As the IPL 2026 reaches its halfway point, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT) find themselves in a mid-table tussle, each with three wins and four losses from seven matches. CSK is looking to build on their recent victory against the Mumbai Indians, with Sanju Samson emerging as a key player after a slow start to the season, scoring two centuries and 48 runs in his last four outings. Noor Ahmad has also found his rhythm, taking five wickets in the last three matches with an impressive economy rate of 6.50. On the other hand, GT is struggling, having lost their last two matches. Their batting woes are exacerbated by a weak middle order, forcing their top three batsmen to adopt a cautious approach, which has resulted in the slowest six-hitting rate in the tournament at 18.3 balls per six. This places additional pressure on their bowling attack, which has struggled to perform consistently in the current conditions.