CSK moved to fifth spot in IPL 2026 points table.
LSG batted first after CSK won the toss. Josh Inglis laid the foundation for the big score as he smashed 85 runs in 33 balls with 10 fours and 6 sixes. Though LSG lost a few wickets in the middle, Shahbaz Ahmed made 43* and pushed the total to 203/8 in 20 overs.
In response, Sanju Samson got off to a start with 28 runs, while captain Gaikwad made 42 runs in 28. Urvil Patel equaled the record for the fastest IPL fifty in 13 balls, eventually scoring 65 in 23 balls with 8 sixes and 2 fours.
In the end, contributions from Shivam Dube (15* in 7 balls) and Prashant Veer (17*) took CSK to a 5-wicket win.
“Yes (got too close), but at the end, chasing 200, when you start the innings, it will always go to the 18th or the 19th or the 20th over. We started really well in the power play, but it was a bit tacky for a new batter to just go in and play the shots. But it's important that we get the job done. It's been a while since we chased 200, so it's good to chase it,” Gaikwad said after the match ended, in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Ruturaj was praiseful of his bowlers as Jamie Overton (3/36) led the way for CSK.
“But after the first time-out, Sanju just came in, and he said, if we have it in us, we have to make a comeback here and try and restrict them as low as possible. So, whatever was around 220, it was still fine. So, I think that just pumped us, everyone. And after that, it was just about getting those wickets, slowly getting into the game.
So, I think everyone was eager to make a comeback after the first timeout, and I feel that's the commitment or that determination that really changed the course of the game. It was just about getting your bowlers right, how you can attack from one end, and how you can be defensive from the other end.
And we thought they were very much ahead, 15, 20, or 30 runs ahead after the power play. So we thought, let's get our best bowlers for the next three or four overs and see how it goes after that. And I think that in six to ten overs, Noor and Jamie bowled really well. They just pulled it back really well,” Gaikwad explained.
At the same time, Gaikwad credited Inglis for hitting an explosive 85.
“Huge credit and hats off to Josh. I think he played some amazing shots, which we actually didn't have any answer to, and you can't quite plan for it, or you can't quite set a field for it. He just played an amazing knock. Hats off to him,” he stated.
Gaikwad stressed the importance of good recovery, especially with CSK now set to travel to Lucknow to meet LSG in the reverse fixture on May 15.
“Well, some of the guys need that break. It's been hot in this side of the country, and it's humid, so it's really tough to play in this heat for 20 overs. Most of them are playing here for the first time. So, we needed that break, and whatever break we have, we are going to take it in. But we are gonna be making sure that we are ticking the boxes in whatever time we have in the practice sessions, and making sure that we improve whatever we want to in every department possible.
We worked on quite a few areas this break, and I think it came off really well. Still three games to go, but it is just about keeping it simple, keeping it simple as long as possible. I know it's easy to say at times when you're under pressure or under the pump, but that's our mantra, and we are going to stick to it,” he concluded.
(IANS inputs)