Chennai Super Kings, the five-time Indian Premier League champions, return to a venue that holds a special place in their history. It was at this very ground in 2023 that CSK defeated Gujarat Titans off the last ball to clinch their fifth IPL title. Now, two months after that memorable night, CSK's new recruit Sanju Samson smashed a brilliant 89 off 46 balls against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final at the same venue, helping India win their third world title. Come Thursday, CSK will be hoping for an encore from their wicketkeeper-batter when they take on GT in their final league match.
High Stakes for Both Teams
There is plenty riding on the clash for GT, who have already qualified for the playoffs. They are looking to bounce back from a 29-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders, but their larger goal is a top-two finish, which will give them two shots at making the final. CSK, on the other hand, are in a precarious position after their defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last match. They not only need to beat GT convincingly to improve their net run rate but also require other results to go their way to remain in contention for the last playoff spot.
Key Players to Watch
The onus will again be on Samson and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad to give CSK a brisk start. No. 3 Urvil Patel, who plays his domestic cricket here, and the middle order will look to make the most of what is expected to be a batting-friendly surface and a fast outfield. For GT, their bowling attack will aim to restrict CSK's batting lineup and secure a win that strengthens their position in the top two.
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