GT look to make a case for top-two finish

After CSK's defeat to SRH, Ruturaj Gaikwad said the team will come back stronger next year. CSK are sixth on the table. Another loss would mark three straight seasons without a playoffs appearance for one of the IPL's most successful teams.

CSK still have a slim chance — they need a win and other results to go their way for fourth spot. An underwhelming mega auction and injuries have left them in a weak position.

GT are in a much stronger spot. They've qualified four times in the last five IPL seasons.

Shubman Gill's team has been deceptively good. Gill and Sai Sudharsan have 500+ runs each. GT have three bowlers in the top-10 wicket-takers this season (five in top-15). They combine strong top-order runs with solid bowling returns.

GT sit comfortably in playoffs contention. A top-two spot isn't confirmed but they carry an air of inevitability.

When: Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings, Match 66, May 21, 7:30 PM IST

Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

What to expect: A sub-200 game. GT have won four of six matches at the venue — two chasing, two defending. Pacers have enjoyed life here; change of pace troubles batters.

Head-to-head: GT lead 5-4 overall. 2-2 at this venue.

Injuries/Unavailability: No fresh injuries for GT. MS Dhoni reportedly hasn't travelled to Ahmedabad for CSK's final league game.

Tactics & Match-ups: Ruturaj Gaikwad has 99 (72) with two dismissals against Mohammed Siraj, and run-a-ball 71 with three dismissals against Kagiso Rabada. In the reverse fixture, he scored 74 off 60 but was 20 off 37 at one point — going 35 balls without a boundary, the longest such sequence in IPL 2026.

Akeal Hosein vs Jos Buttler is an intriguing tussle. Buttler has scored 145 runs in 105 balls from Hosein at a strike rate of 138.09, dismissed four times. Sai Sudharsan has faced just nine balls from Hosein for 24 runs, dismissed once.

Probable XII (GT): Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj

Probable XII (CSK): Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary

• Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler strike at 156.24, 156.74 and 153.98 in T20s at this venue
• GT have taken 26 Powerplay wickets in IPL 2026 — most of any team and 10 more than CSK
• Since 2023, pacers have taken 282 wickets here, spinners 110

"I think the first important thing is to play good cricket and win tomorrow. We are not in a position to think about winning at a very big margin… It's about doing the right things and first get a victory." — Sai Sudharsan