Welcome to the coverage of the IPL 2025 match between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Titans will be aiming for a top-two spot even in their final league match against CSK continue planning for the future. With Royal Challengers Bengaluru losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Titans still control their play-off destiny. Victory over CSK will take them to 20 points and ensure a top-two berth, giving them two shots at making the final.
For CSK, already out of play-off contention, the focus will remain on building for the future as they look to test younger players and combinations in what has been a season of mixed returns.
The majority of GT's success with the bat has been built around the top three, comprising Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler, who is due to leave for national duty after the team's last league game on Sunday.
Shahrukh Khan and Sherfane Rutherford got much-needed runs under their belt against LSG and will be eager to get another hit in the middle.
The bigger concerns for GT lie in the bowling department, with star spinner Rashid Khan far from his best. He is in the middle of his most expensive IPL season but the team continues to keep the faith in him.
GT also need to improve in the pace department, specifically the fourth seamer option beyond Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
CSK, on the other hand, are likely to finish at the bottom of the table irrespective of what happens on Sunday afternoon. The game is another opportunity for youngsters like Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel and Dewald Brevis to make an impact.
After the loss to Rajasthan Royals in Delhi, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming had no qualms in admitting that his team is fittingly at the bottom of the standings. A win in that context will not mean much but CSK's ultra-loyal fan base would want the team to exit with two points.
M S Dhoni has kept the suspense on his IPL future alive since his international retirement in 2020. Will the game on Sunday be his last for the fabled franchise?