Gujarat Titans recorded a commanding 89-run victory over Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday, in their IPL 2026 clash, virtually securing a top-2 finish in the playoff race.
Batting first, GT piled up a massive 229, powered by 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.
Gill expressed his delight with the side’s momentum heading into the playoffs and opined it was about adding impetus to the quality outfit.
“We were getting close and it was about adding that extra 5%,” he said
“It is very important going into the playoffs, and we are delighted to get the momentum,”
he added.
Sudharsan and Gill gave the hosts a fluent start, putting together a solid opening stand in trademark fashion. Gill took the attacking role while Sudharsan anchored the innings, with the GT captain racing to his fifty in just 28 balls. The pair maintained their assault to carry GT past 100 before the halfway stage. Sudharsan kept the scoreboard moving and brought up his fifth consecutive half-century, while Buttler joined him after Spencer Johnson dismissed Gill for a brisk 64 off 37, providing CSK their first breakthrough.
Sudharsan and Buttler then added 84 runs, keeping the Chennai attack under constant pressure. Sudharsan eventually fell to Anshul Kamboj after a classy 84 off 53 deliveries. Soon after, Ruturaj Gaikwad produced a sharp piece of fielding to run out Rahul Tewatia for a golden duck. Washington Sundar was removed by Mukesh Choudhary for 7, but Buttler finished unbeaten on 57 from 27 balls, guiding GT to a formidable 229/4.
With the ball, GT struck immediately as Siraj dismissed Sanju Samson off the very first delivery. Gaikwad followed soon after, falling to Siraj for a blistering 16 off 6. Siraj picked up his third by removing Urvil Patel, with Prasidh Krishna taking a fine catch. Matt Short contributed 24 off 14 before Rabada sent him back.
Karthik Sharma made 19 from 15 before being undone by a sharp piece of fielding from opposition skipper Gill. Shiva Dube and Dewald Brevis staged a brief fightback, adding 53 runs, with Dube launching a furious counterattack. The left-hander hammered 47 off just 17 balls, striking four fours and four sixes.
Gill, who seemed to be in the thick of things all evening, pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss Dube as Rashid Khan joined the wicket-takers. Anshul Kamboj chipped in with a quick 19 off 8 before falling to the Afghan spinner, who completed his three-wicket haul by removing Brevis for 8.
Rabada also finished with three wickets, dismissing Noor Ahmed and Spencer Johnson for 1 and 0 respectively. CSK were bowled out for 140 in 13.4 overs, slumping to one of their heaviest defeats.
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