Lucknow Super Giants dented Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2026 playoff hopes with a dominant 7-wicket win at the Ekana Stadium, driven by Mitch Marsh’s explosive 90 off 38 balls. CSK still have a chance to secure a top-4 berth if they manage to win their upcoming two games and other results work in their favour. Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin opined that despite the dilemma, Chennai have done well to come back from a horrid start to the season. “Despite so many injuries, Stephen Fleming and Ruturaj Gaikwad have set the ball rolling and have done a good job to stay in the hunt for playoffs,” the former spinner said. “Especially after a harrowing start of three defeats in their first three games, to have turned the season around like this with two games to go, it shows Fleming’s experience and Gaikwad’s resolve and trust in the head coach,” the former CSK, PBKS, RR,DC player added. Opting to field, LSG restricted CSK to 187/5. Akash Singh led the attack with 3 wickets, removing Ruturaj Gaikwad for 13, Samson for 20, and Urvil Patel for 6, putting CSK under early pressure. Kartik and Dewald Brevis rebuilt with a 70-run stand before Mohammed Shami dismissed Brevis for 25 off 16. Kartik anchored the innings with 71, while Shivam Dube’s late flourish of 32 off 16 and Prasanth Veer’s unbeaten 13 off 10 took CSK to 187. Chasing 188, Marsh and fellow Australian Josh Inglis launched a fierce attack on the CSK bowlers, with Anshul Kamboj and Spencer Johnson going for plenty. Marsh raced to a 21-ball fifty, Inglis supported steadily, and LSG stormed to 86 in the powerplay and past 100 by the eighth over. The opening stand reached 135 before Mukesh Choudhary dismissed Inglis for 36 off 32. Marsh’s blistering knock ended on 90 in a freak run-out when Mukesh deflected a straight drive from Nicholas Pooran onto the non-striker’s stumps. Abdul Samad made 7 off 3 before being bowled by Johnson, after which Pooran (unbeaten 32) and Mukul Choudhary (unbeaten 17) calmly completed the chase in 16.4 overs, sealing a comprehensive LSG victory.