CSK vs MI Match 44 Commentary - Chennai (02 May 2026)

FOUR! Kartik Sharma finishes it off in style and fittingly hits the winning runs! CSK WIN BY 8 WICKETS. Trent Boult goes fuller and around off, Kartik switches his stance for the reverse scoop, holds the bat like a frying pan and hits it over the keeper's head for a boundary.

Fuller and on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad lofts it with a straight bat to the left of long on for a single.

A slower one, full and on off, keeps very low, Kartik Sharma tries to slog it over mid-wicket but misses.

Takes pace off again, back of a length and around off, Kartik Sharma is way too early through his heave and misses again. He just needs to calm down a bit.

Pitched up and on off, Kartik Sharma stays deep in his crease and drills it wide of long on. Tilak Varma moves to his left and dives to make a fine stop. Two taken. CSK just one hit away from the two points now.

MAIDEN IPL FIFTY FOR KARTIK SHARMA! A fantastic knock from the youngster, and hopefully this is the first of many more to come. He has supported his skipper well here and this will give him and his team a lot of confidence going ahead. Short of a length and on middle, Sharma pulls it to deep square leg for one. He raises his bat to soak in all the applause.

Fuller and on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad uses his feet to drive it away but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

FOUR! CSK are doing it in a canter now! Floated, short and outside off. Kartik Sharma moves on the back foot and slaps it hard, beating the dive of long off to his left for a boundary.

Tossed up, full and on middle and leg, Kartik Sharma knocks it to the right of the bowler.

SIX! Oh, that's a sweet hit! Flighted, full and on middle and leg again. Kartik Sharma charges down the track to get to the pitch of it and smokes it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. CSK need just 12 runs to win now.

Slows it up, full and around off, Kartik Sharma winds up for the slog but then tries to guide it away but misses.

FOUR! Kartik Sharma looks in a hurry now! Fires this one full and around off again. Kartik Sharma gets his hands through the shot and blazes it along the carpet through extra covers for four more runs. 150 UP FOR THE SUPER KINGS!

A bit quicker, full and on middle, Kartik Sharma turns it to the leg side.

Low full toss, wide of off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes this to wide mid off and takes one.

Yorker, on middle and off, Kartik Sharma pushes this towards mid off and takes a single. 

WIDE! Slower bumper, way too high on the batter. Ruturaj Gaikwad leaves it, and the umpire signals wide.

 FOUR! Stamp of authority with class written all over it. Pitched up, around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad shimmies down the track and presents a full face of his bat as he keeps it grounded and plays the straight drive to perfection, to the right of mid off, for a boundary. 

Boult goes full again and bowls a yorker, on middle and off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes this towards mid off for a single. 

Short and wide of off, Kartik Sharma cuts this to sweeper cover for a single. 

Slower one, short and around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad goes for the pull but swings early and the ball arrives late.

Back of a length, into the batter, Kartik Sharma gets up on his toes and tucks this towards mid-wicket for a single. 

 FOUR! Cracking shot! Short and into the batter, Ruturaj Gaikwad stands deep inside his crease and pulls this in front of square on leg for a boundary towards the deep mid-wicket region. 

A really sharp bumper by Bumrah around middle and off, Ruturaj Gaikwad sits under it. 

Slower one, short of a length, around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad cuts this to the right of Will Jacks at point. Jacks puts in a dive to his right, fields this, and keeps it down to a dot. 

WIDE! Another bumper, around the leg this time. Ruturaj Gaikwad comes inside the line and leaves it expecting a wide. The umpire calls it a fair delivery and the CSK skipper sends this upstairs. The visuals show that the ball is passing down the leg side and the on-field decision of wide not given turns to a wide. 

Yorker on middle and off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes this firmly towards Tilak Varma at extra cover. Kartik Sharma backs up a bit and is sent back by the batter on strike. Tilak Varma hits the stumps towards the non-striker's end and the smart replay shows that Kartik was well in. 

Full and on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes this to Hardik Pandya at mid off and takes a quick single. Despite Hardik hitting the stumps with a direct hit towards the bowler's end, Ruturaj Gaikwad makes his ground with ease. 

