Table of Contents
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) played Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in a must-win clash for both teams. But Pat Cummins' side won the match 63, sealing their place in the playoff spot. The Orange Army did a double over the Men in Yellow, possibly knocking them out of the tournament.
With the win, they also ensured that the Gujarat Titans qualify for the playoffs. Ruturaj Gaikwad was the captain winning the toss and opting to bat first. He made just one change as per the wicket, bringing in Akeal Hosein in place of Gurjanpeet Singh. On the other hand, SRH played the same team from their thumping defeat against the Gujarat Titans.
CSK batters could score a fifty
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson came to open, the latter got of to a flyer but could not convert his start to a big score, and was back for 27 runs. Gaikwad also failed to get going and did not hit a boundary in his 15-run innings. Urvil Patel went back after scoring 13 runs.
Kartik Sharma played a knock of 32 runs off 19 balls; the highest scorer for the Men in Yellow was Dewald Brevis, who scored 44 runs, and runs from Shivam Dube and Prashant Veer helped the home side post a defendable total of 180/7 in their 20 overs.
Ishan Kishan masterclass at Chepauk
Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head did not have the best of starts as the Aussie was back for just 6 runs. Ishan Kishan and Abhishek then built a small partnership before the latter was dismissed for 26 runs. Kishan, however, was stuck at one end and kept the runs flowing along with Heinrich Klaasen.
Ishan Kishan and Klaasen stitched 75 runs off 41 balls in a partnership before the Proetas batter was dismissed by a sensational stumping from Sanju Samson on the score of 47 runs off 26 balls. Ishan Kishan carried on with Nitish Kumar Reddy as the former brought up his fifty in 37 balls. The Southpaw scored 70 runs off 47 balls and sealed the game for his side.
It was a tough time in our family- Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan was awarded the player of the match for his excellent innings, and he was the only batter to go past the score of fifty runs tonight, comprising both innings. He dedicated his POTM to his cousin sister who passed away a few days back.
Ishan Kishan said, "I think, when I was wicket keeping, I just felt like this wicket is not easy. I still felt chasing this total is going to be a bit too much because, the wicket was not at all easy, especially when spinners were bowling and those slow balls working out very well, but at the same time, as a number three batter, I just felt, my job is to just try and finish the game because, batters coming in, especially at the back end, it's difficult for them to take singles and at the same time score boundaries.
THE MOTIVATION OF ISHAN 🥹🧡
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 18, 2026
- His cousin lost his sister and Ishan played for their family. pic.twitter.com/Crd6JS8gra
"So I had to just play it till the last over. But at the same time, I would just say one thing. Sometimes I feel it's also about motivation, and for me, my motivation was today, my cousin is just standing there. He lost his sister."
"It was a tough time in our family and they are watching the match for the first time here. So I just wanted to finish the game for them, and I'm glad they were here to witness this innings, and I was able to finish this game. I was just feeling blessed from upstairs. I had that sense of power, like, yes, I can do it if I'm there for the team. We will qualify and especially, he'll be happy about it."
Also Read: CSK qualification scenario IPL 2026: Can CSK qualify for the playoffs after loss vs SRH?
