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Chennai Super Kings pulled off one of their most dramatic wins of IPL 2026, beating Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets at Chepauk to keep their playoff push alive and knock LSG out of contention.

Chasing 204, CSK looked set for a cruise after Urvil Patel's record-breaking assault, then nearly lost their way in the middle overs before Shivam Dube and Prashant Veer dragged them over the line.

The win took CSK to fifth place and gave them a third straight victory at a crucial stage of the season. For LSG, the defeat was brutal. They fought back hard after being blown away in the powerplay, but dropped catches and poor execution at key moments ended their campaign.

Urvil Patel turns Chepauk into a six-hitting show

CSK's chase was transformed by Urvil Patel, who walked in at No. 3 and played an innings that will be remembered for a long time. He smashed 65 off just 23 balls, with two fours and eight sixes, and reached his half-century in only 13 balls, equalling the fastest fifty in IPL history.

His first few scoring shots were outrageous: 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4, 6. LSG’s bowlers simply had no answer as Urvil Patel sent Avesh Khan, Digvesh Singh Rathi and Mohammed Shami into the stands. At one stage, he became the first batter in IPL history to hit six sixes off the first eight balls of an innings.

When Urvil Patelcame in, CSK's win probability was just 38.13%. By the time he was dismissed to a standing ovation, it had jumped to 93.02%. That tells the story of his impact better than any adjective could. CSK raced to 97 in the powerplay, taking back the Chepauk powerplay record that LSG had set only earlier in the evening.

LSG's 203 built on Josh Inglis brilliance

Before Urvil Patel stole the show, Josh Inglis had produced a sensational innings of his own. LSG, sent in to bat, flew to 91 in the powerplay, with Inglis taking apart CSK’s plans. He attacked Akeal Hosein early, played ramps and scoops with remarkable control, and forced Chennai’s bowlers to keep changing lengths.

Inglis raced to 77 off 25 balls inside the powerplay and eventually made 85. Only a few batters in IPL history have scored more runs inside the fielding restrictions. His innings put LSG in position for a massive total, and Shahbaz Ahmed’s 43 helped them push to 203 for 8.

But CSK deserve credit for pulling things back after the powerplay. Jamie Overton was excellent with 3 for 36, while Anshul Kamboj took 2 for 47. At one point, LSG looked capable of going well beyond 220, but Chennai’s bowlers found enough control in the second half to keep the chase within reach.

CSK stumble before Shivam Dube and Prashant Veer finish it

After Urvil’s dismissal, the chase suddenly became tense. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had played a sharp hand of 42, also fell, and CSK’s middle order hit trouble. Shahbaz Ahmed struck twice, Rathi removed Dewald Brevis, and Avesh Khan dismissed Kartik Sharma to drag LSG back into the contest.

The decision to send Prashant Veer as the Impact Player ahead of Sarfaraz Khan raised eyebrows, especially with pressure rising. But Veer held his nerve, even if Lucknow helped him with two dropped catches in the penultimate over. Those misses proved costly.

With 21 needed from the final two overs, Veer hit a crucial six off Avesh. Then Shivam Dube finished the job in style, smashing back-to-back sixes off Aiden Markram as CSK won with four balls to spare.

Also READ: Urvil Patel shatters records at Chepauk with joint-fastest IPL fifty

CSK end long 200-plus chase drought

This was a significant win for Chennai beyond the two points. It was CSK’s first successful chase of a 180-plus target since 2018 and their first 200-plus chase in six years. Since 2019, they had won only once in 16 attempts while chasing 180 or more before this match.

Their highest successful IPL chases now include:

206 vs RCB, Chennai, 2012
206 vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2018
204 vs LSG, Chennai, 2026
203 vs KKR, Chennai, 2018
193 vs PBKS, Dharamsala, 2014

That is why this result matters. CSK have often relied on control, spin and structured chases, but this was different. This was a high-speed, high-risk chase that needed both power and nerve.

Dropped catches cost LSG as IPL 2026 Playoff dream ends

Lucknow will look back at this match with frustration. They had enough runs, they dragged the game back after Urvil’s wicket, and they had chances to win. But three dropped catches, including two lives for Prashant Veer and one for Urvil, proved decisive.

Their powerplay bowling also hurt them badly. After posting 203, conceding 97 in the first six overs left them chasing the game even while defending. They did well to recover, but in a match of such fine margins, those early overs and dropped chances were fatal.

The defeat has pushed LSG out of the playoff race. They can be proud of the fight they showed, especially after being hammered by Urvil, but pride is not enough at this stage of the IPL. Chennai, meanwhile, are gathering momentum at exactly the right time. Three wins in a row, fifth place on the table, and a roaring Chepauk behind them again. This felt like CSK rediscovering a bit of their old home magic.