GT vs CSK Match 66: Key player battles to watch out for in IPL 2026

Three years ago, at the same venue, these two sides met in the final of the IPL 2023 campaign, and the match was an instant classic. IPL 2026 witnesses a different picture. Shubman Gill’s side has already booked their place in the playoffs. Ruturaj Gaikwad and his side, on the other hand, face a must-win situation. Even a win on Thursday will not guarantee the five-time IPL winners a chance to qualify for the knockouts. In the last meeting between these two sides this season, it was Gujarat who came out on top by eight wickets. 

Gujarat Titans (GT) have been one of the few sides that have played consistent cricket in the second half of the season. Gill has led the side well and also taken the onus on himself to attack the bowlers and give Sai Sudharsan a chance to play the anchor’s role. Bowling has been the biggest bonus for the hosts, with their seamers doing a fine job. Jason Holder’s inclusion in the side has also worked well as the veteran West Indian star, providing much-needed muscle with the bat and being at his best with the ball. 

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) can look back at this season with a certain sense of pride, even if they don’t make it to the playoffs. The team started the campaign with three successive losses and then made a fine comeback. Despite losing some of their key players due to injuries, the team didn’t throw in the towel and fought back well. Emergence of talents like Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, and Anshul Kamboj will give CSK’s management the recipe for potential success in 2027. 

Here are the top three player battles to watch out for in GT vs CSL encounter 

Mohammed Siraj vs Ruturaj Gaikwad

Chennai’s skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, hasn’t had a great season with the bat, but he will get a chance to close out the campaign in style. The 29-year-old has a good record against Siraj, scoring 53 runs from 29 balls with a strike-rate of 135. Siraj, on the other hand, has been at his best with the new ball once more and has done well in the powerplay overs. Both players will be keen to get into battle on Thursday and set the tone of the game. 

Noor Ahmad vs Jos Buttler

Former England skipper Jos Buttler finally found some form with the bat with a timely fifty in the last game against KKR. The veteran star will be looking to kick on ahead of the massive knockout stages of the tournament. Noor Ahmad has bowled 24 balls against Buttler, with the batter being able to score only 21 runs. The Afghan spinner has also dismissed GT’s veteran star once. Considering the Englishman is a slow starter against the spinners, this could be an engrossing battle. 

Kagiso Rabada vs Sanju Samson

The battle that everyone wants to see is Kagiso Rabada charging into the bowl against Sanju Samson. In the last meeting between these two sides in Chennai this year, it was Rabada who came on top. Rabada has dismissed the Indian star twice in the IPL so far. Samson, on the other hand, has played 32 balls to score 40 runs, and the battle between these two stars can be considered epic, with the Proteas pacer holding a slight edge.