How to watch GT vs CSK live: a complete IPL 2026 league stage guide for May 21st

Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings meet in Match 66 of TATA IPL 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Thursday, May 21st, and with playoff places still on the line, there is plenty riding on the result.

GT have already secured their spot in the knockouts and are pushing for a top-two finish. CSK are in a tighter spot, needing a win and a net run rate boost after a heavy defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad. When the sides met at Chepauk on April 26th, GT chased down 159 with 20 balls to spare. Ruturaj Gaikwad's side will be looking for a very different result this time.

First ball is at 7:30 PM IST on May 21st: that's 3:00 PM BST, 10:00 AM ET, 7:00 AM PT, and 12:00 AM AEST on May 22nd. Read on for TV and streaming details in your country.

Where to watch GT vs CSK

Below is a complete overview of where to watch GT vs CSK live and when the match starts in your time zone.

Country	Streaming Service	Price	Local start time	Notes
India	JioHotstar / Star Sports 1/2/3	From INR 79/month	7:30 PM IST	Live on app and web; Star Sports 1/2/3 on TV
United States	Willow TV	From $9.99/month	10:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM PT	Willow by Cricbuzz app or web; also $10/month Sling add-on
Canada	Willow TV	From $9.99/month	10:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM PT	Same Willow by Cricbuzz app as US
United Kingdom	Sky Sports / Now TV	Sky from GBP 35/month; Now TV GBP 14.99/day	3:00 PM BST	Now TV Sports Day pass is the streaming-only option
Australia	Kayo Sports	From AU$29.99/month (Standard)	12:00 AM AEST, May 22nd	Kayo Premium AU$45.99/month for 4K
GCC (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain)	Cricbuzz	Free	6:00 PM GST	Free Cricbuzz account required. Full HD on iOS, Android, web
Continental Europe	YuppTV (Cricbuzz channel)	From $9.99/month	4:00 PM CEST	Full territory list on YuppTV; UK not included
Asia (Japan, HK, Malaysia, SE Asia except Singapore)	YuppTV (Cricbuzz channel)	From $9.99/month	Varies by country	Excludes Singapore

How to watch GT vs CSK for free with a VPN

GT vs CSK is free to stream on Cricbuzz in the GCC 6: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. A free Cricbuzz account is required to start the live stream. The Cricbuzz feed is geo-restricted to those six countries, so fans outside the GCC need a VPN to access the stream. A reliable VPN with servers in the UAE is the simplest way to make the broadcaster see a GCC IP and unlock the match. See our roundup of the best VPNs for streaming for tested providers.

1. Choose a reliable VPN with GCC servers. We recommend NordVPN for IPL 2026. It runs servers in the UAE, supports Smart DNS for smart TVs, and uses the NordLynx protocol for stable HD playback during live cricket. A wide GCC server pool also means an easy switch if one IP gets blocked.
2. Download and install the VPN app on your device. NordVPN supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, and Android TV. Install it on the device you plan to watch on.
3. Connect to a UAE server. Open the app and select a server in the United Arab Emirates. If the stream does not load, try a server in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or Kuwait instead.
4. Open Cricbuzz. Go to cricbuzz.com in any browser. A free Cricbuzz account is required to start the live stream. Find the GT vs CSK match and start watching.
5. Sign in to your free Cricbuzz account. New users can sign up in under a minute with email, Google, or Apple. No payment method is required.
6. Start watching for free. Keep the VPN connected for the full match, including the toss, both innings, and the presentation ceremony. Commentary is in English.

Check out NordVPN deals

How to watch GT vs CSK in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia

How to watch in the United States

In the US, IPL 2026 is exclusive to Willow TV, also branded as Willow by Cricbuzz. A subscription costs $9.99/month through willow.tv or the Cricbuzz app, with the same content available as a $10/month Sling TV add-on for existing Sling subscribers. The stream is in Full HD with English and Hindi commentary feeds. GT vs CSK starts at 10:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM PT on May 21st, with the toss 30 minutes earlier. The IPL 2026 season as a whole is not on ESPN+, Hotstar US, YouTube TV, or Hulu, so Willow is the only legitimate live option in the US.

How to watch in the United Kingdom

UK rights are held by Sky Sports through 2027, with Now TV as the streaming-only sibling for viewers without a Sky contract. A Sky Sports package starts at GBP 35/month, dropping to GBP 20/month for existing Sky TV customers; Now TV offers a Sports Day Pass at GBP 14.99 or a Sports Month Pass at GBP 34.99 with no long-term commitment. The Day Pass is the cleanest single-match option for GT vs CSK on May 21st, with first ball at 3:00 PM BST. The match is not on BT Sport, TNT Sports, BBC iPlayer, or any free-to-air channel in the UK.

