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- CSK vs MI Highlights, IPL 2026: Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma partnership seals win for CSK
CSK vs MI Highlights, IPL 2026: Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma partnership seals win for CSK
MI started positively, reaching 57 for 1 in the powerplay, with Ryan Rickelton and Naman Dhir finding boundaries. However, CSK struck back through Noor Ahmad, who dismissed Rickelton at a key moment. Ramakrishna Ghosh then made an impact on debut, removing Suryakumar Yadav for his maiden IPL wicket.
From there, MI’s innings lost direction. Tilak Varma fell to a mistimed sweep, while Hardik Pandya failed to accelerate, consuming 23 balls for 18 runs. Despite Dhir’s half-century, the visitors managed only 159 for 7, with Anshul Kamboj also chipping in with three wickets.
CSK’s chase began briskly before Sanju Samson fell early to Jasprit Bumrah. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad then took control, mixing composure with timely aggression. He struck a crucial six off Trent Boult as CSK kept pace with the required rate.
Urvil Patel provided a quick burst before falling to AM Ghazanfar, but Kartik Sharma ensured stability with a well-paced half-century.
Gaikwad and Sharma combined effectively to guide CSK home without further trouble, sealing a vital win that keeps their playoff hopes alive while deepening MI’s struggles this season.
Speaking after the loss, the MI captain summed up the night bluntly: “Not the season, I feel, not just the night. Yeah, they played better, they bowled better, they fielded better, and they batted better.”
Reflecting on the batting effort, Pandya felt MI were aiming higher but failed to capitalise. “At one point of time, we were looking to get around 180, 190. Should have been a good total, but we could not get the momentum post 10 overs, could not get the finish as well,” he said.
He admitted that conditions weren’t easy for shot-making and credited CSK’s bowling discipline. “It was more about playing calculative cricket… they bowled better,” he added, highlighting how MI struggled to accelerate once set batters were in.
On whether MI should have been more aggressive with the ball, Pandya defended his approach. “I don’t know what aggressive we would have been… they just played smart cricket,” he said, suggesting CSK simply adapted better to the situation.
The MI skipper also pointed to execution rather than intent as the key difference. “We went with the bowling options which we had… but yeah, overall as a bowling unit they were better and as a batting unit we were not.”
Speaking after being named Player of the Match, Gaikwad admitted CSK had to absorb early pressure before regaining control. “Feels good. We started really well, first couple of overs, they got momentum after that and we pulled it back,” he said, pointing to the team’s ability to respond quickly.
He stressed that the game was built around patience at the top. “It was about getting through the first couple of overs and then it was about one of the top three staying there,” he explained.
Gaikwad also praised the impact of young performers like Anshul Kamboj, noting his simple, process-driven approach. He was equally impressed with the progress of Noor Ahmad, saying the spinner has “come along really well” after making key adjustments.
On team balance, he explained CSK’s decision to tweak the combination. “We thought about how to get the balance right… Veer and Ghosh give extra cushion in batting and bowl a couple of overs as well,” he said, referring to the all-round flexibility in the XI.
Reflecting on his own form, Gaikwad said confidence has been building steadily. “I was feeling well, feeling confident… it was only a matter of time,” he remarked, adding that finishing the game was a satisfying moment.
He also backed young batter Kartik Sharma, calling it a major confidence boost. “He is a six-hitter but has the other game as well… if he gets going, he can be great for us,” Gaikwad said.
Closing on a calm note, the CSK skipper summed up the team’s approach simply: “We are keeping it really simple… give everything for the jersey and the fans.”
Speaking after his debut IPL fifty, Kartik revealed that there was no complicated plan in his mind. “No sir, I was just thinking that I have to stay there till the end and finish the game for the team,” he said.
He also credited skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad for keeping his message straightforward. “Rutu bhayya just told me to play the game that I know. Nothing else. Just go there, play your game and help the team win.”
