This is what Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans have been waiting for since the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season ¡ª a glimpse of their vintage form, especially under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. But throughout the season, something or the other just didn't click for the side.
Now, in their final game of the season, CSK is facing the table-toppers, Gujarat Titans (GT), at the Narendra Modi Stadium. With Shubman Gill leading GT, most expected them to win comfortably.
But oh no ¡ª CSK is showing flashes of brilliance that fans hope to see more of in next year's tournament. Despite sitting at the bottom of the points table with only 3 wins from 13 matches, CSK has turned up the heat. After winning the toss, they put up a commanding batting performance, scoring 230 for 5. And with the ball, they've already sent back GT's top three batters within the Powerplay.
GT lose their top batters
In the chase of 231 runs at their own home, GT got off to a bad start.?They lost their skipper Shubman Gill early for 13 off 9 and post him Jos Buttler (5 off 7) and Sherfane Rutherford (0 off 4) followed.?
Anshul Kamboj picked up three wickets and Khaleel Ahmed took one.Now, the side still has Sai Sudharsan at the crease and his joined by Shahrukh Khan. In 9 overs, GT has got 67 runs and lost 3 wickets with their required run rate at 14.91.
Interestingly, GT also suffered a 33-run defeat in their previous match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), a team already eliminated from the playoff race. As for their chances of finishing in the Top 2, if GT lose to CSK and remain on 18 points, they can still secure a spot ¡ª but only if results elsewhere go their way.?
Specifically, Mumbai Indians (MI), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) would all need to lose their respective matches against LSG and each other.
Seeing the way CSK has played this game has got fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) asking to restart this season as they believe now the Chennai franchise has got a hold of the team combination.
One said, "Restart the season raa...Openers batting at 200SR,Jadjea choking at the end, Taking wickets early, Taking Stunners...CSK is soo back bt at wat cost."
Another said, "CSK 230 GT 3 wickets down aa edhula nijama." (Translate: Is this real)
One wrote, "CSK need 8 wickets in next 50 runs. Tough but not impossible."
Another added, "I knew CSK would show them their levels... Too easy for CSK to take wickets in PP this season."
Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Gerald Coetzee, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Impact Subs - Sai Sudharsan, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma?
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Ayush Mhatre, Devon Conway, Urvil Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, MS Dhoni(w/c), Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed
Impact Subs: Matheesha Pathirana, Vijay Shankar, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Ravichandran Ashwin?