Opening batsman Sai Sudharsan and captain Shubman Gill hit impressive half-centuries to lead Gujarat Titans to a decisive 89-run victory over Chennai Super Kings in Thursday’s IPL 2026 encounter in Ahmedabad. The pair combined for a 125-run opening partnership that propelled GT to 229 for four after CSK chose to bowl first. Mohammed Siraj (3/26), Rashid Khan (3/18), and Kagiso Rabada (3/32) dominated with the ball, dismissing CSK for just 140 in 13.4 overs. Sudharsan crafted 84 from 53 deliveries while Gill compiled 64 from 37 balls. Jos Buttler contributed an explosive unbeaten 57 from 27 balls, featuring five fours and four maximums. This defeat eliminated CSK from the tournament. GT Outplays Chennai Super Kings to Claim Big Win.
TOSS-
Chennai Super Kings won the toss and elected to field.
PLAYING XI –
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI):
Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Matthew Short, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh
Gujarat Titans (Playing XI):
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Arshad Khan, Mohammed Siraj
GUJARAT TITANS-
The GT skipper joined an exclusive group of just four players to accumulate 6000 T20 runs before age 27. However, this milestone was overshadowed by his explosive Powerplay performance, where he hammered 35 from 18 deliveries while his opening partner managed just 21 from the remaining 18 balls during this phase. This highlighted Gill’s improved attacking approach at the start of innings. During his 2023 orange cap-winning campaign, his first 10-ball strike rate stood at 135.44, but this year it has jumped to 166.94. His Powerplay dominance featured aggressive charges down the pitch, clever positioning across his stumps, and clinical off-side stroke play.
Gill reached his fifty in just 23 balls, celebrating with back-to-back sixes off Noor Ahmad before getting a fortunate reprieve on 51 when CSK missed a review opportunity after he edged a pull shot off Gurjapneet Singh.
After a cautious start of 24 from 22 balls, Sudharsan unleashed his attacking game against Anshul Kamboj, launching a six before benefiting from a boundary through a fielding error. When Noor conceded 16 runs in an over, Gaikwad attempted to use Shivam Dube as a bowling option, but this strategy backfired as Gill punished him for three boundaries. CSK managed to apply pressure with tight 11th and 12th overs bowled by Gurjapneet and Noor, eventually breaking the 125-run partnership when Gill mistimed Spencer Johnson in the following over.
Jos Buttler arrived at the crease and immediately struck his opening delivery for four, reflecting both the favorable batting conditions and GT’s commanding position.
GT would gladly accept such consistent output from their top three. Buttler ensured all three batsmen reached half-centuries, achieving his milestone in the same 23-ball timeframe as Gill. He completed his fifty during the 19th over with back-to-back boundaries after Sudharsan fell to Anshul Kamboj.
Sudharsan’s 53-ball 84 propelled him to the summit of the tournament’s run-scoring charts, while Buttler’s explosive unbeaten innings, featuring four sixes, drove GT to their imposing 229-run total.
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS-
GT’s batting depth represents one key theme, while their Powerplay bowling dominance forms another crucial element. This was evident again as Siraj dismissed Sanju Samson for a first-ball duck with an outswinger that the CSK opener wildly slashed at without proper footwork, resulting in an edge to the keeper. Gaikwad, who moved down to number three to accommodate Matt Short as opener, began aggressively with two sixes before Siraj’s cross-seam delivery that nipped back bowled him. Siraj claimed his third victim when Urvil Patel skied a attempted pickup shot. Not to be outdone, Kagiso Rabada secured the fourth Powerplay wicket by dismissing Short, essentially crushing CSK’s hopes and ending their campaign.
Shivam Dube produced one of his finest performances in an otherwise disappointing season, blasting four sixes and an equal number of boundaries in a blistering 17-ball 47 before falling to an outstanding catch by Gill, who also executed a direct-hit run-out to dismiss Kartik Sharma. Rashid Khan swept through the remaining batsmen to seal the comprehensive victory.
Brief scores:
Gujarat Titans 229/4 in 20 overs [Sai Sudharsan 84 (53), Shubman Gill 64 (37), Jos Buttler 57 (27); Gurjapneet Singh 0-31] defeated Chennai Super Kings 140 in 13.4 overs [Shivam Dube 47 (17); Mohammed Siraj 3-26, Rashid Khan 3-18] by 89 runs.
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