Ahmedabad, May 25 (UNI) Chennai Super Kings (CSK) crushed Gujarat Titans (GT) by a commanding 83 runs in their IPL encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Sunday, powered by a clinical all-round display.
The victory arrives at a crucial juncture as playoff scenarios begin to take shape. The winner of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) versus Mumbai Indians (MI) clash will earn a direct berth in Qualifier 1 (Q1). Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), having secured a win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), can join them if they continue their form; otherwise, Gujarat Titans will advance to Q1.
In the event of a no result between PBKS and MI, GT will qualify, with RCB joining them if they defeat LSG; if not, PBKS will advance.
Chasing a daunting target of 231, Gujarat faltered under pressure and were bundled out for 147 in 18.3 overs. The CSK bowlers shared the wickets, with veteran spinner Ravindra Jadeja leading the charge with figures of 3-0-17-2. Debutant Anshul Kamboj impressed by claiming three crucial wickets for just 13 runs in 2.3 overs.
GT’s innings began poorly as skipper Shubman Gill (13) and Jos Buttler (5) fell inside the powerplay. Sai Sudharsan fought back with a resilient 41 off 28 balls, but the middle order collapsed, with Sherfane Rutherford, Rahul Tewatia, and Rashid Khan departing cheaply as wickets tumbled at regular intervals.
Noor Ahmad (4-0-21-3) also made a significant impact, picking up key middle-order wickets including Tewatia and Arshad Khan. Matheesha Pathirana and Khaleel Ahmed chipped in with a wicket apiece, rounding off a dominant bowling performance.
Earlier, CSK posted a formidable total of 230 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs. Electing to bat first, CSK started aggressively, with young Ayush Mhatre blazing 34 off 17 balls, featuring three fours and as many sixes at a strike rate of 200. Devon Conway anchored the innings with a composed 52 off 35 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes, providing stability amid the onslaught.
Urvil Patel continued the momentum with a swashbuckling 37 off 19 deliveries before being caught by Shubman Gill off Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore. Shivam Dube fell cheaply for 1 to Shahrukh Khan, but Dewald Brevis turned the heat up with a brutal 57 off just 23 balls, including four fours and five sixes, propelling CSK past the 200-run mark. Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 21 off 18 balls to finish the innings strongly.
Among GT’s bowlers, Prasidh Krishna was the pick with 2 wickets for 22 runs in four overs. Rashid Khan (4-0-42-1), Sai Kishore (2-0-23-1), and Shahrukh Khan (1-0-13-1) also chipped in with wickets but struggled to contain the CSK batsmen.
CSK’s innings featured a brisk powerplay yielding 68 runs. Despite regular fall of wickets—44/1 (Mhatre), 107/2 (Urvil Patel), 144/3 (Shivam Dube), 156/4 (Conway), and 230/5 (Brevis)—the team maintained a consistent attacking approach throughout.
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