, but the ball gets some assistance from the track and beats the top edge of the willow.

Short of a length, outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad slices it to deep backward point and collects a couple of runs.

Angling in now, on a good length, pitching on middle. Ruturaj Gaikwad misses his flick and wears it on the upper part of the front pad. Appeal from Siraj for LBW, but the umpire shakes his head.

On a nagging length, into the corridor of uncertainty. Ruturaj Gaikwad rocks back and dabs it to cover.

Back of a length, around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pats it to cover.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Siraj errs in line and serves this full but way down the leg side. Ruturaj Gaikwad just has to get some bat on it and glances it wide of short fine for another boundary.

FOUR! What a way to get off the mark! Mohammed Siraj once again bowls just outside off, on back of a good length. Ruturaj Gaikwad presses on his front foot and just pushes it into the gap between cover and extra cover for four runs.

Much better! Hard length and on off, nips back in a bit, Sanju Samson keeps it out to the off side.

FOUR! Fine shot! Kagiso Rabada bangs this one into the pitch, just outside off. Sanju Samson transfers his weight to his back hip, extends his arms and swats it over mid off for another boundary. Rabada has a surprised look on his face as to how Sanju managed to hit that there.

Good length and on off, around 145 clicks. Sanju Samson gets late on the push and the ball goes off the inside edge wide of fine leg. Mohammed Siraj moves to his right from deep backward square leg and makes a good stop. Two taken.

Pitched up and on middle, shaping in, Sanju Samson miscues his drive off the bottom edge towards mid on.

FOUR! Up and over! Short of a length and outside off once again. Sanju Samson is not going to miss out twice. He frees his arms and with a vertical bat crunches it over cover-point for the first boundary of the match. He also brings up 5000 IPL runs.

Play and a miss! Kagiso Rabada begins with a back-of-a-length delivery, outside off, gets some extra bounce as well. Sanju Samson slashes hard at it but fails to connect.

A watchful start from Sanju Samson against Mohammed Siraj. It will be Kagiso Rabada to start proceedings from the other end.

CSK are finally underway! Short of a length and around off, Sanju Samson opens the face of his bat and guides it through backward point for a single. Just one run off the first over.

On a length and on middle, angles in, Sanju Samson gets cramped up and stabs it down the pitch.

And again! Siraj serves this a bit fuller and on middle and off, hits the deck and moves away from the batter. Sanju Samson has a tentative poke but the ball zips past the outside edge again. Siraj has done everything but find the edge.

Excellent bowling! Hits the length hard and on the fourth stump line, shaping away again. Sanju Samson tries to play it from the crease but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Back of a length and on middle and leg, Sanju Samson stays back and pats it in front of short mid-wicket.

A beauty to start with! Mohammed Siraj lands this on a good length and in that channel outside off, gets it to shape away with bounce. Sanju Samson plays well inside the line of it as the ball goes through to the keeper.

We are all set to kick off Super Sunday! The whistles are away from the Yellow Army as the two umpires make their way out to the middle. Shubman Gill has a few words with his troops as the GT players spread out onto the field of play as well. The duo of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson is set to open the innings for CSK. Mohammed Siraj is seen marking his run-up, and he will start proceedings with the ball. Let's play...

Impact Player options for GT - Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Nishant Sindhu, and Rahul Tewatia.

Gujarat Titans (Playing XI) - Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Shahrukh Khan, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan (In for Prasidh Krishna), Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, and Manav Suthar (In for Rahul Tewatia).

Impact Player options for CSK - Sarfaraz Khan, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Veer, Ramakrishna Ghosh, and Matthew Short.

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI) - Sanju Samson (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Urvil Patel (In for Sarfaraz Khan), Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein (In for Mukesh Choudhary), Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, and Gurjapneet Singh.

The skipper of Chennai Super Kings - Ruturaj Gaikwad says that the pitch looks a bit on the drier side and they don't mind batting first here. Adds that the confidence is high, but they don't want to get ahead of themselves and will look to put up a good total on the board. Feels that they need to get better in a few things, and on his own form, he says that as long as the job is getting done, he's happy, but if he gets a good start, he does want to go on and get a big score. Ends by informing that they have one change in the side as Urvil Patel comes in.

The captain of Gujarat Titans - Shubhman Gill says that it looks like a good wicket and on a surface like this, you want to know what you will be chasing. Adds that the heat is not that bad. Mentions that they have been doing most of the things right but it is all about winning the small moments. Gill shares that they are leaking too many runs in the middle overs and they need to hit their lengths right. Says that if the wicket is good, you have to aim 70-80 runs in the Powerplay but if it is a 170-180 pitch, you have to assess the conditions and play accordingly as well. Informs that Arshad Khan is back in the team.

TOSS - It's toss time in Chennai. The sun is shining brightly, and both the captains are out in the middle, and Simon Doull is the one overseeing proceedings. The home captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, gives it a flick as Shubman Gill calls, and does so correctly. Gujarat Titans have elected to BOWL first.

Let's now hear from CSK's Jamie Overton - Overton says it's his first afternoon game in Chennai, so he says that it is a bit hot, but he has to get used to it. On his pacey deliveries in the middle overs, he says that he has been able to bowl around 140 kph because his preparations start before the game, whether it's taking energy fluids or recovering. After that, he just tries to execute the plan and provide the team. On his current form, he says that he is in good shape after a good season in the Big Bash League and is trying his best to do even better for CSK.

A quick chat with GT's southpaw supreme - Sai Sudharsan starts off by saying that he is very happy to be back in this stadium, and after the match, he will spend some time with his family members. About his perception on opening the batting in GT, he says that he always aims to put up a great platform for the middle order batters so that when they come in the 14th or 15th over, they can play at their own pace. On being asked how his strike rate has improved a lot from last year, he replied that every year T20 cricket is evolving and this year he is trying to analyse the situation and play accordingly.

PITCH REPORT - Pommie Mbanwga is pitchside. He says that it is a hot day, but it has been hotter here in the past. Adds that there is a bit of wind blowing, which should bring some comfort. Mentions that the shorter square boundary is 63 meters, while the other side is 70 meters, and the straight hit is 79 meters. Katey Martin joins him and says that it is a mixed soil surface. The black soil tends to stay a bit low and turn more, while red soil aids a bit of harness. Shares that there are a few cracks and there will be real assistance for the spinners. Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein were fantastic in the last game, and the key thing they did was attack the stumps. Pommie ends by saying that you want to get 190 or more at this ground, but he reckons add 20 more to that, this being an afternoon game, and batting first, you can defend a total here.

Battle of the centurions - There was a lot of talk about the acquisition of Sanju Samson ahead of the tournament and despite a slow start, he's also racked up two centuries and has scored heavily in all of CSK's three wins so far this season. On the other hand, last season's leading run-scorer, Sai Sudharsan, also had a topsy-turvy start to the 2026 season. But he too hit a century in GT's last game, albeit in a losing cause, and the battle between Samson and Sudharsan will be something to keep an eye on. Both teams are top-heavy, but right now CSK do seem to have a more promising middle-order when compared to GT, who will be hoping that their top 3 come good yet again. All in all, the battle lines are drawn, and it should be a fascinating encounter. Stay tuned for the toss and team sheets.

Spin to make the difference? The battle at Chepauk will be defined by how Gujarat’s explosive top order, led by Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler, handles Chennai’s resurgent spin department. With the match scheduled for an afternoon start, the absence of dew might play right into the hands of CSK’s slow bowlers. Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein have been lethal off late, while Anshul Kamboj continues to impress as a joint-leader in the Purple Cap race. Gujarat will rely heavily on their own spin wizard, Rashid Khan, and the local expertise of Washington Sundar to dry up the runs on a surface that traditionally rewards discipline over raw pace.

