Rabada was named the Player of the Match for his three wickets, including the scalp of the in-form Sanju Samson. Fleming felt the pitch aided the South African pacer to a great extent.
“The pitch played a big part. There was some inconsistent bounce. But Rabada is an outstanding bowler. So he was always going to get some bounce. And he hit a good length today and just put us under pressure. It was difficult. You can go two ways. You can attack it. (Urvil) Patel is always going to attack it. Sarfaraz (Khan) is reasonably aggressive, which is the trend these days. And when that doesn’t work, you’ve just got to soak up a bit of pressure. We just couldn’t get it going in time to get a score that was going to be competitive,” the Kiwi said.
Fleming echoed Shivam Dube’s thoughts, who felt 158 was “the best score here” during the mid-innings break. “We actually thought 160 was competitive. But we just couldn’t extract the same amount. Obviously, it dried out. There was a change. It was going to get slower. We just couldn’t extract the same type of assistance as they did in the first 10 overs… I don’t want to sound like I’m making too big an excuse, but I just think the first 10 overs today were tough in terms of conditions. That’s what we felt. We were all looking at it through a different lens.”
Holder also presented his views on the pitch, which may have explained why the Titans’ captain, Shubman Gill, chose to bowl in the baking afternoon conditions of Chepauk. “When we started, we felt there was a lot in the wicket. There was a lot of moisture; the ball had some steep bumps as well up front, which really helped our bowlers. Having said that, CSK probably got stuck between a rock and a hard place while trying to obviously get some runs on the board, score at a decent clip, but also not give the wickets away. My top bowlers were outstanding, both Rabada and (Mohammed) Siraj. It created a lot of problems for the CSK top order. It’s always a tricky one when you’re trying to get some runs on the board and maximise the PowerPlay.”
Rabada was named the Player of the Match for his three wickets, including the scalp of the in-form Sanju Samson. Fleming felt the pitch aided the South African pacer to a great extent.
“The pitch played a big part. There was some inconsistent bounce. But Rabada is an outstanding bowler. So he was always going to get some bounce. And he hit a good length today and just put us under pressure. It was difficult. You can go two ways. You can attack it. (Urvil) Patel is always going to attack it. Sarfaraz (Khan) is reasonably aggressive, which is the trend these days. And when that doesn’t work, you’ve just got to soak up a bit of pressure. We just couldn’t get it going in time to get a score that was going to be competitive,” the Kiwi said.
Fleming echoed Shivam Dube’s thoughts, who felt 158 was “the best score here” during the mid-innings break. “We actually thought 160 was competitive. But we just couldn’t extract the same amount. Obviously, it dried out. There was a change. It was going to get slower. We just couldn’t extract the same type of assistance as they did in the first 10 overs… I don’t want to sound like I’m making too big an excuse, but I just think the first 10 overs today were tough in terms of conditions. That’s what we felt. We were all looking at it through a different lens.”
Holder also presented his views on the pitch, which may have explained why the Titans’ captain, Shubman Gill, chose to bowl in the baking afternoon conditions of Chepauk. “When we started, we felt there was a lot in the wicket. There was a lot of moisture; the ball had some steep bumps as well up front, which really helped our bowlers. Having said that, CSK probably got stuck between a rock and a hard place while trying to obviously get some runs on the board, score at a decent clip, but also not give the wickets away. My top bowlers were outstanding, both Rabada and (Mohammed) Siraj. It created a lot of problems for the CSK top order. It’s always a tricky one when you’re trying to get some runs on the board and maximise the PowerPlay.”
M. S. Dhoni’s recovery from a calf strain has been delayed as the niggle seems to have worsened during a warm-up fixture, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming revealed after the host sunk to an eight-wicket loss against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
“He’s pretty keen (on returning to action). The calf is a tough one though. If he takes off and rips the calf again, he will be gone. We had pushed it early. In a warm-up game, he tweaked it again; it’s my understanding. And since then, he has just been working hard to get some movement. But there was a setback. So, it has taken longer than we thought. He’s the guide on this one. And he’s working hard with the physio and doing all the rehab. We’re just waiting for the word, really,” Fleming said during the press conference.
Although CSK lost, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad finally got a fifty on the board, albeit it was the slowest by any batter over the last three years. Fleming, however, feels his 60-ball 74 needs to be seen in a different light. “He couldn’t use the pace of the ball until about the full length of overs. It was a real struggle. Jason Holder was getting steep bounce. (Kagiso) Rabada was getting steep bounce. It was inconsistent. And he struggled. He had to grind that out. So, it was a testament really to his grip just to get a score on the board.”
