On a track that offered plenty of resistance, Chennai Super Kings managed 180/7 in their 20 overs—an outcome that still looked reachable. Sunrisers Hyderabad, powered by composed innings from Ishan Kishan and a late surge from Heinrich Klaasen, chased down 181 with an over to spare, locking up their place in the IPL playoffs.
Brief scoreboard and how the chase unfolded
Chennai posted 180/7 in 20 overs. Dewald Brevis struck 44 off 27, Kartik Sharma made 32 off 19 and Sanju Samson contributed 27 off 13. For Sunrisers, Pat Cummins finished with 3/28, while Eshan Malinga took 1/26. In reply, Sunrisers Hyderabad reached 181/5 in 19 overs, with Ishan Kishan scoring 70 off 47 and Heinrich Klaasen 47 off 26. Mukesh Choudhary was the pick for CSK with 2/36.
- CSK: 180/7 (20 overs)
- SRH: 181/5 (19 overs) — won by 5 wickets and qualified for playoffs
- Key batting for CSK: Brevis 44 (27), Kartik Sharma 32 (19), Samson 27 (13)
- Key bowling for SRH: Cummins 3/28, Eshan Malinga 1/26
- Key batting for SRH: Kishan 70 (47), Klaasen 47 (26)
- Key bowling for CSK: Mukesh Choudhary 2/36
“No MSD in CSK’s last home game” and other turning points
Before the contest, Ruturaj Gaikwad took a breath and waited for the crowd noise to settle when Ravi Shastri asked whether MS Dhoni would feature against SRH. The CSK skipper then addressed the room, saying Dhoni was not fit enough to take part. He added that the team hoped to win and suggested fans would have to wait for the final match—leaving supporters disappointed.
There was also a notable toss decision shaped by the conditions. With the wicket described as dry and offering a different challenge, CSK chose to bat at home. The last time they made such a call on their ground was three years earlier.
CSK innings: Samson and Gaikwad’s problem, Brevis-Dube’s platform
Sanju Samson launched the innings with the first proper breakthrough delivery he faced, hitting a six straight down the ground. He followed it by finding the boundary again with a well-timed placement, giving CSK a fast start. Even though his stay ended after 13 balls, the early momentum he created proved valuable.
Urvil Patel also attacked the boundary ropes with a couple of strikes, but his innings showed more difficulty against slower deliveries—particularly those used effectively by Pat Cummins. The early power-hitting was useful, yet Ruturaj Gaikwad struggled to find an answer to the cutters coming from SRH’s pacers. His run ended in the 12th over with a painful 21-ball 15, after a mistimed pull to deep mid-wicket.
Brevis and Shivam Dube build the base
At the other end, the match became about managing balls that weren’t arriving easily. Timing was difficult and getting past the boundary ropes was a constant challenge. Still, Kartik Sharma and Dewald Brevis made the most of the opportunities they were given.
Kartik struck with pace and also managed to get under the ball, driving it over the rope against Praful Hinge. However, when he attempted to go big against Cummins, he became the second batter to fall for SRH in the 8th over.
Despite the setback from Gaikwad, CSK were in a reasonably solid position because of the early attack. The real foundation for an imposing total came from a 59-run stand between Brevis and Shivam Dube. It began with the duo taking Nitish Kumar for 18 runs in the 14th over, disrupting the bowler’s lines and lengths. The 16th over was the statement moment: Brevis struck a six off Cummins, then followed it with a boundary, and Cummins—who had conceded 16 runs and already taken three wickets in his earlier spell—was ultimately punished for another 12 to finish his set.
Death overs: pace changes, but boundaries still arrived
As CSK bowlers repeatedly mixed their pace and SRH’s batters had to adjust, big hitting became a premium. Brevis and Dube still tried to accelerate and both eventually departed in that attempt. Brevis went deep into a pull, while Dube was removed after being beaten by a slower delivery. Even with those wickets, CSK kept finding the occasional boundary and managed to reach a competitive score on a surface that made batting hard.
SRH chase: Samson’s early push, Kishan’s control, Klaasen’s missed chance
For SRH, the clearest route to make the chase easier was to use the new ball—much like Samson had earlier in the evening. Abhishek struck a couple of fours in the opening over, but the bigger shots didn’t come as freely. Head fell early, yet Kishan arrived with the intent to take charge. His first boundary came via an edge, but he then placed a couple of more intelligent shots to help SRH gather 12 runs in the fourth over. With the ball holding a bit, the usual SRH top-order couldn’t explode in the way they often do.
By the time Abhishek was dismissed—sweeping Akeal Hosein to fine leg in the eighth over—the required rate had climbed to beyond 10 runs an over. That set the stage for the partnership to matter even more.
The costly drop that changed Klaasen’s innings
Klaasen looked like one of SRH’s most settled batters on the slow, awkward surface. He began by cutting Noor for a boundary, then reverse-swept Akeal Hosein for another four. He lofted the spinner for a six as well, and his timing looked clean as he started to break free. But just as he was gaining momentum, he swept Noor straight to deep square leg.
That is where the decisive moment arrived: Spencer Johnson dived to take the catch but spilled it. The dropped chance proved expensive. Klaasen then powered on to a 26-ball 47 and teamed up with Kishan for a 75-run stand off only 41 balls, keeping SRH right on the right side of the chase despite the mounting pressure.
Late finish: 23 needed off 14, Kishan’s boundary and the last-over push
Even though the innings had been defined by difficulty in finding the middle, the final stages came down to a few crucial boundaries. With 23 runs required from 14 balls, the contest was still balanced around the required rate.
Mukesh Chaudhary’s bowling plan was clear—working the ball away from the batter’s hitting arc. Kishan adjusted by stepping toward the off side and launching a strong drive down the ground. He wrapped up the over with a powerful pull sent deep to deep square leg.
Kishan then departed in the next over. Anshul Kamboj returned with a fine comeback after being struck for a six, but the damage had already been done. Smaran Ravichandran struck a boundary off the final ball of that over to help SRH cross the line and secure the win.
Playoff implications and what’s next
With the victory, Sunrisers Hyderabad have qualified for the playoffs and have also ensured Gujarat Titans’ qualification. Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, now need to depend on permutations.
- CSK will travel to Ahmedabad to face Gujarat Titans in their last league match on May 21.
- SRH will return home to host RCB on Friday, May 22.