Super Sunday in the making - After a record-breaking start to the weekend on Saturday, we now move to Chennai, and in the afternoon heat, Chennai Super Kings are all set to go up against Gujarat Titans at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Both teams find themselves in the middle of the pack with identical records of three wins from seven games, making this Match 37 encounter crucial for momentum. CSK enter the contest as the form team, with 3 wins in their last 4 matches, which also includes a dominant 103-run victory over Mumbai. Conversely, GT are looking to bounce back from a narrow loss to RCB, despite a heroic century from Sai Sudharsan in their last outing.

... MATCH DAY ...

The Chepauk test - Halfway through IPL 2026, and it genuinely feels like the season only just kicked off. That is the nature of time, though. It waits for nobody, and neither does this tournament. Match 37 carries its own version of that urgency. Chennai Super Kings welcome Gujarat Titans to MA Chidambaram Stadium, and fittingly for the halfway point, both sides arrive in eerily similar positions. Three wins, four defeats apiece. And as the window begins to close, the fight for a top-four finish will get even more intense. CSK’s early weeks were rough, losing three straight before steadying themselves. Two wins followed, then a stumble, then came the redemption as the Men in Yellow displayed their most complete performance against their biggest arch-rivals. That 103-run demolition of the Mumbai Indians is seen as a resurrection point, and suddenly, the Super Kings are breathing down the necks of the top four. GT, on the other hand, arrive in a far darker mood. Back-to-back humbling defeats have left them bruised. A 99-run thrashing at the hands of MI on home turf was bad enough to dent their net run rate. Then came the RCB defeat, quieter in margin but no less deflating. The Titans are a side searching for answers. The walls are being re-erected - Chepauk has been stormed. Visiting armies have scaled its walls, planted their flags and marched out victorious in recent times. But the garrison never surrendered. Six consecutive home defeats had made this ground feel unfamiliar, almost foreign to a side that once made Chepauk an impenetrable stronghold. The Super Kings have been regrouping, rearming and reinforcing themselves to construct the walls brick by brick again. Two wins from three at home, both arriving back to back, suggest the fortress is finding its footing again. The return of vintage CSK? Many are already calling it so. This is a franchise that built its legend on suffocating opposition batting lineups through spin, a web woven first by the great Muttiah Muralitharan and then handed down to the Ashwin and Jadeja duo. But every generation eventually passes the baton, and at Chepauk, it appears to have landed with Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein. Too early to crown them, perhaps, but the marker has been laid. Noor has been a steady, reliable presence for CSK and was their leading wicket-taker last season. Hosein's arrival, though, may have been the missing piece. Together, the last game offered the first real glimpse of what this partnership could become. 6/41 in 8 overs. This was their contribution against MI at a batting-friendly Wankhede. If that is what they produce on a batting paradise, Chepauk on Saturday afternoon could well be a frightening proposition. Not only through spin. The bowling unit that many had written off as thin on paper has hunted as a pack, and Anshul Kamboj has emerged as the leader of that hunt. With 14 wickets, he is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament so far, showing immense maturity not only in the Powerplay phase, but also being near-clinical in the death phase, ably supported by the tall Englishman Jamie Overton. Around him, the left-arm seam options have multiplied, which gives this attack variety and venom in equal measure. Cracks beneath the surface - Not everything that shines is gold. And in yellow, the batting carries questions that the bowling form cannot answer on its own. Sanju Samson has been nothing short of extraordinary, shouldering this lineup single-handedly. Two centuries already this season, including that quality 101* against MI that made all the difference, and he sits as CSK's leading run scorer this year. But the drop off after Samson is where the concern lives. The rest of the batting has leaned on him heavily, and with Mhatre now ruled out, that overdependence becomes a genuine vulnerability. On a positive note, the Powerplay approach has been a genuine bright spot. 72/2, 76/3, and 73/2 across their last three games. The runs are flowing, the intent is clear, and the improvement from last season is hard to ignore. The caveat, however, sits in those wicket columns. