Rabada, Sudharsan hand CSK another home defeat

Gujarat Titans shrugged off their defeat in Bengaluru with a commanding response, overpowering Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk. CSK recovered admirably after an early burst from Kagiso Rabada, scoring 115 runs in the second half to reach 158. Yet, even on a surface offering occasional uneven bounce, it felt light once GT's top-three found rhythm.

Sai Sudharsan, fresh from his century in Bengaluru, carried momentum with a sparkling 87 off 46 balls as the Titans cruised home with 20 deliveries to spare.

Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 158/7 in 20 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 74*; Kagiso Rabada 3-25) lost to Gujarat Titans 162/2 in 16.4 overs (Sai Sudharsan 87, Jos Buttler 39*) by 8 wickets

Powerplay precision from Rabada

GT won the toss, elected to field, and owned the Powerplay through ruthless length control. Not one of the 36 deliveries was pitched full. Kagiso Rabada continued his fine run, having Sanju Samson edge behind and greeting Urvil Patel with a 149kph bumper that climbed sharply, forcing a top-edge.

CSK scrambled to bring Sarfaraz Khan in as Impact Sub, but he was bounced out first ball by Mohammed Siraj. The hosts stumbled to 28 for 3 after six overs.

Gaikwad finds his range

CSK slipped to 37 for 4 when Dewald Brevis miscued Manav Suthar, and by halfway were inching at 43 for 4. Ruturaj Gaikwad endured a 35-ball boundary drought — the longest by any batter this season.

The reset came in the 13th over. After taking a blow on the bicep, Gaikwad launched two sixes off Arshad Khan, shaking the innings back to life. CSK plundered 83 runs from the final six overs. GT produced a sloppy evening, dropping Shivam Dube three times. He made only 22 but played a vital hand in a 59-run stand with Gaikwad. Jamie Overton added late muscle with 18 off six, giving the total overdue heft.

Just one over for Rashid

Rashid Khan was held back until the 15th over and trusted with only a solitary spell. It went for 21 runs, extending a flat stretch after he conceded 49 in Bengaluru two nights earlier.

Gill, Sudharsan set the base

Shubman Gill joked he didn't get much strike in the Bengaluru Powerplay. Overcompensating, Sudharsan turned strike over with the first ball and Gill took charge, leading GT to 55 without loss. Gill faced 22 balls, making 32, hitting a six and four off Akeal Hosein and maximising an Overton over for 17. He fell straight after the fielding restrictions, stumped brilliantly by Samson off Noor Ahmad, but his strong start allayed any wobble fears.

Sudharsan and Buttler ice the finish

Sudharsan completed a 33-ball half-century while Jos Buttler ensured GT's wobbly middle-order wasn't needed. They added 97 off 60 balls before Sudharsan was dismissed by an excellent catch from Brevis. The chase was sealed with 20 balls to spare.

CSK have a six-day break before hosting Mumbai Indians next Saturday. GT head home to face RCB on Thursday (April 30).