Stupendous Sudharsan’s stellar show steers Gujarat; Kolkata beat Lucknow in Super Over

A dominant top-order performance led by Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Jos Buttler helped Gujarat Titans chase down a 159-run target against hosts Chennai Super Kings with remarkable ease, sealing an eight-wicket win with 20 balls to spare at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.

Chasing 159, Gujarat got off to a brisk start despite some early discipline from the Chennai bowlers. Gill looked in fluent touch from the outset, striking three sixes in his 33 off 23 balls, while Sudharsan complemented him well as the duo stitched together a quickfire opening stand. The Titans raced to 55/0 in the Power-play, but soon after, Gill was stumped off Noor Ahmad, courtesy sharp glovework from Sanju Samson.

However, any hopes of a Chennai comeback were quickly extinguished as Sudharsan and Buttler took control. The left-hander continued his rich vein of form, bringing up a 33-ball fifty and targeting both spin and pace with authority. Buttler, after a watchful start, grew in confidence and found boundaries at crucial intervals, ensuring the required rate never became a concern.

The pair added a decisive partnership, with Sudharsan particularly severe on Akeal Hosein, smashing multiple sixes to tilt the contest firmly in Gujarat’s favour. Some missed chances by the fielders only added to Chennai’s woes as the Titans batters capitalised fully.

Sudharsan eventually fell for a superb 87 off 46 balls, laced with four boundaries and seven sixes, after a brilliant catch in the deep by Dewald Brevis. By then, however, the result was a mere formality. Buttler remained composed till the end and fittingly finished the chase in style, hammering a straight six to seal the win.

Earlier, CSK had posted 159, recovering well after a disastrous start. The pitch offered variable bounce, making strokeplay difficult in the first half of the innings. Their top order struggled to get going against disciplined bowling, but a crucial middle-overs revival helped them reach a fighting total.

Shivam Dube played a key role in that recovery, stitching an important partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad. The duo focused on batting deep after early setbacks, rotating strike effectively before accelerating towards the end. Dube’s approach against pace, in particular, helped Chennai regain momentum on a surface where timing the ball wasn’t easy.

Meanwhile, Sunil Narine’s double strike and Rinku Singh’s decisive boundary helped Kolkata Knight Riders clinch a dramatic Super Over victory against Lucknow Super Giants and get off the bottom spot in the points table in a tightly contested clash in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the BRSABV Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday.

After both teams were tied at 155, the 16th such instance in the tournament’s history, thanks to a last-ball six from Mohammed Shami, it paved the way for the first Super Over of the ongoing season to take place.

LSG sent out Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram, followed by Rishabh Pant. Narine was entrusted with the ball and immediately swung the contest in KKR’s favour.

Pooran was bowled on the first delivery while attempting a slog sweep.

After Pant managed a single, Markram fell to a brilliant relay catch involving Rovman Powell and Rinku Singh near the boundary rope, meaning LSG could make only one run in their Super Over innings – the lowest score in the one-over shootout in an IPL game.

In reply, KKR relied on Rinku and Powell to finish the job. Prince Yadav was given the responsibility of defending four runs, as Mohsin Khan, who had taken a five-for earlier, was subbed out.

As soon as Prince missed the yorker, Rinku opened the bat face and sliced through the square boundary on the off-side, and the boundary sealed victory for KKR off the very first ball of their chase.

The finish capped a remarkable night for Rinku, who earlier smashed four sixes in the final over to take LSG past 150 by hitting his highest T20 score of 83 not out off 50 balls, and took four catches in the outfield in regular game time.

Agencies