/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-177964152526013771.webp)
Gujarat Titans romped to a commanding 89-run victory over Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday in their IPL 2026 clash, virtually sealing a top-2 finish in the playoff race.
Batting first, GT piled up a massive 229, built on half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler, before skittling CSK for 140. Mohammed Siraj, Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada each claimed three wickets to complete the rout.
Former CSK icon Ravichandran Ashwin opined that the legendary MS Dhoni has set the bar too high, and that Chennai would need to have a rethink after falling out of the playoff race this season.
“MS Dhoni and CSK have spoilt us for success with their high-pedigree,” Ashwin said.
“Because you feel, ‘if this
team starts winning, they’d go on to win the cup’.”
“Back in 2021, after COVID, when we thought they wouldn’t win, they went on to win with that team,” he added.
“The side led by MS delivered the title by banking on their experienced quality players.”
“You have to understand this isn’t the CSK led by MS Dhoni, and hence we’d have to rope in high quality seasoned players,” he explained.
Sudharsan and Gill launched the innings in trademark fashion, putting together a solid opening stand. Gill took the attacking role while Sudharsan anchored, with the GT skipper racing to his fifty in just 28 balls. The pair kept the pressure on to take the hosts past 100 before the innings reached its halfway stage. Sudharsan continued to accumulate steadily and reached his fifth consecutive half-century, as Buttler joined him after Gill was dismissed for 64 off 37 by Spencer Johnson, who provided CSK with their first breakthrough.
Sudharsan and Buttler then added 84 runs, keeping the Chennai bowlers under constant pressure. Sudharsan’s superb knock ended on 84 off 53 when he fell to Anshul Kamboj, after which Ruturaj Gaikwad produced a brilliant piece of fielding to dismiss Rahul Tewatia for a golden duck. Washington Sundar was removed by Mukesh Choudhary for 7, while Buttler finished unbeaten on 57 off 27 deliveries, steering GT to an imposing 229/4.
With the ball, GT struck immediately as Siraj removed Sanju Samson with the very first delivery, before also dismissing Gaikwad for 16 off 6. Siraj made it three when Urvil Patel departed following a sharp catch by Prasidh Krishna. Matt Short briefly counter-attacked with 24 off 14, but Rabada soon accounted for him.
Karthik Sharma contributed 19 from 15 balls before being run out by a smart piece of fielding from opposition skipper Gill. Shiva Dube and Dewald Brevis added 53 for the next wicket, with Dube launching a blistering 47 off just 17 deliveries, hitting four fours and four sixes to put GT’s bowlers under pressure.
Gill, who seemed to be in the thick of everything, pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss Dube, giving Rashid Khan his first wicket. Anshul Kamboj chipped in with 19 off 8 before also falling to Rashid, who completed his three-wicket haul by removing Brevis for 8.
Rabada then joined the three-fer club, dismissing Noor Ahmed and Spencer Johnson for 1 and 0 respectively, as CSK were bowled out for 140 in 13.4 overs, slumping to one of their heaviest defeats.
