Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans will take on Chennai Super Kings in the 66th match of the Indian Premier League 2026 season on Thursday, 21st May at 7:30 PM at Narendra Modi Stadium. Both teams will contest a crucial encounter, with GT aiming to secure a top-two finish in the play offs standings, while CSK look to keep their playoff hopes alive. Both sides enter this clash after suffering defeats in their previous matches.
Gujarat Titans are now officially qualified for the playoffs, currently placed in 2nd position with 16 points. Their bowling unit has played a massive role in their strong campaign, establishing itself as one of the most dangerous and destructive attacks in the league. However, in the last match against Kolkata Knight Riders, they failed to restrict the opposition, and costly fielding errors led to a massive total of 247 runs, although their batting unit fought hard in response. They will now aim to secure two points to strengthen their hold on a top-two finish.
On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings have very slim chances of staying alive in the playoff race. Even if they win today, they will still depend on other results going their way. Their batting and bowling units have struggled with inconsistency, and they are currently placed 7th with 12 points. In their previous meeting, Gujarat Titans defeated CSK comfortably by 8 wickets with 20 balls remaining. In head-to-head encounters, both teams have played 9 matches, with Gujarat Titans winning 5 and Chennai Super Kings winning 4.
Squads
Gujarat Titans Squad:
Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Tom Banton, Glenn Phillips, Sai Sudharsan, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Arshad Khan, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Sharma, Luke Wood, Kulwant Khejroliya, Rashid Khan.
Gujarat Titans Predicted XI:
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, R Sai Kishore
Impact Player: Mohammed Siraj
Chennai Super Kings Squad:
Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Urvil Patel, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Spencer Johnson.
Chennai Super Kings Predicted XI:
Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary
Impact Player: Spencer Johnson
The weather in Ahmedabad is expected to take place under very hot and dry weather conditions. The forecast suggests a very low chance of rain, so a full 20-over match is likely without interruptions. Temperatures may reach around 42–43°C during the day, becoming slightly cooler by match time. Humidity and dew in the evening could influence the second innings, especially for bowlers, while the pitch at Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to remain batting-friendly. The surface is expected to offer consistent bounce and pace, making it ideal for stroke play. Batters are likely to enjoy the conditions, especially during the powerplay and middle overs. Fast bowlers may get some early assistance with the new ball, but the pitch should gradually become flatter. Due to dew in the second innings, chasing could be slightly easier as the ball may skid onto the bat, making spin bowling more difficult to control. Overall, the encounter promises to be a thrilling contest, with vital points at stake that could prove decisive for both teams’ standings.