Asked about his approach, Kartik admitted he does not overthink his style. “Sir, this I don’t know,” he said honestly, keeping the tone refreshingly simple.
On a slightly slow surface where spinners found grip, he explained the adjustment CSK batters made during the chase. “The pitch was a little slow today and the spinners were getting some grip, so we adjusted accordingly.”
The youngster also enjoyed the milestone moment, marking his maiden IPL fifty with a pre-planned celebration. “Yes sir, it was my first innings and my first IPL fifty. I had planned beforehand that if I scored runs today, I would celebrate like that.”
Despite the big moment, Kartik remained grounded, saying there was no special dedication as his family watched from home. “No sir, family is at home watching.”
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This marks only the third time CSK have achieved a double over MI in a single IPL season, after earlier doing so in 2014 and 2023. It highlights how the rivalry, once tightly balanced, has seen a shift in recent seasons.
Even more striking is CSK’s consistency since 2023. They have now won six of the last seven encounters against MI in the IPL, turning what was once a fiercely even contest into a one-sided stretch in their favour.
The CSK skipper has consistently delivered in high-pressure encounters, often setting the tone with fluent and controlled strokeplay. His ability to accelerate without losing composure has made him a key factor in CSK’s success against MI.
For Chennai Super Kings, Gaikwad’s form in this rivalry remains a major boost as they continue their push in IPL 2026.
At just 20 years and 6 days, he has become the second youngest CSK batter to score an IPL fifty, behind only Ayush Mhatre, who achieved the feat at 17 years and 291 days.
The milestone underlines Kartik’s growing reputation as a fearless young talent in the CSK setup. His ability to handle pressure and play mature innings at such a young age has given CSK another strong option in their middle order.
With CSK pushing for a playoff spot, Kartik’s emergence adds fresh energy to their campaign at a crucial stage of the season.
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Double-header coming up - Sunday, 3rd May is all locked and loaded for a delicious double header. The day starts in Hyderabad as the Sunrisers Hyderabad host the Kolkata Knight Riders, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, with the first ball set to be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). For the evening game, action will shift to Ahmedabad as the Gujarat Titans take on the Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). But as usual, our buildup begins well in advance. So do join us early for that as well. Until then, we sign off, only to meet again. Cheers.
CSK outplay MI at AnbuDen - Well, another one-sided game between two of the most successful and decorated teams in IPL history. And on both occasions this season, it has been the men in yellow who have had the upper hand by some distance. The Super Kings will take a lot of confidence from this home win and will travel to Delhi for their next assignment against the Delhi Capitals on Tuesday, 5th May. As far as Mumbai Indians are concerned, they are not mathematically out of the playoff race just yet. The max they reach now is 14 points, which could still be enough, but they will theoretically have to move mountains from here. Winning all five remaining games is non-negotiable, and even then, other results will need to fall their way. They head back home for their next game against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday, 4th May and would hope that they click together as a unit in that game.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - The captain of Chennai Super Kings, Ruturaj Gaikwad, receives the award for his match-winning 67* (48). Ruturaj Gaikwad says that it feels good. Adds that they started well in the first couple of overs with the ball but then let MI get the momentum. Mentions that they pulled things back extremely well with the ball and were chasing 20-30 runs less. While batting, it was just about utilising the Powerplay and one of the top 3 to stay till the end. On Anshul Kamboj, he shares that he’s keeping things simple and sticking to his process, almost thinking like a batter in how he approaches his spells. Noor, on the other hand, needed a bit of rhythm, and on these surfaces he becomes a real threat. Since the third game, he's made a few adjustments and has looked much better. On Akeal Hosein's absence, he says it was mainly about getting the balance right. The idea was to have an extra batter at No. 8 and add a left-handed option down the order, which is why Veer and Ghosh fit into the combination.
... Time for the post-match Presentation ...