FIFTY FOR RUTURAJ​​​​​​ GAIKWAD! Back-to-back fifties for the CSK captain. Floated on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad dabs this through backward point for a single to bring up his half-century. A brilliant knock by Gaikward, where he started aggressively, but once Sanju got out and Urvil took charge of proceedings, he took the back seat, played the situation nicely and decided to anchor. 

Tossed up, around off, Kartik drives this to sweeper cover for a single. 

Fuller around the pads, Ruturaj Gaikwad tucks this to mid-wicket. 

Quicker one, on middle and off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes this through cover for a single. 

Much slower, around off, Kartik Sharma jumps down the track but gets a bit too close to the ball. Ends up pushing this towards covers for one.

 FOUR! A high-quality stroke from the CSK skipper adds four more to the total. Floated around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad shuffles away from the stumps and hammers this past the left of extra cover for a boundary. 

Tossed up, on middle and off, Ruturaj Gaikwad steps across and flicks this to the end of the inner circle around the mid-wicket region and hustles back for the second. Had this been a direct hit from the fielder towards the non-striker's end, Kartik Sharma would have been in trouble. 

Quicker one, on middle and off, Ruturaj Gaikwad tucks this through mid on for one. 

Googly, on middle and leg, Kartik Sharma shimmies down the track and rolls this down to long on for a single. 

Quicker one, down the leg, Ruturaj Gaikwad tucks this to square leg for a run. Brings up the 50-run partnership between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma. 

Quicker and flatter on off, Kartik Sharma hops back inside the crease and punches this to long off for a single. 

Fuller around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad cuts this to sweeper cover for a run. 

 SIX! Goes the distance! Hardik serves it full and just outside off. Kartik Sharma gets his front leg out of the way and smokes it high and handsome over long on for a six. 100 UP FOR CSK!

Back of a length, outside off, Kartik cuts it off the outside edge. It goes on the bounce and to the left of Jasprit Bumrah at deep third for a single.

Slowish length ball, on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad plays it very late and dabs it wide of backward point for a quick single. 55 runs needed from 51 balls for the Super Kings.

Slow at 116.9 kph, this is too short and outside off. Kartik Sharma gets on the toes and tries to slash it over backward point but gets it edged behind to deep third for a run.

Doing it easily with the singles. Hard length on middle. Ruturaj Gaikwad camps back and nudges it through the vacant mid on region for a single.

Slows it up, does Hardik. Short, outside off. Kartik tries to knife it behind point off the back foot, but gets deceived by the lack of pace. 10 runs from the over. CSK need 53 runs from 48 balls.

Drag-downer, on off, Kartik hangs back and cuts it to Will Jacks at cover-point.

Pushed through, full and around off, at 85.9 kph. Kartik Sharma goes deep in the crease and eases it to cover.

The googly, fractionally fuller, on middle. Kartik Sharma camps back and punches it to the right of point for a single.

Gets a good bit of grip on this leg break. A touch short on middle. Ruturaj Gaikwad lets the ball to turn and steers it through square leg and strolls for a single.

Flat and full, 90.5 kph, on off. Kartik Sharma backs away to hit it downtown, but hits it off the inner half and the ball rolls down to long on for a single.

Quite happy doing this, is Gaikwad. Slides it on the pads, full in length. Ruturaj Gaikwad takes a giant stride forward and clips it gently through mid-wicket for a couple of easy runs. Decent spell from Raghu so far, 3-0-17-0 are his bowling figures.

On a back of a length, on top of middle. Ruturaj Gaikwad tries to tuck it into the leg side, but closes the bat face early. The ball lobs off the leading edge and drops between backward point and cover. Single taken.

Slower length ball, around off. Kartik arches back and uppercuts it over backward point for a single.

WIDE! Dug in short over the stumps, Ruturaj Gaikwad is hurried to play the pull shot but misses and the ball flies over his head as well. Wide called.

Takes pace off, on a length, at 124.5 kph. Gaikwad presses back and knocks it through cover-point for an easy single.

Hits the hard length, on top of off. Kartik sits back and pulls it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Off-pace delivery, on a good length, angled on the middle stump. Ruturaj Gaikwad stands tall and jabs it to long on for a single.

