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Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) became the third team to be officially eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoff race following a crushing 89-run defeat against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 21.
GT rode on brilliant fifties from Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler to post a big total of 229/4. In reply, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj and Rashid Khan's three-fers bulldozed CSK to mere 140 to notch a thumping win.
GT knock out CSK with thumping 89-run win
On a true batting surface, Shubman Gill (64 off 37) and Sudharsan (84 off 53) put their remarkable consistency on full display, stitching together a record seventh century partnership to fuel the Gujarat Titans. Their spectacular foundation was perfectly capitalized on by Jos Buttler, who blasted an unbeaten 57 off just 27 balls, unleashing a barrage of sixes and fours in the second half of the innings to propel the final total to a massive 229 for four.
Siraj-Rabada-Rashid break CSK's back
In response, CSK saw their slim playoff hopes completely vanish during a disastrous powerplay. Entering the must-win clash with everything on the line, the visitors collapsed early, losing four vital wickets for just 51 runs. Despite a late, six-filled cameo from Shivam Dube, who smashed a rapid 47 off 17 balls, CSK was bundled out for 140 in 13.4 overs, marking the third consecutive season that the five-time champions have failed to make the playoffs.
The damage was largely undone by Mohammed Siraj, who tore through the top order with three wickets in the first six overs. He struck on the very first delivery of the chase, tempting Sanju Samson into fishing at a wide delivery, which resulted in a faint tickle through to wicketkeeper Buttler. Kagiso Rabada brilliantly complemented Siraj's opening burst, deceiving Matthew Short with a delivery that seamed back slightly, forcing a mistimed shot straight to mid-on.
This stellar defensive performance reinforced why the Titans' bowling unit has arguably been the best in the tournament. With this victory, Gujarat capped off a highly successful league campaign, securing nine wins from 14 matches to finish with 18 points. The race for the top spots remains intense, as Sunrisers Hyderabad can also reach 18 points tomorrow if they manage to defeat Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who have already secured their own 18-point tally. This positioning is crucial, as the top two sides in the standings earn two distinct opportunities to reach the grand final in Ahmedabad on May 31.
Sudharsan-Buttler-Gill's brilliant fifties in GT's win
Earlier, a majestic century opening stand between captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, followed by an explosive half-century from Jos Buttler, propelled GT to a formidable total of 229/4 against CSK. After being inserted to bat first, the GT openers capitalized immediately, establishing a blistering tempo by consistently dismantling the CSK pace attack, which included a three-boundary onslaught against Spencer Johnson in the fourth over.
The boundaries flowed freely as Sudharsan struck a fluent shot straight down the ground to bring up the team's 50-run mark in just 5.1 overs. Simultaneously, Gill reached a massive personal milestone at the start of the seventh over, smashing Noor Ahmed for a six to cross 6,000 runs in T20 cricket. The GT skipper capped off that same over with another maximum to elevate the team score to 78, while racing to his own half-century in a mere 23 deliveries, laced with five fours and three sixes.
Sudharsan quickly joined the offensive in the ninth over, punishing Anshul Kamboj with a towering six over deep square leg followed by a deft boundary through third man. A stylish boundary wide of sweeper cover in the tenth over saw Gujarat breeze past the 100-run milestone in 9.1 overs, marking the seventh time the prolific opening duo had brought up a century stand. By the halfway mark of the innings, GT sat comfortably at 111 for no loss, with Gill on 62 and Sudharsan closing in on his milestone at 43.
Sudharsan soon brought up his half-century off 35 balls—registering his fifth consecutive fifty-plus score of the season. The mammoth 125-run opening partnership was finally broken in the 13th over when Spencer Johnson induced a mistimed shot from Gill, who departed for a brilliant 37-ball 64 after a sharp catch from Shivam Dube. Jos Buttler then walked out to join Sudharsan, immediately accelerating the scoring rate by launching two massive sixes in the 14th over to push the Titans past the 150-run threshold.
The duo continued to make merry against the Chennai bowling attack, relentlessly collecting boundaries off Kamboj, Johnson, and Gurjapneet Singh. A flurry of boundaries from Sudharsan at the end of the 18th over comfortably guided GT past the 200-run mark. However, the dangerous 82-run partnership was halted early in the 19th over when Kamboj dismissed Sudharsan for a spectacular 53-ball 84, caught at long-off by Matt Short. The very next delivery saw Rahul Tewatia run out for a duck, shifting the momentum slightly at 207 for 3.
Unfazed by the quick wickets, Buttler took charge in the final over, smashing Kamboj for a four and a six to bring up a roaring 23-ball half-century. Mukesh Choudhary managed to clean up Washington Sundar for 7 on the final delivery of the innings, but the damage was already done. Gujarat Titans finished on a massive 229 for 4, anchored by Buttler’s unbeaten, cameo of 57 runs off just 27 balls. Among the CSK bowlers, Mukesh Choudhary (1/36), Spencer Johnson (1/47), and Anshul Kamboj (1/56) managed a wicket apiece on a tough night in the field.
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