CSK's emerging player - Kartik Sharma says that he just thought that he had to chase it down and stay till the end. Adds that the pitch was on the slower side and the ball was stopping a bit. Kartik mentions that he enjoyed each and every shot. Ends by saying that he decided before the game that if he scores runs in this game, he will do the gun celebration.
The captain of Mumbai Indians - Hardik Pandya reflects on the defeat. Hardik acknowledges that his team’s struggles extend beyond a single night to the entire season, noting that Chennai Super Kings outperformed them in every department. Pandya explains that while Mumbai initially aimed for a total of 180-190, they lost momentum after the first ten overs and failed to find a strong finish. Pandya attributes this to the difficulty of playing aggressive shots immediately, adding that the batters struggled to get under the ball during the final overs against a quality bowling attack. Despite the loss, Hardik defends his bowlers’ efforts, jokingly remarking that they couldn't have been more aggressive without throwing fireballs. Hardik concludes by crediting CSK for playing smarter cricket.
Out of plans - The asking rate was never a concern for CSK as they kept the scoreboard ticking at a healthy clip. For Mumbai Indians, wickets were paramount, and they simply never came. The best bowler theory would suggest that in such situations, you back your ace to create something out of nothing, and with Bumrah kept away during the middle phase, MI may look back and wonder if an extra spell from their best bowler could have changed things. He was eventually introduced, but it was too late by then. Raghu Sharma showed promise on debut, getting good purchase and keeping things tight, but MI lacked the penetration to truly threaten. Gaikwad anchored the chase beautifully with a responsible fifty, and it was a great opportunity for someone like Kartik Sharma to step up and make it count, which he did in style with a half century of his own. In the end, the two made it look thoroughly comfortable.
A stroll in the park - For CSK this season, Sanju Samson's presence beyond the powerplay has been a key driver of their success, and his early dismissal within the restrictions once again left a gap that needed filling. The surface was a touch two-paced and the new ball kicked off the pitch enough to keep the batters honest. Samson was given a lifeline on 6 when Jacks put down a catch, but Bumrah came back to flush him out in the very same over. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Urvil Patel refused to let the momentum slip, counterattacking in partnership to put the Mumbai Indians bowlers under real pressure. Despite Urvil being dismissed by Ghazanfar, CSK were placed strongly at 62/2 in the Powerplay.
Not enough on the board - Mumbai Indians made a brisk start through Ryan Rickelton and Naman Dhir, who put on a fluent fifty-plus stand for the second wicket after Will Jacks fell early to give the innings a decent foundation. But the middle order failed to capitalise. Suryakumar Yadav got a start and could not convert, Tilak Varma never really got going, and Hardik Pandya struggled throughout his stay at the crease. Dhir's 57 was the standout contribution, but full credit must go to Chennai Super Kings for the way they fought back in the second half of the innings. Noor, Overton, and Kamboj collectively choked the scoring rate, while Ramkrishna Ghosh impressed on debut. It was Kamboj who stood out the most, returning a three-wicket haul and consistently hitting the right areas to drag things back superbly after the halfway stage. Mumbai Indians were left to rue a middling 159/7, which in all fairness, was never going to be enough.
Outbatted and outbowled - It has been that kind of season for Mumbai Indians. The tag of perennial slow-starters has followed them around, and this is now their seventh defeat in nine games. More concerningly, teams have been winning against them with overs to spare. Tonight can be singled out as a case where they simply could not post a big enough score, but the pattern runs deeper than that. They could not defend 243 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings breezed past 196 with a few overs to spare. The problems are mounting on both ends.
CSK do it with ease - It's yellow fever in Chennai and the home team has come up trumps against their eternal rivals, doing the double over the Mumbai Indians this season. Both their wins against MI have been comprehensive, and this win lifts the Men in Yellow to the sixth position. CSK improve their head-to-head record against MI, now 20-21, with MI just ahead by a hair's breadth. This is Chennai's third home victory out of five games this season and the walls are well and truly being fortified once again in Chepauk.
