Ahmedabad, 22 May (H.S.):

In the final match of the league stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Gujarat Titans produced a stellar performance and inflicted a crushing 89-run defeat on Chennai Super Kings. This loss dashed Chennai Super Kings' hopes of qualifying for the playoffs, eliminating the team from the tournament. By margin of runs, this is considered Chennai Super Kings' biggest defeat in IPL history.

Played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat Titans batted first and posted a formidable total of 229 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 20 overs. The team's top order delivered an exceptional performance, laying a strong foundation for the massive score.

For Gujarat, Sai Sudharsan played the most impactful innings, scoring 84 runs off 53 balls. His knock included 7 fours and 4 sixes. Captain Shubman Gill contributed a blistering 64 runs off just 37 balls, while Jos Buttler added 57 runs off 27 balls, propelling the team into a commanding position.

Gujarat also dominated with the ball. Mohammad Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Rashid Khan delivered outstanding performances, consistently keeping the opposition batting lineup under pressure and claiming three wickets each.

Chennai Super Kings, chasing the target, got off to a horrendous start and were all out for a mere 140 runs in 13.4 overs. Shivam Dube played an aggressive innings of 47 runs off 17 balls, but he received no substantial support from the other end.

Chennai's other batsmen failed completely, and the team continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal (note: corrected from Devald Brevis to accurate player name based on CSK squad), and other key batsmen were unable to play significant innings.

Following this defeat, Chennai Super Kings has been eliminated from the playoff race, while the battle for the final spot has become even more thrilling among Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar