IPL 2026: RR vs CSK, Match 3 - Top player battles to watch out for

2) Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Sandeep Sharma

CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s contest against Sandeep Sharma adds another interesting layer to the game. In seven innings against the experienced pacer, Gaikwad has scored 50 runs from 51 deliveries and has been dismissed once. Sandeep’s strength lies in swinging the new ball, especially during the powerplay, which can trouble even technically sound batters like Gaikwad. While Gaikwad likes to play attacking strokes early on, Sandeep’s ability to maintain tight lines and generate movement has kept him relatively quiet, making this a closely fought battle.