IPL 2026: Sudharsan's 87, Rabada's 3-fer hand GT 4th win after bulldozing CSK by 8 wickets at Chepauk

Gujarat Titans (GT) notched a comfortable eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash at the Chepauk Stadium on April 26.

GT bully CSK by 8 wickets

CSK never looked settled while batting first and could only post a total of 158/7, thanks to sedate fifty from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. In reply, GT rode on Sai Sudharsan's 46-ball 87 to complete the chase in just 16.4 overs. With this win, GT surged to fifth in the IPL 2026 points table while CSK dropped to sixth in the standings.

ALSO READ: Will Phil Salt feature in DC vs RCB IPL 2026 clash? Dinesh Karthik ends suspense

Sai Sudharsan's batting mastery in GT's easy chase

While the first half of the match was defined by the dominance of the bowlers, the chase became a masterclass in calculated aggression. Sudharsan provided a tutorial on how to adapt to the challenging surface, smashing a brilliant 87 off just 46 balls to anchor the Gujarat Titans' pursuit of the 159-run target. This comprehensive victory was significant for the Titans, as it propelled them from seventh to fifth in the standings, bringing their total to eight points.

Sudharsan demonstrated a perfect blend of restraint and intent throughout his knock, carefully selecting the right deliveries to attack while showing proper respect for the bounce that had troubled the Chennai Super Kings earlier in the day. He was supported by a solid foundation laid by skipper Shubman Gill, who contributed a brisk 33 off 23 balls. The openers put together a 58-run partnership that effectively took the game away from the hosts during the Powerplay.

Although Gill looked fluent, mixing elegance with aggression, his eventual dismissal to spinner Noor Ahmad did little to stem the tide. Sudharsan, carrying his sublime form from a previous century against RCB, continued to punish the bowling, particularly against the pacers. His seven sixes were a testament to his dominance on a surface where the CSK batters had struggled immensely earlier in the match.

Jos Buttler provided the perfect support at the other end, remaining unbeaten on 39 off 30 balls as the Titans cruised to 154 for 1, finishing the chase with 20 balls to spare. While Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein picked up a wicket each, the rest of the Chennai bowling attack struggled to contain the flow of runs, as the Titans' batters displayed a far superior awareness of the pitch conditions.

ALSO READ: Lungi Ngidi posts first message after getting discharged from hospital ahead of RCB clash

Earlier, bowlers took center stage at Chepauk as GT masterfully exploited a lively, bounce-friendly surface to stifle CSK, limiting the hosts to 158/7. While high-scoring affairs have become the norm this season, this particular pitch demanded a level of discretion and adaptability that the CSK batters struggled to provide, frequently opting for high-risk shots that resulted in a flurry of miscued dismissals.

Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad stood out as the lone pillar of stability, anchoring the innings with his first half-century of the IPL season. His unbeaten 74 off 60 balls, which included six boundaries and four sixes, provided the total with a semblance of respectability after a labored start. The tone for the innings was established early by GT pacer Mohammed Siraj, whose steep bounce rattled the lineup from the outset.

ALSO READ: Lungi Ngidi posts first message after getting discharged from hospital ahead of RCB clash

Sanju Samson reached a personal milestone during the match, crossing the 5,000-run mark in the IPL, but he was soon undone by the sharp bounce generated by Kagiso Rabada, resulting in a faint edge to the keeper. This dismissal triggered a swift collapse: Urvil Patel fell while attempting an ambitious pull, and Sarfaraz Khan succumbed to Siraj’s extra lift, leaving CSK reeling at 28 for 3 within the Powerplay.

Attempts to rebuild were further frustrated in the middle overs. Dewald Brevis, struggling with impatience against spinner Manav Suthar, holed out after failing to reach the pitch of the ball. This loss of wickets forced Gaikwad into a defensive shell. While this caution prevented a total meltdown, it effectively stalled the team's momentum, with dot balls accumulating and the side reaching the 50-run mark only in the 12th over. Gaikwad eventually found his rhythm, unleashing some late-innings power against Arshad Khan and Jason Holder, but his acceleration came too late to shift the game’s trajectory.

The lower order was unable to provide the spark needed to salvage the innings. Shivam Dube, despite receiving three lifelines from dropped catches, failed to find any fluency before being bowled by Arshad. Although Kartik Sharma and Jamie Overton contributed some late-inning momentum with a few lusty hits, the damage had already been done. Ultimately, the match was defined by the Titans' disciplined bowling execution and CSK's failure to adapt to the challenging conditions in time.