Trent Boult to Kartik Sharma, FOUR! Kartik Sharma finishes it off in style and fittingly hits the winning runs! CSK WIN BY 8 WICKETS. Trent Boult goes fuller and around off, Kartik switches his stance for the reverse scoop, holds the bat like a frying pan and hits it over the keeper's head for a boundary.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad 67 (48)
- Kartik Sharma 50 (39)
Krish Bhagat to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Fuller and on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad uses his feet to drive it away but gets an inside edge onto his pads.
Krish Bhagat to Kartik Sharma, MAIDEN IPL FIFTY FOR KARTIK SHARMA! A fantastic knock from the youngster, and hopefully this is the first of many more to come. He has supported his skipper well here and this will give him and his team a lot of confidence going ahead. Short of a length and on middle, Sharma pulls it to deep square leg for one. He raises his bat to soak in all the applause.
Krish Bhagat to Kartik Sharma, Pitched up and on off, Kartik Sharma stays deep in his crease and drills it wide of long on. Tilak Varma moves to his left and dives to make a fine stop. Two taken. CSK just one hit away from the two points now.
Krish Bhagat to Kartik Sharma, Takes pace off again, back of a length and around off, Kartik Sharma is way too early through his heave and misses again. He just needs to calm down a bit.
Krish Bhagat to Kartik Sharma, A slower one, full and on off, keeps very low, Kartik Sharma tries to slog it over mid-wicket but misses.
Krish Bhagat to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Fuller and on middle, Ruturaj Gaikwad lofts it with a straight bat to the left of long on for a single.
This could well be the final over of the match. CSK need just 8 runs in 18 balls. A matter of a couple of hits, then. Krish Bhagat returns into the attack. Went for 18 runs in his first over.
- Kartik Sharma 47 (35)
- Ruturaj Gaikwad 66 (46)
AM Ghazanfar to Kartik Sharma, A bit quicker, full and on middle, Kartik Sharma turns it to the leg side.
AM Ghazanfar to Kartik Sharma, FOUR! Kartik Sharma looks in a hurry now! Fires this one full and around off again. Kartik Sharma gets his hands through the shot and blazes it along the carpet through extra covers for four more runs. 150 UP FOR THE SUPER KINGS!
AM Ghazanfar to Kartik Sharma, Slows it up, full and around off, Kartik Sharma winds up for the slog but then tries to guide it away but misses.
AM Ghazanfar to Kartik Sharma, SIX! Oh, that's a sweet hit! Flighted, full and on middle and leg again. Kartik Sharma charges down the track to get to the pitch of it and smokes it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. CSK need just 12 runs to win now.
AM Ghazanfar to Kartik Sharma, Tossed up, full and on middle and leg, Kartik Sharma knocks it to the right of the bowler.
AM Ghazanfar to Kartik Sharma, FOUR! CSK are doing it in a canter now! Floated, short and outside off. Kartik Sharma moves on the back foot and slaps it hard, beating the dive of long off to his left for a boundary.
CSK need 22 runs from 24 balls now. The partnership between Gaikwad and Kartik reads 76. AM Ghazanfar (3-0-26-1) to bowl out. He replaces Jasprit Bumrah.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad 66 (46)
- Kartik Sharma 33 (29)
Trent Boult to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Slower one, short and around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad goes for the pull but swings early and the ball arrives late.
Trent Boult to Kartik Sharma, Short and wide of off, Kartik Sharma cuts this to sweeper cover for a single.
Trent Boult to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Boult goes full again and bowls a yorker, on middle and off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes this towards mid off for a single.
Trent Boult to Ruturaj Gaikwad, FOUR! Stamp of authority with class written all over it. Pitched up, around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad shimmies down the track and presents a full face of his bat as he keeps it grounded and plays the straight drive to perfection, to the right of mid off, for a boundary.
