GT secure top-two berth, send CSK packing with crushing 89-run victory

Chennai Super Kings were officially knocked out of IPL 2026, marking three consecutive seasons without finishing in the top-four after winning the last of their five titles in 2023. Gujarat Titans leaned on their defining traits this season – top-three batting and Powerplay bowling – to clinch a crushing 89-run win. The victory sealed a top-two finish for GT, with the heavy margin ensuring only one of RCB and SRH can finish above them on NRR.

Brief scores: Gujarat Titans 229/4 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharsan 84, Shubman Gill 64, Jos Buttler 57*) beat Chennai Super Kings 140 in 13.4 overs (Shivam Dube 47; Mohammed Siraj 3-26, Rashid Khan 3-18) by 89 runs.

The GT captain became one of only four cricketers to reach 6000 T20 runs before turning 27. He started in the Powerplay with 35 off 18. Even in his orange cap-winning season of 2023, his first 10-ball SR was 135.44. This year it is 166.94. Gill completed a 23-ball half-century, getting to the mark with two sixes against Noor Ahmad before being reprieved on 51 when CSK failed to review a caught-behind.

Sudharsan steps up through the middle

Having made 24 off 22, Sudharsan cut loose against Anshul Kamboj, pulling a six before being gifted a four off a misfield. With Noor going for 16 in an over, CSK squeezed two tight overs through Gurjapneet and Noor, which resulted in the end of a 125-run stand when Gill miscued Spencer Johnson. Jos Buttler walked out and hit his first ball for four.

Buttler provides the big finish

Buttler ensured all three of GT's top-order posted half-centuries, reaching his fifty in 23 balls – the same as Gill. He got there in the 19th over with consecutive boundaries after Sudharsan fell to Kamboj. Sudharsan's 53-ball 84 lifted him to the top of the run charts, while Buttler's unbeaten knock, studded with four sixes, powered GT to 229.

Siraj runs through CSK's top-order

Siraj got Sanju Samson out for a golden duck. Gaikwad, dropping to No. 3, struck two sixes before a nip-backer from Siraj knocked him over. Siraj got a third when Urvil Patel skied a pick-up shot. Kagiso Rabada added a fourth wicket in the Powerplay by knocking over Matt Short, effectively ending CSK's challenge.

Dube blazes but Rashid hastens end

Shivam Dube smashed four sixes and four fours in a 17-ball 47 but fell to a terrific catch from Gill, who also ran Kartik Sharma out. Rashid Khan ran through the lower order to formalise the big win.

CSK have now gone three seasons without making the playoffs. GT will fly to Dharamsala and await one of SRH or RCB in Qualifier 1, depending on Friday's final league fixture in Hyderabad.