Even Holder heaped praise on Gaikwad’s knock. “That was a really good innings by him. He absorbed pressure but got caught up in the back end. Everyone can’t play like that obviously, but it’s a wicket where if you go out front trying to go too hard, you can get yourself in some trouble,” the Barbadian fast-bowling all-rounder opined.
Rabada was named the Player of the Match for his three wickets, including the scalp of the in-form Sanju Samson. Fleming felt the pitch aided the South African pacer to a great extent.
“The pitch played a big part. There was some inconsistent bounce. But Rabada is an outstanding bowler. So he was always going to get some bounce. And he hit a good length today and just put us under pressure. It was difficult. You can go two ways. You can attack it. (Urvil) Patel is always going to attack it. Sarfaraz (Khan) is reasonably aggressive, which is the trend these days. And when that doesn’t work, you’ve just got to soak up a bit of pressure. We just couldn’t get it going in time to get a score that was going to be competitive,” the Kiwi said.
Fleming echoed Shivam Dube’s thoughts, who felt 158 was “the best score here” during the mid-innings break. “We actually thought 160 was competitive. But we just couldn’t extract the same amount. Obviously, it dried out. There was a change. It was going to get slower. We just couldn’t extract the same type of assistance as they did in the first 10 overs… I don’t want to sound like I’m making too big an excuse, but I just think the first 10 overs today were tough in terms of conditions. That’s what we felt. We were all looking at it through a different lens.”
Holder also presented his views on the pitch, which may have explained why the Titans’ captain, Shubman Gill, chose to bowl in the baking afternoon conditions of Chepauk. “When we started, we felt there was a lot in the wicket. There was a lot of moisture; the ball had some steep bumps as well up front, which really helped our bowlers. Having said that, CSK probably got stuck between a rock and a hard place while trying to obviously get some runs on the board, score at a decent clip, but also not give the wickets away. My top bowlers were outstanding, both Rabada and (Mohammed) Siraj. It created a lot of problems for the CSK top order. It’s always a tricky one when you’re trying to get some runs on the board and maximise the PowerPlay.”
#CSK #IPL #Bowlers #floor #Chennai #Super #Kings #Gujarat #Titans #track">CSK vs GT, IPL 2026: Bowlers floor Chennai Super Kings to help Gujarat Titans get back on track
A commanding bowling performance from Gujarat Titans helped the visitor defeat Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on a hot and humid Sunday afternoon.
GT’s bowlers restricted the home side to 158/7 in 20 overs before a half century from Sai Sudharsan (87 off 46 balls) helped GT chase down the total without breaking a sweat.
Earlier in the day, GT captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bowl first.
CSK would have backed themselves to post a good total on the board with the in form Sanju Samson but Kagiso Rabada struck twice in the PowerPlay to remove Samson and Urvil Patel.
Cornered and looking for a way to overcome the early setback, CSK brought in Sarfaraz Khan as the impact sub in the fourth over. The Mumbai batter’s stay lasted for only one delivery as he was dismissed for a golden duck by Mohammed Siraj.
But captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been short of runs this season, led from the front by scoring an unbeaten 74* off 60 balls even as wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end.
Chasing a modest total, GT begin its chase well as Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan unleashed a flurry of boundaries in the PowerPlayy.
Gill fell in the seventh over thanks to a lightning quick stumping by Sanju Samson to give the home side a glimmer of hope for a comeback, but Washington Sundar and Jos Buttler took GT home with eight wickets and 20 balls to spare.
#CSK #IPL #Headtohead #record #runs #wickets #ahead #Chennai #Super #Kings #Gujarat #Titans">CSK vs GT, IPL 2026: Head-to-head record, most runs, wickets ahead of Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans
Chennai Super Kings will host Gujarat Titans at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. Chennai and Gujarat have had a similar run having secured three wins out of seven games. However, Chennai sit two places above in fifth Gujarat due to its superior net run-rate.
CSK beat GT by 83 runs in the 2025 season at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Here’s a look at their head-to-head record in the tournament:
If the ploy works out, Prasidh Krishna, GT’s highest wicket-taker thus far with 12, will be delighted to hit the deck against the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Dewald Brevis, who have failed to convert their promising starts into big scores, in the middle overs.
“Nothing wrong with Brevis,” CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said on the eve of the game, before adding, “It’s obviously a more aggressive game that everyone is playing, so you’re going to get times where there are going to be starts, and then you get out. The role of the finisher is still important, but it’s not the traditional model that you build up to 16 (overs), and then you have someone like MS (Dhoni) come in and blaze it.”
