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- CSK vs GT highlights, IPL 2026: Sai Sudharsan, Kagiso Rabada shine as Gujarat Titans beat Chennai Super Kings by 8 wickets
CSK vs GT highlights, IPL 2026: Sai Sudharsan, Kagiso Rabada shine as Gujarat Titans beat Chennai Super Kings by 8 wickets
If the first half belonged to the bowlers, the chase was all about calculated aggression as Sudharsan produced a shining tutorial in adapting to conditions, smashing 87 off 46 balls to anchor Titans’ comfortable pursuit of 159.
The win moved Titans to fifth position from seventh with eight points.
On a pitch that had earlier demanded caution, Sudharsan showed how to blend restraint with intent, picking the right deliveries to attack while respecting the bounce on offer.
He found an able partner in skipper Shubman Gill, who made a brisk 33 off 23 balls before falling to spinner Noor Ahmad.
The Titans openers laid a solid foundation with a 58-run stand, effectively taking the game away from CSK in the Powerplay itself. Gill looked fluent, mixing elegance with aggression, but his dismissal did little to slow the visitors.
Sudharsan, who had struck a century in the previous game against RCB, carried his sublime form forward, unleashing a range of strokes, particularly against pace to keep the scoreboard ticking at a healthy rate.
The left-hander's seven sixes underlined his dominance on a surface where CSK’s batters had struggled earlier in the day.
Jos Buttler played the perfect supporting role, remaining unbeaten on 39 off 30 balls as Titans reached 154 for 1, finishing the chase with 20 balls to spare.
Ahmad and Akeal Hosein took a wicket apiece while the rest struggled to contain the flow of runs as the Titans batters showed far better awareness of the conditions.
Earlier, on a pitch that offered sharp carry, stroke-making demanded discretion and adaptability.
Instead, CSK's batters often opted for high-risk shots without fully assessing conditions, and paid the price with a flurry of miscued dismissals, managing 158/7.
Invited to bat, CSK never quite found rhythm but skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s maiden half-century (74 not out) of the current IPL season lent a semblance of respectability to the total in a season where 200-plus scores have become commonplace.
Gaikwad's knock came off 60 balls with six fours and four sixes after a laboured start.
The tone was set early by GT pacer Mohammed Siraj, who extracted steep bounce and forced errors.
Sanju Samson (11) began watchfully, negotiating the first over before opening up against Kagiso Rabada (3/25) to bring up his 5000 IPL runs milestone.
However, Rabada’s bounce soon accounted for him as a hard slash outside off resulted in a faint edge that Jos Buttler pouched safely.
The dismissal triggered a collapse. Urvil Patel (4) fell in the same Rabada over attempting an ambitious pull, while Sarfaraz Khan (0) succumbed to Siraj’s extra lift, mistiming a short ball to offer a simple catch.
At 28 for 3 inside the Powerplay, CSK were already in trouble.
Gaikwad and Dewald Brevis (2) needed to rebuild, but the latter’s impatience against spinner Manav Suthar led to his downfall, holing out after failing to get to the pitch of the ball.
The mounting wickets forced Gaikwad into a shell, an approach that, while understandable, further stalled the momentum.
Dot balls piled up, with CSK reaching 50 only in the 12th over.
The skipper eventually broke free, taking on Arshad Khan and Jason Holder with a couple of towering sixes, but the acceleration came too late.
Shivam Dube, dropped thrice on 6, 11 and 22, struggled for fluency before Arshad cleaned him up.
Kartik Sharma (15) and Jamie Overton (18) provided late impetus with a few lusty hits, but the damage had already been done.
On a pitch that rewarded discipline and smart shot selection, Titans' bowlers executed their plans to perfection, while CSK’s batters failed to read the conditions in time, a lapse that ultimately defined the innings.
Jason Holder to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Short of a length, over off, pulled away off the back foot and in front of deep mid-wicket for a single.
Jason Holder to Ruturaj Gaikwad, WIDE! Too high. Dug in halfway down the pitch, over middle stump and Gaikwad just watches the ball sail over his head.
Jason Holder to Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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.
Jason Holder to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Back of a length, angled in from wide outside off. Gaikwad hops across to the off side and mistimes it back to the bowler.
Jason Holder to Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad 19 (32)
- Shivam Dube 6 (6)
Arshad Khan to Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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.
Arshad Khan to Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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.
Arshad Khan to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Back of a length and around off, angling away from the batter. Ruturaj Gaikwad tries to cut it but misses.
Arshad Khan to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Pitched fuller now and outside off, Gaikwad drives it straight to the cover fielder.
Arshad Khan to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Good length, darted just across off. Ruturaj Gaikwad looks to hit against the line as he swipes leg side but is well beaten.
Arshad Khan has been introduced into the attack now.
Arshad Khan to Shivam Dube, 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.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad 18 (27)
- Shivam Dube 6 (5)
Jason Holder to Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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.
Jason Holder to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Good length again, attacking the stumps, Gaikwad leans on to flick but fails to get it away.
Jason Holder to Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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.
Jason Holder to Shivam Dube, 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.
Jason Holder to Shivam Dube, Just back of a length, around off and middle, this time Dube hangs back and defends it onto the deck.
Jason Holder to Shivam Dube, 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.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad 18 (24)
- Shivam Dube 1 (2)
Manav Suthar to Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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.
Manav Suthar to Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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.
Manav Suthar to Shivam Dube, Fuller this time and outside off, stroked away to the right of long off for a single.
Manav Suthar to Shivam Dube, 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.
Manav Suthar to Dewald Brevis, 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.
Manav Suthar to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tossed up fuller, on off, wristed away to deep mid-wicket for a single by Gaikwad.
Manav Suthar to continue. No Rashid Khan yet.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad 17 (21)
- Dewald Brevis 2 (8)
Jason Holder to Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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.
Jason Holder to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Back of a length once again, on the fifth stump. Ruturaj Gaikwad hangs back and guides it to backward point.
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.
Jason Holder to Dewald Brevis, 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.
Jason Holder to Dewald Brevis, On a hard length, on off and middle, Dewald Brevis covers the stumps and just pats it to the leg side.
Jason Holder to Dewald Brevis, Holder hits hard on the length, on off. Dewald Brevis rocks back and dabs it down the track.
Jason Holder to Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad 15 (18)
- Dewald Brevis 2 (5)
Manav Suthar to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tossed up, fuller, on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad eases it to wide of cover and gets across.
Manav Suthar to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Flatter, full and on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad drills it to sweeper cover for a brace.
Manav Suthar to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Short, outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad rocks back and punches to cover.
Manav Suthar to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Floated, full and on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad drives it towards cover-point.
Manav Suthar to Ruturaj Gaikwad, WIDE! Much fuller outside off, beyond the tramline. Ruturaj Gaikwad makes a leave at it.
Manav Suthar to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Full, on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes it to cover.
Manav Suthar to Dewald Brevis, 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.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad 12 (13)
- Dewald Brevis 1 (4)
Kagiso Rabada to Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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!
Kagiso Rabada to Dewald Brevis, Much fuller and on off, Dewald Brevis drives it firmly but straight to cover again. The fielder fumbles a bit and allows the run.
Kagiso Rabada to Dewald Brevis, Pitched up and on off, Dewald Brevis drills it away to cover.
Kagiso Rabada to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Hard length and on off, angles in, Ruturaj Gaikwad runs it down to deep third for a single.
Kagiso Rabada to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Back of a length and around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad punches it towards cover.
Kagiso Rabada to Ruturaj Gaikwad, 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.
