IPL 2026: Sunrisers power into playoffs; CSK on brink of elimination

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have qualified for the IPL 2026 playoffs, taking Gujarat Titans with them. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), meanwhile, are on the brink of elimination.

MS Dhoni made it to the ground for the first time this season, but his calf injury continued to keep him on the sidelines.

His team fought all the way through, trying to defend a total of 180, but a fifty from Ishan Kishan and utter brilliance from Heinrich Klaasen won out in the end.

Ruturaj Gaikwad was 9 off 11 at the end of the powerplay. He became the second batter this season to come through the first six overs with no boundaries after Lucknow Super Giants’ Arshin Kulkarni in the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 7.

It doesn’t appear as if Gaikwad is out of form.

He is CSK’s second-highest run-getter. Just that he seems to be in denial about the way runs are scored in the powerplay in this IPL. With the field up, other openers are thinking boundaries all the time.

He wants to get set and then go. It’s old school and that method, on Monday, gave him 15 in 21 balls – the lowest contribution by an opener at the time of his team’s 100. (ESPNcricinfo)