Gujarat Titans delivered an impressive performance to defeat Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets, powered by Kagiso Rabada’s early burst and a dominant chase led by Sai Sudharsan. Despite Ruturaj Gaikwad carrying his bat, CSK were unable to mount a serious challenge.
Gujarat Titans 162 for 2 (Sai Sudharsan 87, Buttler 39*, Noor 1-29)
beat Chennai Super Kings 158 for 7 (Gaikwad 74*, Rabada 3-25, Arshad 2-43) by eight wickets
A destructive powerplay spell from Gujarat’s new-ball attack set the tone, with Rabada’s 3 for 25 dismantling CSK’s top order. The result lifts GT to fifth on the points table, while CSK slip down to sixth.
Early Collapse Hurts CSK
At the toss, Ruturaj Gaikwad suggested the surface might favour spin later, hinting at a defendable total. However, the pitch played very differently, offering pace and bounce that Gujarat’s quicks exploited immediately.
Rabada and Mohammed Siraj bowled through the powerplay, and CSK struggled to cope. The introduction of Sarfaraz Khan as Impact Player early in the innings failed to yield results, as he was dismissed for a golden duck.
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CSK slumped to 28 for 3, their third-lowest powerplay score this season. Rabada turned the game with a fiery spell — after conceding two boundaries to Sanju Samson, he responded with two wickets in his next over, including Samson himself. Siraj and Jason Holder maintained tight lines, conceding at under a run per ball.
Rabada finished with figures of 3 for 25, while Gujarat’s spinners were less effective, leaking 43 runs in four overs. Rashid Khan bowled just one over, conceding 21.
Gaikwad Holds Firm Amid Struggles
Even without Prasidh Krishna in the attack, GT maintained control and kept CSK in check for long periods. CSK went 31 balls without a boundary between overs 3.5 and 9.1 and needed 11.6 overs to reach their fifty — their second-slowest in IPL history.
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Through it all, Gaikwad remained at the crease. After starting with a couple of boundaries, he shifted into a more measured approach as wickets fell around him. Determined to bat through the innings, he finished unbeaten on 74 out of CSK’s 158.
His innings included 30 dot balls, the joint-second most in an IPL innings, underlining the pressure applied by Gujarat’s bowling attack.
Sudharsan Anchors Perfect Chase
Despite challenging conditions, including heat warnings in Chennai, Gujarat opted to bowl first — a decision that proved decisive. With clarity on the target and conditions, GT approached the chase with control and composure.
Sai Sudharsan led from the front, following up his previous century with a commanding 87 off 46 balls, including seven sixes. His innings ensured Gujarat maintained a steady scoring rate throughout.
GT reached 100 quicker than CSK had managed their fifty earlier in the match, a gap that ultimately defined the result. Jos Buttler provided solid support with an unbeaten 39 as Gujarat closed out the chase efficiently.
Crowd Energy Fades Late
A crowd of 31,506 at Chepauk witnessed the contest, responding enthusiastically despite the slow scoring phases. The home support cheered Gaikwad’s fifty, even though it came off 72 balls, and welcomed Dewald Brevis loudly upon his arrival at the crease.
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Brevis, who has scored 64 runs from 53 balls this season, once again showed glimpses without fully delivering.
Although MS Dhoni was not present, his familiar voice echoed through the stadium speakers urging fans to “start the whistles,” a call that was answered by the crowd. However, as the chase progressed and Gujarat tightened their grip, sections of the crowd began to leave around the 14th over, sensing the outcome.
