Brevis-Conway fire CSK to crushing win, GT’s top-2 bid derailed

Gujarat Titans` aspirations of sealing a top-two finish in IPL 2025 took a significant hit as they succumbed to a heavy 83-run defeat at the hands of Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. The commanding win was orchestrated by fifties from Devon Conway and Dewald Brevis, who set the stage for a daunting CSK total of 230/5.

Despite the loss, GT remain atop the points table with 18 points from 14 matches, but their Net Run Rate (NRR) took a severe blow following the one-sided encounter. Their position in the top two now hinges on other results. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (17 points) must lose to Lucknow Super Kings, and the outcome of the Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings match (both on 16 and 17 points, respectively) could further impact GT’s standing.

In the match itself, Chennai opted to bat first on a scorching Ahmedabad afternoon and wasted no time asserting dominance. Devon Conway played a steady hand, scoring a fluent 52 off 35 balls, while Brevis unleashed an explosive 57 off just 23 deliveries, justifying his `Baby AB` tag with an array of audacious strokes.

However, the fireworks didn’t stop there. Young guns Ayush Mhatre (34 off 17) and Urvil Patel (37 off 19) launched blistering cameos, striking at strike rates of 200 and 194, respectively. Mhatre set the tone early, hammering Arshad Khan for 28 runs in a single over, propelling CSK to 44/0 in just 3.4 overs. The onslaught ensured CSK maintained a relentless scoring rate throughout.

Faced with a towering 231-run target, GT`s chase never took off. The top order crumbled under pressure, with Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, and Sherfane Rutherford falling inside the Powerplay, leaving the Titans reeling at 35/3. Pacer Anshul Kamboj did the early damage, removing Gill and Rutherford in quick succession.

Sai Sudharsan (41 off 28) and M. Shahrukh Khan (19) attempted to steady the innings with a 55-run partnership, briefly injecting hope. But the momentum was short-lived, as Ravindra Jadeja returned for his second spell and dismissed both batters within four deliveries in the 11th over, extinguishing GT’s fightback. The Titans were eventually bowled out for 147 in 18.3 overs.

Despite the emphatic win, CSK ended their campaign at the bottom of the table with just eight points, marking their worst-ever finish in a 10-team IPL format. Yet, with their young talent stepping up, particularly Mhatre, Brevis, and Urvil, the performance offered a glimmer of hope for a brighter future and a potential rebuild in the coming season.

This article first appeared on Mid Day