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad is still searching for that fluency that once made him look undroppable at the top. Sarfaraz Khan has been hit and miss, Shivam Dube is yet to fully unleash the muscle power that makes him such a threat, and Dewald Brevis has not fired anywhere close to the level expected of him. Flashes have arrived, but flashes alone are not enough in the long run. O Captain, My Captain - 104 runs at an average of 14.85. Highest score of 28. That is the report card Ruturaj Gaikwad carries into Saturday night, and it makes for uncomfortable reading for a batter of his calibre. Last game offered a glimpse, a good start, before he was dismissed inside the Powerplay once again. He is yet to bat outside the restrictions even once this season. But he has enjoyed playing against GT. No CSK batter has scored more runs against this opposition than their captain. 4 fifties in seven games, an average of exactly 50. Gaikwad would hope that one big innings, which is long due from his bat, comes this time around in front of the home crowd. Top-heavy but not heavy enough after - Since the start of last IPL, GT have attacked the least percentage of deliveries across the tournament while maintaining the highest control rate when they do attack. The numbers paint a clear picture of their philosophy. They wait for the error, pounce on the loose ball and refuse to take on good deliveries. It is a disciplined approach, but one that other teams have begun to read, prepare for and exploit. The layman's question is simple but loaded. Are GT too conservative? And will that conservatism hold up when the tournament reaches its most unforgiving stages? There is no question about the kind of consistency Gill, Sudharsan and Buttler bring to the table. They are not just pillars, they are the entire architecture of GT's batting. Sudharsan has only burnished his reputation further this season, becoming the fastest batter in IPL history to reach 2000 runs, a landmark that speaks to just how good he has been. But greatness at the top can only carry an innings so far. The concern lies in what follows them, a middle order that has repeatedly been found wanting the moment that the top three are dismantled. Against RCB, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill put on a risk-free 128 together at the top, laying the foundation for what looked like a commanding total. Despite Sai lit up the Chinnaswamy with a classy century, it wasn't to be. The middle order couldn't hold the momentum. Between overs 17-19, they could add only 17 runs despite being in a strong position and having two capable hitters in the middle. They did manage to cross 200, but just in its north, leaving 15-20 runs behind. This has been the case with GT, as they haven’t been able to finish well in the death phase, especially with the bat. Close but never quite - All their efficiency and class with both bat and ball are doing just enough to get them into the conversation, but not enough to finish it. Last year told that story most painfully. GT were right there, in the mix, capable of winning the title, but when it came to stringing three wins in a row against the best teams in the competition, they fell short. The same question hovers over this group again. Aiming for a bounce back - It was just one of those rare days. GT's bowling unit, usually so reliable and so consistent, had nowhere to hide against RCB's onslaught. Even Rabada, Krishna and Rashid, three of the most trusted names in this attack, were carted all around the park. But one bad game does not rewrite what this attack is capable of. These three remain GT's most potent weapons, and crucially, they are still picking wickets regularly, which is a big positive. Also, Rashid Khan remains the lone reliable option in the spin department, with Manav Suthar featuring in just one match so far and Washington Sundar not having much impact either. Mohammed Siraj, too, is gradually finding his footing. And with Jason Holder too, adding a reliable bowling option, the ingredients are there, and they will be aiming for a better outing in Chepauk. Team form (Last 5 completed IPL matches, recent first) CSK - WLWWL | GT - LLWWW. What to expect? This is the first afternoon game in Chennai this season, and conditions will have their say. The pitch is no longer the spin trap it once was, and batting sides have found it a far more hospitable place in recent times. But an afternoon surface at Chepauk still holds enough in it to keep batters honest. And with three of the finest spin operators in Rashid Khan, Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad all set to take the field here, even a little assistance can feel like a lot in the hands of the right bowlers. What do the records say? The head-to-head record between Super Kings and Titans reads 4-4 across eight meetings, a deadlock that speaks to just how fiercely contested this rivalry has been. But zoom in on Chennai, and the picture shifts. This will be only GT's third visit to Chepauk, and they are yet to win here. And when it comes to afternoon cricket in Chennai, CSK have been near-invincible. Out of 18 day games at Chepauk, the Super Kings have faced only four defeats, one each in 2008, 2012, 2023 and 2025. GT are walking into a territory which has been bossed by the yellow army. Will they be able to get the better of the hosts? This one promises to be a cracker of a game.