WPL 2026 Recap: Smriti Mandhana’s RCB Clinch Thrilling Title Finale

The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai bore witness to a thrilling tactical chess match on Monday night as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) hosted Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 63 of IPL 2026. With the playoff race building immense pressure on the mid-table teams, this legendary Southern Derby delivered high-octane drama under the lights. The match provided heavy fodder for analytical minds trying to crack the today ipl match prediction matrices, as both captains deployed distinct strategic blueprints to counter the humid conditions of Chepauk.

First Innings Breakdown: Cummins Restricts the Kings

Chennai’s innings struggled to find true momentum early on as the pitch offered subtle holding assistance to the seamers. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was kept quiet, managing a sedate 15 off 21 balls as the Orange Army bowled tight, defensive channels. However, the Super Kings found a massive spark of damage control through a sparkling partnership between Dewald Brevis and the uncapped Kartik Sharma. Brevis top-scored with a brutal yet calculated 44 off 27 deliveries, clearing the boundaries to resurrect the run rate. Sharma shifted gears nicely with a brisk 32 off just 19 balls to keep the stadium roaring. Despite these vital contributions, Sunrisers Hyderabad continually pulled things back during the death overs. Pat Cummins delivered an absolute masterclass in variation bowling, executing his slower bouncers and hard wide yorkers with pinpoint precision. Cummins finished with stellar figures of 3/28 in his 4 overs, completely dismantling CSK’s hopes of crossing the 200-run milestone. His expert death bowling ensured that the home side was restricted to a competitive but highly chaseable total of 180/7 at the end of their 20 overs.

The Chase: Openers Set Up Hyderabad's Dominance

Defending 180 at Chepauk requires early breakthroughs, but Chennai's bowling unit struggled to apply pressure in the powerplay. The Sunrisers Hyderabad opening pair of Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen dismantled the new-ball strategy with clinical authority. Kishan provided a solid anchoring presence, rotating the strike seamlessly and punishing loose deliveries to finish with a well-crafted 49 off 34 balls. His partnership at the top laid a perfect foundation, eliminating any early jitters in the camp. At the other end, Heinrich Klaasen was in a devastating mood, turning the chase into a display of absolute power. Klaasen took a special liking to the spinner Noor Ahmad, effortlessly dispatching him over the mid-wicket boundary. Smashed a rapid 47 off 25 balls including six boundaries and two massive sixes, Klaasen brought the required run rate down drastically. By the time Chennai managed to find a breakthrough, the opening duo had already put together a commanding platform, requiring only minimal risk from the middle order to navigate the final five overs.