Short and slow, the off cutter, arriving at the chest height of the batter. Kartik controls the pull shot to deep backward square leg for a single. 7 runs off the over. CSK need 68 runs from 60 balls.

Grips into the surface, tad full and on off. Gaikwad presses in front and defends it down the pitch.

Touch short, on middle and leg. Gaikwad hangs back and pulls it a bit uppishly between long on and deep mid-wicket. The deep mid-wicket fielder charges to his left and cuts it off, and lobs the ball to the converging long on fielder. However, the latter fielder overruns a bit and is unable to collect the ball as it goes over him. He turns around and retrieves it eventually. Two taken.

On the middle pole on a length at 91.7 kph. Gaikwad rocks back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Nice and full, on off, Kartik defends it back to the bowler.

Keeps it stump-to-stump, short on middle. Kartik goes deep in the crease and knocks it down to long on for a single.

Keeps it closer to the off pole, does Raghu. On a length and Ruturaj presses back, punches it through cover for a single. 2-0-12-0 so far for Raghu Sharma. CSK need 75 runs from 66 balls.

Short of a length, around middle and leg, Ruturaj Gaikwad pulls this towards deep mid-wicket for one run. 

Flighted, around middle and leg, Kartik Sharma presses onto his front foot and works this through mid on for a single. 

Floated full and on the pads, Ruturaj Gaikwad tucks this through square leg for a couple of runs here. 

Pushed through on middle and leg, Ruturaj Gaikwad nudges this through the mid-wicket region for one more. 

Fired quicker and into the line of the stumps, Kartik Sharma charges down the track and defends this to the left of the bowler. 

 SIX! Kartik takes on the boundary rider at deep mid-wicket and clears him. Short of a length, around middle and leg, Kartik Sharma backs away to his leg side and pulls this flat and over Will Jacks, who is standing a few yards inside at the deep mid-wicket region for a biggie. 

Leggie, around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad cuts this square on off for one run. 

Quicker one, around off, Kartik Sharma hops onto his back foot and keeps it out.

 FOUR! Raghu errs in line and length and gets punished for it by Kartik Sharma. Pushed through around the pads, in the slot. Kartik Sharma takes a couple of baby steps ahead and hammers this straight down the ground for a boundary towards the left of long on. 

Full and on off, Kartik Sharma pushes this through covers for a single. 

Tossed up, around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad cuts this to sweeper cover for one run. 

Length dragged back a bit, on middle and off, the ball keeps really low here. Kartik backs away to his leg side and blocks this at the end towards the mid-wicket region. 

Fuller around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad backs away and pushes this towards covers for no run.

 SIX! The skipper of CSK takes charge now. AM Ghazanfar drags his length back a fair bit, and bowls it around middle and leg, Ruturaj Gaikwad gets down on a knee and sweeps this aerially for a biggie over the fielder at deep backward square leg. 

Pushed through on leg, Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes this down to long on for one. 

 OUT! CHOPPED ON! Ghazanfar delivers the good yet again for Hardik Pandya and Mumbai Indians. Floated wide outside off, Urvil Patel collapses his back knee and looks to play the slog sweep across the line, but has to overstretch for it and loses his shape completely. Hence, he gets it off the inside edge and the ball goes on and rattles the timber. Urvil Patel departs after a breezy knock and Chennai Super Kings are 62 for 2 now. 

Carrom-ball, around off, Kartik Sharma backs away and pushes this to mid on for no run.

Quicker one, full and wide outside off, Kartik Sharma cuts this to backward point for a dot to close the over. Just 7 runs and a wicket off AM Ghazanfar's first over. 

 SIX! Probably the biggest of the game so far. Back of a length, around the hips of Urvil. The batter steps inside the line and dispatches this with a flick over the fence towards the fine leg region. Into the second tier. 

 FOUR! Urvil backs the biggie with a boundary. Back of a length again, into the line of the stumps this time though. Urvil Patel, in no nonsense mood, muscles this up and over Hardik Pandya at mid on for a boundary. 

Slower one this time by Krish Bhagat, fuller around middle and leg, Urvil Patel tucks this gently through mid on for a single. A good comeback by the bowler. 