Incidentally, Dhoni, out with a calf strain, faced throwdowns once again on Saturday, albeit in short bursts of about five minutes each.
Middle-order woes
GT’s middle-order, in the meantime, has caused its management a persistent headache. In fact, if batting positions between five and eight are considered, the 2022 winner has the second-worst average runs per wicket (19.18).
With CSK’s bowling attack, featuring Purple Cap holder Anshul Kamboj (14 wickets at an average of 15.78), having impressed of late, GT’s top three—Gill, B. Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler—would be under immense pressure to face a substantial amount of deliveries.
The track, predominantly black-soil, will be expected to grip and turn as the game wears on. With dew not playing a part, the team winning the toss should look to defend its total.
If the ploy works out, Prasidh Krishna, GT’s highest wicket-taker thus far with 12, will be delighted to hit the deck against the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Dewald Brevis, who have failed to convert their promising starts into big scores, in the middle overs.
“Nothing wrong with Brevis,” CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said on the eve of the game, before adding, “It’s obviously a more aggressive game that everyone is playing, so you’re going to get times where there are going to be starts, and then you get out. The role of the finisher is still important, but it’s not the traditional model that you build up to 16 (overs), and then you have someone like MS (Dhoni) come in and blaze it.”
Incidentally, Dhoni, out with a calf strain, faced throwdowns once again on Saturday, albeit in short bursts of about five minutes each.
Middle-order woes
GT’s middle-order, in the meantime, has caused its management a persistent headache. In fact, if batting positions between five and eight are considered, the 2022 winner has the second-worst average runs per wicket (19.18).
With CSK’s bowling attack, featuring Purple Cap holder Anshul Kamboj (14 wickets at an average of 15.78), having impressed of late, GT’s top three—Gill, B. Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler—would be under immense pressure to face a substantial amount of deliveries.
The track, predominantly black-soil, will be expected to grip and turn as the game wears on. With dew not playing a part, the team winning the toss should look to defend its total.
Published on Apr 25, 2026
#CSK #IPL #Chennai #Super #Kings #Gujarat #Titans #clash #hopes #boosting #playoff #bid">CSK vs GT, IPL 2026: Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans clash in hopes of boosting playoff bid
Former champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT), seven games in, are stuck in the Indian Premier League’s mid-table traffic with identical report cards: three wins, four losses, and six points. A nervous glance upward and one would know Punjab Kings (13 points), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (10), and Rajasthan Royals (10) aren’t courteously waiting around.
Chepauk’s afternoon fixture was originally scheduled to be played on May 21. But a swap of the reverse fixture had to be forced in view of the municipal corporation elections in some parts of Gujarat on Sunday. If the Titans could, they would have opted for a swap of the overall Net Run Rate (NRR) as well—CSK’s +0.118 has kept it afloat at fifth; GT is seventh with -0.790.
To add to Shubman Gill’s woes, CSK enters the contest with enormous momentum, having dismantled archrival Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. The 103-run margin made it to the record books of both franchises. CSK would remember the game as its biggest victory by runs, while MI would want to forget its heaviest loss ever.
The Samson factor
Sanju Samson, fresh off his second hundred this season, will be especially threatening at the top. His spin-bashing abilities, however, will be put to the test with the sensational Rashid Khan operating during the middle overs of a baking surface at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.
GT, blessed with a sensational bowling lineup, would, however, look to rip through CSK’s top order within the PowerPlay itself with Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj sharing the new ball. The duo has a combined tally of 17 wickets. Moreover, in the first six overs, the Titans have conceded only 9.23 runs every six balls. The said rate is only higher than that of Lucknow Super Giants (7.85) and RR (8.35).
If the ploy works out, Prasidh Krishna, GT’s highest wicket-taker thus far with 12, will be delighted to hit the deck against the likes of Sarfaraz Khan and Dewald Brevis, who have failed to convert their promising starts into big scores, in the middle overs.
“Nothing wrong with Brevis,” CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said on the eve of the game, before adding, “It’s obviously a more aggressive game that everyone is playing, so you’re going to get times where there are going to be starts, and then you get out. The role of the finisher is still important, but it’s not the traditional model that you build up to 16 (overs), and then you have someone like MS (Dhoni) come in and blaze it.”
Incidentally, Dhoni, out with a calf strain, faced throwdowns once again on Saturday, albeit in short bursts of about five minutes each.
Middle-order woes
GT’s middle-order, in the meantime, has caused its management a persistent headache. In fact, if batting positions between five and eight are considered, the 2022 winner has the second-worst average runs per wicket (19.18).
