IPL 2026: Clinical Titans rebound to beat CSK

Gujarat Titans bounced back from two consecutive defeats in the Indian Premier League with Kagiso Rabada spearheading their commanding eight-wicket win against Chennai Super Kings.

Asked to bat first, CSK were forced onto the back foot as South African pacer Rabada took 3-25, including the wickets of opener Sanju Samson, who became the 10th player and the fastest Indian to reach 5,000 IPL runs, and Urvil Patel in the fourth over.

Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad registered his first half-century of the season, scoring 74 from 60 balls, and shared a 59-run stand with Shivam Dube to steady the innings before England’s Jamie Overton smashed 18 from six balls to lift Chennai to 158-7.

Shubman Gill scored 33 as Gujarat raced to 58-0 in the powerplay before the captain departed two balls later, but fellow opener Sai Sudharsan then shared a decisive 97-run partnership with England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Sudharsan scored 87 from 46 balls before falling four runs short of the target but Buttler guided Gujarat home with an unbeaten 39 from 30 balls.

With their fourth win of the season, Gujarat leapfrog Chennai to fifth place while CSK now sit two points behind in sixth. (BBC)