Chennai Super Kings Crushed by Gujarat Titans, Eliminated From IPL 2026 Playoff Race

Chennai Super Kings suffered a humiliating 89-run defeat against Gujarat Titans in the 66th match of IPL 2026 on Thursday, officially crashing out of the playoff race.

CSK entered the match with only a slim mathematical chance of qualifying for the playoffs, making victory absolutely essential. However, the heavy defeat ended their campaign and marked the third consecutive season in which Chennai Super Kings failed to progress beyond the league stage.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans secured a dominant victory and confirmed their place in the top two of the IPL points table.

Batting first after Chennai won the toss and elected to field, Gujarat Titans posted a massive total of 229/4 in their 20 overs.

Openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill gave Gujarat a flying start by tearing apart the CSK bowling attack with aggressive stroke play. The pair added 125 runs for the first wicket before Gill was dismissed for 64 runs off 37 balls, including 7 boundaries and 3 sixes.

Jos Buttler then joined Sai Sudharsan, and the duo continued the attacking momentum. Sudharsan played a brilliant innings of 84 runs from 53 balls, smashing 7 fours and 4 sixes.

Jos Buttler remained unbeaten on 57 runs off 27 deliveries with the help of 5 boundaries and 4 sixes. Rahul Tewatia was dismissed for a duck, while Washington Sundar scored 7 runs.

For CSK, Mukesh Choudhary, Spencer Johnson, and Anshul Kamboj picked up one wicket each.

Chasing a daunting target of 230 runs, Chennai Super Kings suffered an early collapse. Sanju Samson was dismissed for a duck, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad managed 16 runs, and Urvil Patel was also dismissed without scoring.

Matthew Short scored 24 runs, while Karthik Sharma contributed 19 before CSK slumped to 63/5.

Shivam Dube provided brief resistance with an explosive innings of 47 runs off just 17 balls, hitting 4 boundaries and 4 sixes. However, the rest of the batting lineup failed to support him.

Anshul Kamboj scored 19 runs, Noor Ahmad managed just 1, and Spencer Johnson was dismissed for zero. Mukesh Choudhary remained unbeaten on 2 runs as Chennai were bowled out for 140 in just 13.4 overs.

For Gujarat Titans, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Rashid Khan starred with the ball by taking three wickets each.

With this commanding victory, Gujarat Titans strengthened their position among the top teams of IPL 2026, while Chennai Super Kings endured another disappointing season exit.