IPL 2026: SRH seal playoffs spot with 5-wicket win over CSK, GT also qualify

Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) playoffs hopes have been massively dented following a five-wicket defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 63 of the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) on Monday, May 18 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. 

Batting first, CSK posted a good score of 180/7 in their allotted 20 overs, riding on good contributions from Dewald Brevis (44 off 27) and Kartik Sharma (32 off 19). Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers for SRH with a three-wicket haul, while Sakib Hussain (2/34) also chipped in with two wickets.

In reply, SRH comfortably chased down the target in 19 overs with Ishan Kishan leading the run chase, while Heinrich Klaasen (47 off 26) also made a crucial contribution. For CSK, Mukesh Choudhary (2/36) scalped two wickets while Noor Ahmad (1/40), Anshul Kamboj (1/46) and Akeal Hosein (1/21, 3 overs) also chipped in with one wicket each.

Meanwhile, following their clinical win, SRH qualified for the playoffs and also took Gujarat Titans (GT) along with them. On the other hand, CSK have slipped to sixth position on the IPL 2026 points table with their fate now out of their hands. 

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Ishan Kishan was adjudged Player of the Match for his magnificent innings. The southpaw took his time to acclimatise himself to the conditions and brought up his half-century off just 37 balls. He was dismissed just five runs short of the target for a brilliant knock of 70 (47).

Turning Point

SRH were 56/2 in 7.4 overs after both openers Travis Head (6 off 6) and Abhishek Sharma (26 off 21) returned to the pavilion. However, a brilliant 75-run partnership off 41 balls between Kishan and Klaasen brought them back in the chase and eventually sealed a win.

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad):

Really satisfying. Bit different to how we normal play. Very happy. That partnership, it was really tough, we thought you need 1-2 really good partnerships. We are not famous for responsible batting. But yeah when we were bowling, the ball was keeping low and not quite coming on. It was about par. They play here and know the wicket a lot better. Winning today was what mattered. You can't give yourselves a better chance than what we have. Ishan also deserves the credit for leading the side for the first half. There are a few areas we can improve but overall happy.

Losing Captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai Super Kings):

(It was pretty tight right till the end?) Yes, it was. I thought, you know, a good game of cricket. Obviously, we were into the game until the second last over. And I think a good T20 pitch as well. I think it didn't change much throughout the course of the game. And I thought 180 runs was a rounded about par score, chasing the second batting. So, a good game. Just missed out on few, but I mean, that's okay. Still proud of the boys. (Was there one area where you probably could have been better today?) I think nothing actually, just cashing in on the opportunity right after you take a wicket. That's where you want to kind of build pressure on the opposition. I think we just weren't able be able to do that, especially after losing a wicket. But I think still, given the team that we had and limited squad and whatever best combinations we had, I'm still proud and I still feel we did well. (Do you think that you can still build on this team going into next year?) Well, definitely. We are building up. I think a lot of positives, to be honest. Sanju's addition is a great sign. He's playing really well for us. Kartik Sharma, once again a great knock today. So, I think we are building. Obviously, missed out on a few players, a few key players who were part of the playing 12th. And I think after that, you have to look back and go, where can we find those exact replacements, yes or not? So obviously, it depends on a lot of factors, but still, given whatever squad we had, everyone gave their heart out today. And as I said, still proud of the boys. (Word for the CSK fans?) Yes, sir. The crowd, the fans that we have all around the world, they come and support us through the thick and thin. So, yes, we lost a couple of games at home, but I think, compared to last year, we were still very much better this year. And definitely coming here next year will be a much more stronger unit.