Hard length, on top of off, Ruturaj Gaikwad hangs onto his back foot and dabs this towards point for a strike rotation. 

On a length, around off, Urvil Patel flicks this to mid-wicket for a dot. 

 SIX! As stylish as Urvil could have made it look. 50 comes up for CSK. Urvil shuffles away to his leg before the bowler releases the ball and Krish Bhagat tries to outsmart him by following him to his leg side. Urvil Patel is clever enough to roll his wrists and even generate enough power to flick this over the fence towards the left of deep square leg for a biggie. 

Good length and angling into the leg side, Urvil Patel clips it wide of deep square leg for a brace.

Length again, on middle, angling in sharply, Urvil Patel keeps it out to the leg side.

FOUR! Gets it away! Jasprit Bumrah tries to test the batter with a bouncer, but bowls this just down the leg side. Urvil Patel looks to hook it away but ends up gloving it just to the left of the keeper as the ball races to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Hits the length hard, on middle, nips back in. Urvil Patel has a heave across the line but misses and takes a blow on his right waist.

Big swing and a miss! Touch fuller and on off, angles it in sharply. Urvil Patel has a wild slog across the line but only connects with thin air. The ball wasn't too far from the off pole as well.

Pitched up and down the leg side, Urvil Patel glances it to deep fine leg for one.

FOUR! Classy shot! Fuller delivery, on middle, shapes in a touch. Ruturaj Gaikwad presents the full face of the bat and drives it gloriously to the right of the mid off for a boundary.

Good length and on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad flicks it away wide of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Slower one, hard length and on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad stabs it out to the off side.

WIDE! Bangs in a bouncer but this is way too high for the batter, Ruturaj Gaikwad lets it go. Ryan Rickelton leaps up and grabs it with his outstretched left glove to stop it from going behind.

On a length and on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad tucks it away to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Good shot! Short of a length and around middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad picks up the length very quickly. He swivels and pulls it in front of square on the leg side for a boundary.

SIX! That is a fine pick-up shot! Trent Boult errs in line a bit and lands this on a length, on the pads. Ruturaj Gaikwad picks it off and, using his wrists, whips it effortlessly over the deep backward square leg fence for a biggie.

EDGED AND DROPPED! That's an absolute sitter! Jasprit Bumrah begins with a good-length delivery, in that channel outside off, gets it to shape away too. Sanju Samson has a poke at it with an angled bat and gets a thick outside edge towards first slip. Will Jacks moves to his left but tries to grab it with hard hands and the ball pops out of his palms. Big moment in the game.

Back of a length and on off, Sanju Samson pats it towards cover-point for a single.

Fuller and outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad throws his bat at it and slices it towards third man for a run.

Swing and a miss! Pulls his length back a bit, on off, keeps a bit low too. Sanju Samson has a slog across the line but fails to connect.

FOUR! Connects well this time! Jasprit Bumrah lands this short of a length and around off. Sanju Samson keeps a steady head and punches it with sweet timing through cover-point for a boundary.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Jasprit Bumrah gets his man eventually and this is a massive wicket for MI. He bowls this on a hard length again and around off, gets some extra bounce off the deck. Sanju Samson, without moving his feet, just throws his hands at the ball, but the extra bounce takes the outside edge and goes behind, where Ryan Rickelton flies to his right and takes a fine catch into his gloves. CSK are 13/1, chasing 160 runs.

CSK are underway in the chase! Trent Boult starts with a hard-length delivery, around the hips of the batter. Sanju Samson flicks it away to deep square leg for a single.

Much fuller and on middle, shaping in a shy bit, Ryan Rickelton covers his stumps well and blocks it out.

Good length and on middle, shaping in again, Ruturaj Gaikwad looks to push it away but gets an inside edge through square leg for a run.

Length again, on middle and leg, Sanju Samson stays back and pats it towards mid on.

FOUR! First boundary of the chase! Back of a length and just outside, but enough width for a batter like Sanju. He gets his hands through the shot and crunches it to the deep point fence for four runs.

Hard length and on off, Sanju Samson punches it away to cover for one. 7 runs off the first over!