With CSK’s bowling attack, featuring Purple Cap holder Anshul Kamboj (14 wickets at an average of 15.78), having impressed of late, GT’s top three—Gill, B. Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler—would be under immense pressure to face a substantial amount of deliveries.
The track, predominantly black-soil, will be expected to grip and turn as the game wears on. With dew not playing a part, the team winning the toss should look to defend its total.
CSK, fifth, is not where it would ideally want to be at this stage of the competition. With three wins, four losses, and six points from seven games, it is anybody’s guess that skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s form—currently averaging 14.86 with the bat—and captaincy skills have become a major talking point.
Fleming, however, isn’t the least bit concerned. “(For) Rutu, I have nothing but support. He’s a quality player and a young captain who’s working himself into the role and doing a good job. I know he’s getting a lot of heat from outside, but within, he’s got a lot of support, and he’s very well respected within the side. That will continue,” he said.
Although the match will be played on a wicket almost equidistant from either of the square boundaries, Fleming feels the batters don’t have much to worry about, given how the T20 format has evolved to favour their kind.
He said, “My understanding is the wicket is pretty much in the middle tomorrow, and the sides are some of the longer boundaries in the competition. We’re aware that we’ve got a little bit more distance to work with. But the power of the batters these days… It’s still not long enough.”
GT, having played a game at Bengaluru the previous night, didn’t host a press conference.
CSK, fifth, is not where it would ideally want to be at this stage of the competition. With three wins, four losses, and six points from seven games, it is anybody’s guess that skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s form—currently averaging 14.86 with the bat—and captaincy skills have become a major talking point.
Fleming, however, isn’t the least bit concerned. “(For) Rutu, I have nothing but support. He’s a quality player and a young captain who’s working himself into the role and doing a good job. I know he’s getting a lot of heat from outside, but within, he’s got a lot of support, and he’s very well respected within the side. That will continue,” he said.
Although the match will be played on a wicket almost equidistant from either of the square boundaries, Fleming feels the batters don’t have much to worry about, given how the T20 format has evolved to favour their kind.
He said, “My understanding is the wicket is pretty much in the middle tomorrow, and the sides are some of the longer boundaries in the competition. We’re aware that we’ve got a little bit more distance to work with. But the power of the batters these days… It’s still not long enough.”
GT, having played a game at Bengaluru the previous night, didn’t host a press conference.
Published on Apr 25, 2026
#IPL #Dhoni #road #recovery #urgency #replacement #Mhatre #CSK #coach #Fleming">IPL 2026: Dhoni ‘on the road to recovery’, no urgency to have replacement for Mhatre at No. 3, says CSK coach Fleming
It seems home fans would have to wait longer for the much-anticipated return of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) talisman Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
“He’s progressing well. He’s on the road to recovery and doing everything that’s being asked of him,” head coach Stephen Fleming informed the media on Saturday ahead of the game against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. The wicketkeeper-batter is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain.
Ayush Mhatre, who had been chipping in with valuable runs at No. 3, also picked up a hamstring injury during the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18 and has since been ruled out of the tournament.
While Urvil Patel could be considered a potential candidate to take up the India Under-19 captain’s role in the eleven, Fleming feels CSK is doing just fine. “Urvil Patel, who’s still itching to get a game, is quality as well. I know there’s been some commentary around him. But we’re lucky to have some quality aggressive players at the top, so the urgency to get a replacement is not necessarily there. We are looking, but we just don’t need to rush that at this point.”
Sarfaraz Khan had been promoted to No. 3 in CSK’s last fixture against Mumbai Indians.
CSK, fifth, is not where it would ideally want to be at this stage of the competition. With three wins, four losses, and six points from seven games, it is anybody’s guess that skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s form—currently averaging 14.86 with the bat—and captaincy skills have become a major talking point.
Fleming, however, isn’t the least bit concerned. “(For) Rutu, I have nothing but support. He’s a quality player and a young captain who’s working himself into the role and doing a good job. I know he’s getting a lot of heat from outside, but within, he’s got a lot of support, and he’s very well respected within the side. That will continue,” he said.
Although the match will be played on a wicket almost equidistant from either of the square boundaries, Fleming feels the batters don’t have much to worry about, given how the T20 format has evolved to favour their kind.
He said, “My understanding is the wicket is pretty much in the middle tomorrow, and the sides are some of the longer boundaries in the competition. We’re aware that we’ve got a little bit more distance to work with. But the power of the batters these days… It’s still not long enough.”
GT, having played a game at Bengaluru the previous night, didn’t host a press conference.