Trent Boult to Ruturaj Gaikwad, WIDE! Slower bumper, way too high on the batter. Ruturaj Gaikwad leaves it, and the umpire signals wide.
Trent Boult to Kartik Sharma, Yorker, on middle and off, Kartik Sharma pushes this towards mid off and takes a single.
Trent Boult to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Low full toss, wide of off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes this to wide mid off and takes one.
STRATEGIC BREAK! Easy going for the Super Kings. They need 31 runs from 30 balls. It has been a top knock from Gaikwad so far as he has stuck like glue at the crease and is happy in dealing with singles, with an odd boundary here and there. On the other hand, Kartik Sharma has done well for his 31, which is his best score so far in the IPL and would like to get the job done by being there. Mumbai Indians are staring at another landslide defeat as they simply haven't been able to pick regular wickets. For the positives, Bumrah has been more economical than in the previous game, and Raghu Sharma bowled a tidy spell on debut. However, from ball one it was clear that MI's only route to victory ran through all ten CSK wickets, and that never looks like happening.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad 60 (42)
- Kartik Sharma 31 (27)
Jasprit Bumrah to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Full and on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes this to Hardik Pandya at mid off and takes a quick single. Despite Hardik hitting the stumps with a direct hit towards the bowler's end, Ruturaj Gaikwad makes his ground with ease.
Jasprit Bumrah to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yorker on middle and off, Ruturaj Gaikwad pushes this firmly towards Tilak Varma at extra cover. Kartik Sharma backs up a bit and is sent back by the batter on strike. Tilak Varma hits the stumps towards the non-striker's end and the smart replay shows that Kartik was well in.
Bumrah loses his run up. Walks back to reload.
Jasprit Bumrah to Ruturaj Gaikwad, WIDE! Another bumper, around the leg this time. Ruturaj Gaikwad comes inside the line and leaves it expecting a wide. The umpire calls it a fair delivery and the CSK skipper sends this upstairs. The visuals show that the ball is passing down the leg side and the on-field decision of wide not given turns to a wide.
Jasprit Bumrah to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Slower one, short of a length, around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad cuts this to the right of Will Jacks at point. Jacks puts in a dive to his right, fields this, and keeps it down to a dot.
Jasprit Bumrah to Ruturaj Gaikwad, A really sharp bumper by Bumrah around middle and off, Ruturaj Gaikwad sits under it.
Seems that the leg umpire is not happy with something. Nitin Menon walks up to Gaikwad and has a brief chat before walking back.
Jasprit Bumrah to Ruturaj Gaikwad, FOUR! Cracking shot! Short and into the batter, Ruturaj Gaikwad stands deep inside his crease and pulls this in front of square on leg for a boundary towards the deep mid-wicket region.
Jasprit Bumrah to Kartik Sharma, Back of a length, into the batter, Kartik Sharma gets up on his toes and tucks this towards mid-wicket for a single.
Ghazanfar was left bemused by that shot. Almost run-a-ball needed now for the Super Kings. They require 38 from 36 balls. Jasprit Bumrah (2-0-13-1) is back on. This is well and truly the last throw on the dice from MI. Can he engineer breakthrough(s) for MI here? Meanwhile, the physio is out to check Gaikwad. Not quite sure about the issue. Good to continue now.
Naman Dhir top-scored with 57 off 37 balls, but lacked consistent support, while skipper Hardik Pandya struggled for fluency with a slow 18 off 23 deliveries. Despite a promising powerplay, MI lost their way in the middle overs as CSK applied sustained pressure.
In reply, CSK lost Sanju Samson early after a brisk start, dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah. However, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad anchored the chase with an unbeaten 67 off 48 balls. He was well supported by Kartik Sharma, who remained not out on 54, while Urvil Patel added a quick 24.
The composed partnership between Gaikwad and Sharma ensured there were no further hiccups as CSK chased down the target comfortably, boosting their position in the standings while leaving MI in a precarious situation.
