GT vs CSK IPL 2026: Date, time, venue and full squads for Ahmedabad clash
Synopsis
CSK's IPL 2026 season is on the line at the Narendra Modi Stadium on 21 May — they need to beat an already-qualified Gujarat Titans by a margin large enough to overhaul their net run rate and leapfrog rivals for the fourth playoff spot. GT, meanwhile, are chasing a top-two finish that would give them a safety net in the knockouts.
Key Takeaways
GT vs CSK IPL 2026 group stage finale is on Friday, 21 May at 7:30 PM IST at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad .
Gujarat Titans are second on the table with 16 points from 13 matches and have already qualified for the playoffs.
Chennai Super Kings are sixth with 12 points from 13 matches and must win — ideally by a big margin — to stay in playoff contention.
In head-to-head meetings in IPL 2026 , GT lead CSK 5–4 across 9 matches .
The match will be broadcast on Star Sports and live-streamed on JioHotstar .
Gujarat Titans (GT) take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a high-stakes IPL 2026 group stage finale at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, 21 May, with playoff positioning and net run rate both on the line. The match begins at 7:30 PM IST and could determine which four teams advance to the knockouts.
What Is at Stake
Gujarat Titans, captained by Shubman Gill, head into this fixture as the stronger side on paper. Sitting second on the points table with 16 points from 13 matches, GT have already secured their playoff berth and will be targeting a top-two finish to earn a crucial second chance in the knockouts. They arrive in form after a dominant win over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.
Chennai Super Kings, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, find themselves in a far more precarious position. Placed sixth with 12 points from 13 matches, CSK must not only win but win convincingly — a big-margin victory could lift their net run rate enough to squeeze into the fourth playoff spot, depending on results elsewhere.
Head-to-Head Record
The two franchises have met nine times in IPL 2026, with Gujarat holding the edge at five wins to CSK's four. That narrow margin underlines how competitive this fixture has been across the season, making Thursday's decider all the more unpredictable.
Where to Watch GT vs CSK Live
The match will be broadcast live on Star Sports channels. Fans can also stream the game in real time on JioHotstar. Coverage is expected to begin ahead of the 7:30 PM IST toss.
Full Squads
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Kumar Kushagra, Glenn Phillips, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kagiso Rabada, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Luke Wood, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Anuj Rawat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Gurnoor Brar, M Shahrukh Khan.
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Shaik Rasheed, Vansh Bedi (wk), C Andre Siddharth, Rachin Ravindra, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Anshul Kamboj, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Dewald Brevis, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Matheesha Pathirana.
With GT's playoff place secure and CSK's survival hanging by a thread, this final group-stage encounter at the world's largest cricket stadium promises to be anything but a dead rubber.
Point of View
The other playing for survival. CSK's net run rate problem is partly self-inflicted: close finishes earlier in the campaign that went the wrong way have left them needing a performance that is both a win and a statement. Gujarat, with Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada in their ranks, have little incentive to ease up. The real subplot is whether MS Dhoni's final-over finishing, a constant across two decades of IPL cricket, can conjure one last rescue act for a franchise that has made late surges their calling card.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the GT vs CSK IPL 2026 match?
The GT vs CSK IPL 2026 group stage match is scheduled for Friday, 21 May at 7:30 PM IST at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Where can I watch GT vs CSK live?
The match will be broadcast live on Star Sports channels. Live streaming is available on JioHotstar.
What does CSK need to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs?
Chennai Super Kings need to win their final group match against Gujarat Titans and improve their net run rate significantly. A big-margin victory could lift them into the fourth playoff spot, subject to results in other matches.
What is Gujarat Titans' current standing in IPL 2026?
Gujarat Titans are placed second on the IPL 2026 points table with 16 points from 13 matches. They have already qualified for the playoffs and are aiming for a top-two finish.
What is the head-to-head record between GT and CSK in IPL 2026?
Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings have met nine times in IPL 2026, with GT winning five and CSK winning four of those encounters.
