Ruturaj Gaikwad had saved his best for the second round of IPL’s El Clásico as he scored an unbeaten half-century to help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat Mumbai Indians in match No. 44 of IPL 2026. CSK registered an eight-wicket win over Mumbai – their biggest win over them (in terms of wickets) in the IPL. Chasing 160 to win, Gaikwad anchored the chase to perfection. He lost his opening partner, Sanju Samson, in the second over with just 13 on the board.
But added 49 runs for the second wicket with Urvil Patel to repair the early damage. When Urvil fell with just 62 on the board in 5.4 overs, the CSK management sent in Kartik Sharma as Impact Sub, and the tactic paid dividends. Kartik added an unbeaten 98-run stand for the third wicket alongside his skipper and got CSK over the line with 11 balls to spare.
Gaikwad paced his innings really well and never allowed the asking rate to mount beyond control. He struck five fours and two sixes and batted at a strike rate of 139.58. Kartik also remained unbeaten on 54 off 40 deliveries, including four boundaries and three sixes.
Ruturaj Gaikwad becomes third-leading run-scorer for CSK in IPL
Gaikwad’s 67-run knock has now helped him ease past Faf du Plessis on the all-time run-getters list for CSK in the IPL. Gaikwad is now the third-leading run-scorer for CSK in the cash-rich league with 2747 runs. Suresh Raina is second on the list with 4687 runs across 171 innings for CSK in the IPL. Former captain MS Dhoni is No. 1 on the list with 4865 runs in 215 innings.
Meanwhile, this was CSK’s sixth win in seven games against Mumbai Indians in the IPL since 2023.This is also the third time CSK achieved a league double over MI in an IPL season after 2014 and 2023.
