Surging CSK meet stuttering GT in Chennai heat

Both teams have three wins from seven games but seem to be heading in opposite directions

Hemant Brar

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 1:57 PM (1 hr ago)

Big picture: Same record, different trajectories

At the halfway stage of IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT) have an identical record: seven matches, three wins, four losses. But the two teams seem to be heading in opposite directions.

While both teams have their flaws, things seem to be finally looking up for CSK after their win against Mumbai Indians (MI). Sanju Samson has played a key role in that. Having started the season with three single-digit scores, he has made two hundreds and 48 in the last four games. Apart from him, Noor Ahmad too has rediscovered his form after an indifferent start. In the last three matches, he has picked up five wickets at an economy rate of 6.50. On Sunday afternoon, CSK will also have the advantage of playing at home.

Related

Risk-averse GT caught in a trap of their own making

Hosein masters Mumbai with Jadeja-esque precision

GT are coming into this game on the back of two defeats. While CSK's problems are related to Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube's form, GT's are structural. In the absence of a strong middle order, their top three are forced to play low-risk cricket. That has resulted in GT taking 18.3 balls on average to hit a six, the worst rate in the tournament. For context, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru clear the boundary every 7.6 and 9.4 balls, respectively. GT's approach puts pressure on their bowling attack to deliver the goods, which is not always possible in this era of Impact Player and flat pitches.

Form guide

Chennai Super Kings WLWWL (last five matches, most recent first)

Gujarat Titans LLWWW

Key question

Team news: No MS Dhoni yet

MS Dhoni is still recovering from a calf injury. So expect CSK to field an unchanged side.

Chennai Super Kings (probable): 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 3 Sarfaraz Khan, 4 Shivam Dube, 5 Dewald Brevis, 6 Kartik Sharma, 7 Jamie Overton, 8 Akeal Hosein, 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 Anshul Kamboj, 11 Mukesh Choudhary, 12 Gurjapneet Singh

GT, too, may not tinker with their combination.

Gujarat Titans (probable): 1 Shubman Gill (capt), 2 Sai Sudharsan, 3 Jos Buttler (wk), 4 Washington Sundar, 5 Jason Holder, 6 Shahrukh Khan, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Rahul Tewatia, 9 Manav Suthar, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Mohammed Siraj, 12 Prasidh Krishna

In the spotlight: Akeal Hosein and Prasidh Krishna

After Khaleel Ahmed's injury, CSK were missing a new-ball seamer. But left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein is more than equipped to do the job. Hosein is better known for his ability to swing the new ball, but against MI, he showed he could turn it as well. He fetched Danish Malewar's outside edge and beat Naman Dhir's to pick up two wickets in his first two overs.

Prasidh Krishna picked up 11 wickets in the first five games of the season but in the last two, he's picked up just one and gone for 14.16 per over. It's not just about the economy rate; he seems to be straying from the hard length that brought him all the success. GT need him to be back to his best if they are to control the middle overs.

Stats and trivia

In T20 cricket, Hosein has dismissed Shubman Gill twice in 31 balls while giving away only 29 runs

Hosein's record against Jason Holder is even more impressive: 13 balls, two runs, four dismissals

Mohammed Siraj has a good record against Samson in the IPL, dismissing him three times in 35 balls for just 40 runs

Samson has got out to Rashid Khan only once in T20 cricket but has scored at a strike rate of just 112.03 (121 runs off 108 balls)

Pitch and conditions: Win toss, bat first?

The match will be played on pitch no. 6. Of the last five IPL games played on this particular surface, teams batting first have won three. Given it's an afternoon match - and the weather is expected to be hot and humid - there is a case to bat first after winning the toss.

Quotes

"How can I forget MS [Dhoni]? He is progressing well. He is on the road to recovery and doing everything that's being asked of him."

CSK head coach Stephen Felming on MS Dhoni

"[A strong top order] means they will invariably end up playing most balls. So it's difficult for the middle order, as they don't get enough game time. But we are pretty happy with what we have. They have not clicked in some of the games but it's an advantage to have such a top order."

GT assistant coach Vijay Dahiya

Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

Click here to read article