IPL 2026: CSK Opt To Bowl Against Gujarat Titans In Crucial Clash

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and elected to bowl first against the Gujarat Titans in Match 66 of the Indian Premier League at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday.

CSK handed opportunities to Gurjapneet Singh and Matthew Short, replacing Akeal Hosein and Prashant Veer in the playing XI.

Chennai entered their final league-stage match knowing that a defeat would officially end their playoff hopes.

While a win would keep them in contention, the five-time champions still depend on other results going in their favour to secure a top-four spot.

After the toss, Gaikwad said, “There will be some pace and bounce, and we want to explore it early on. It is about trusting the process, and we didn’t get the results our way. We want to keep it simple and turn it around.”

Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, are looking to regain momentum ahead of the playoffs and strengthen their push for a top-two finish.

Captain Shubman Gill confirmed that pacer Prasidh Krishna comes in for R Sai Kishore.

“We’d have bowled first. Doesn’t make a difference as there’s not much dew. It’s all about keeping the intensity up. Our fielding hasn’t been on par in the last couple of seasons,” Gill stated.

He further added, “Our bowling has been right up there, and batting has been good too. All three departments need to come together. Just because we have a Q, doesn’t mean the job is done. Hope for three more good games.”

According to pitch experts Graeme Swann and Aaron Finch, the match is being played on a red-soil surface expected to offer good pace and bounce while remaining favourable for batting.

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