IPL 2025: GT's top-two hopes fade after twin setbacks, CSK wrap up season in style

India Today

25-05-2025

Gujarat Titans suffered a major blow to their hopes of securing a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 playoffs after a second consecutive loss, this time to Chennai Super Kings by 83 runs on May 25. While CSK ended their campaign at the bottom of the points table, their win in Ahmedabad wasn't without merit — it offered a glimpse into a youth-driven future and, more crucially, exposed several worrying cracks in GT's game just before the playoffs.advertisementIt was a forgettable outing for newly appointed India Test captain Shubman Gill, both with the bat and in terms of on-field leadership — especially in contrast to former India skipper MS Dhoni's tactical prowess. For Gill and Gujarat, the issues now go beyond back-to-back defeats against Lucknow Super Giants and CSK. With little time left to regroup, GT must quickly address their batting depth, bowling inconsistency, and decision-making under pressure before the playoffs stage begins.IPL 2025, GT vs CSK: Highlights
Chennai Super Kings finally brought out their aggressive best with the bat, notching their highest total of IPL 2025 — 230 for 5 — thanks to a fearless display led by 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre. The youngest-ever CSK player set the tone with a blistering 34 off 17 balls, including a stunning 28-run over against Arshad Khan that sparked a powerplay blitz. Devon Conway supported with a steady 52 off 35, finding rhythm in the middle overs to anchor the innings.advertisementUrvil Patel, another exciting youngster, carried forward the momentum with a fiery 19-ball 37, attacking both pace and spin with confidence. His 63-run stand with Conway helped CSK maintain their early charge. Gujarat Titans' bowling — once among the league's most reliable — continued to falter following their previous defeat to Lucknow Super Giants, with only Prasidh Krishna with his 2 for 22 spell holding his ground as the rest of the attack looked out of sorts.Dewald Brevis sealed the innings with a late onslaught, smashing a 23-ball 57 that featured the joint-second fastest fifty by a CSK player. His power-packed hitting helped CSK surge past 230 despite a quiet knock from Jadeja. In what may be their final outing this season, CSK's young guns offered a timely reminder that their future is already taking shape.Then came Gujarat's turn to bat, and trouble loomed from the very start. The spotlight was firmly on new India Test captain Shubman Gill as he walked to the crease, with the crowd's anticipation echoing the weight of expectations on the 25-year-old. However, Gill endured one of his rare failures this season, falling for just 13 — a blow that immediately put early pressure on the rest of the batting line-up.advertisementThat pressure only intensified when Jos Buttler, playing his final IPL 2025 match before returning to England for their white-ball series against West Indies, was dismissed for a mere 5. With two key top-order batters back in the pavilion, Gujarat's chase of 231 was left teetering.The burden of rebuilding and chasing the daunting total now fell squarely on the shoulders of Sai Sudharsan, the current Orange Cap holder, as the Titans looked for a lifeline in a rapidly slipping contest.While Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan showed late signs of resistance in Gujarat Titans' daunting 231-run chase, it was simply not their day. On the other hand, CSK's bowling unit dominated the proceedings in Ahmedabad, with Noor Ahmed leading the charge with 3 for 21, Anshul Kamboj impressing with 3 for 13, and the experienced Ravindra Jadeja delivering a tidy spell of 2 for 17.GT bowling faltering at business-endThe match exposed a serious concern for Gujarat Titans heading into the playoffs — their bowling unit appears to be losing steam at precisely the wrong time. Despite a late-season surge, GT's bowlers had the perfect opportunity to bounce back from their slip-up against Lucknow Super Giants, with CSK's inconsistent batting line-up offering a chance to reset. Instead, things unravelled further.advertisementOnly Prasidh Krishna continued to deliver, finishing with impressive figures of 2 for 22. In contrast, the rest of the pace attack looked flat and ineffective. Mohammed Siraj conceded 47 runs without a wicket, while Arshad Khan endured a torrid two-over spell, leaking 42 runs — largely due to aggressive hitting from young guns Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel. Gerald Coetzee, expected to shoulder overseas pace duties in the absence of Kagiso Rabada, who has returned for South Africa's WTC Final against Australia, also struggled, giving away 34 in three wicketless overs.Spin wasn't much better. The attack lacked structure and intent, partly due to questionable usage by skipper Shubman Gill. In-form Sai Kishore was under-bowled despite claiming the key wicket of Urvil Patel and conceding just 24 in two overs. Rashid Khan's dip in form is another growing worry — his 42-run outing in GT's final league match will concern the think tank. While part-timer Shahrukh Khan chipped in with the wicket of Shivam Dube, relying on such stopgap solutions won't work in high-pressure knockout matches. GT's bowling needs an urgent recovery.advertisementWhat is GT batting beyond top 3?GT have largely relied on their top three — skipper Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler — to anchor their batting efforts this season. But the big question remains: what happens when that trio fails? That very concern turned into a glaring issue during their clash against CSK on Sunday. Gill's early dismissal for 13, followed by Buttler's cheap exit for 5 in his final match before returning for national duty, left Sudharsan alone to shoulder the pressure in a steep 231-run chase.With the top order faltering, the rest of the batting lineup needed to step up — but they couldn't. Sherfane Rutherford, expected to deliver a power-packed performance, was dismissed for a duck, further exposing GT's middle-order vulnerability. Although Shahrukh Khan and Rashid Khan showed brief glimpses of intent, their efforts were cut short by CSK's spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmed, who applied the brakes just when GT looked to rebuild.As the playoffs approach, GT face a growing crisis. With Buttler now unavailable and no evident middle-order firepower, they must urgently find answers beyond their top three. Otherwise, they risk falling short when it matters most.advertisementIPL 2025 top-two race after GT lossWith GT's loss to CSK on Sunday, the playoff race has taken a dramatic turn. The winner of the Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians clash will now secure a spot in Qualifier 1. If Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Lucknow Super Giants, they will join the PBKS-MI winner in Q1. However, if RCB lose, Gujarat Titans will take that second spot.In case the PBKS vs MI match is washed out or ends in a no result, GT will automatically qualify for Q1. RCB can still make it if they beat LSG; otherwise, Punjab Kings will go through.Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!Tune InMust Watch
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