How to watch in Canada

Canadian rights match the US setup: IPL 2026 is exclusive to Willow TV at $9.99/month via willow.tv or the Willow by Cricbuzz app. Coverage is in Full HD with English and Hindi feeds, and GT vs CSK starts at 10:00 AM ET / 7:00 AM PT on May 21st. Canadian viewers who already pay for Willow keep access on the road as long as they connect to a Canadian or US server when traveling, since the live stream is geo-blocked outside North America. There is no IPL coverage on Disney+ Hotstar Canada or other regional services.

How to watch in Australia

Australian fans get IPL 2026 through Kayo Sports (Fox Cricket), with no free-to-air option. Kayo Standard is AU$29.99/month for one stream in Full HD, while Kayo Premium is AU$45.99/month for two streams and 4K where available, both on no-lock-in contracts. Because IPL evening matches in IST start late by Australian standards, GT vs CSK begins at 12:00 AM AEST on May 22nd for viewers in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Kayo runs on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, PlayStation, Xbox, and Telstra TV.

How to watch GT vs CSK on different devices

Not every streaming service runs on every device, and VPN availability also varies by platform. The table below shows which broadcaster apps and NordVPN support each device, so you can pick the easiest setup for your screen.

Device	Cricbuzz (GCC)	JioHotstar (India)	Willow TV (US/CA)	Sky / Now TV (UK)	Kayo Sports (AU)	NordVPN	How to use VPN
Web browser (desktop)	Web	Web	Web	Web	Web	Yes	Native app
Web browser (mobile)	Web	Web	Web	Web	Web	Yes	Native app
iPhone / iPad	App	App	App	App	App	Yes	Native app
Android phone / tablet	App	App	App	App	App	Yes	Native app
Android TV / Google TV	No	App	No	No	App	Yes	Native app
Amazon Fire TV	No	App	App	No (Now TV: App)	App	Yes	Native app
Apple TV	No	App	App	No (Now TV: App)	App	Yes	Native app
Samsung TV (Tizen)	No	App	No	No	App	No	Smart DNS or router
LG TV (webOS)	No	App	No	No	App	No	Smart DNS or router
Roku	No	No	App	No (Now TV: App)	No	No	Router or Smart DNS
Chromecast (older)	Cast	Cast	Cast	Cast	Cast	No	Cast from VPN device
PlayStation	No	No	No	No (Now TV: App)	App	No	Router
Xbox	No	No	No	No (Now TV: App)	App	No	Router

The simplest approach on any device is the web browser, no app install, no app store region to worry about. Just connect NordVPN to a UAE server, head to cricbuzz.com, sign in, and you're watching.

On mobile, the Cricbuzz app is listed globally on both the App Store and Google Play, so there's no need to switch accounts. The IPL stream is geo-gated inside the app, meaning a UAE IP via VPN and a free Cricbuzz account is all you need.

The one tricky category is smart TVs and consoles. Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, Roku, and most consoles don't support VPN apps directly, so you'll need to either set up the VPN at the router level or use NordVPN's Smart DNS feature. For help with either, see our guide to the best VPN routers.

Top 3 VPNs for streaming IPL 2026

We have tested the VPNs below against live cricket and Cricbuzz GCC streaming. They combine fast speeds, reliable unblocking, and stable HD playback for the free GCC stream and for paid services like Willow TV and Sky Sports. These are our top three picks for watching GT vs CSK and the rest of the IPL 2026 season.

1. NordVPN – best overall VPN for streaming. NordVPN starts at $3.49/month and reliably unblocked Cricbuzz during our tests. Fast connection speeds, Smart DNS support, and the NordLynx protocol delivered stable HD streaming with minimal buffering, making it the strongest option for watching GT vs CSK live online. Read our full NordVPN review for more details.
2. Surfshark – best budget-friendly VPN. Surfshark starts at $2.49/month and includes unlimited simultaneous connections, making it a practical choice for families or users with multiple devices. Its WireGuard protocol provided smooth HD streaming performance in our tests, including stable access to Cricbuzz’s IPL coverage. Affordable pricing and reliable streaming support make Surfshark a strong value option. See our full Surfshark review for the complete breakdown.
3. Proton VPN – best VPN for privacy-focused streaming. Proton VPN starts at $2.99/month and operates from Switzerland, a country known for strict privacy protections. During testing, it delivered stable streaming speeds for IPL coverage while maintaining strong security standards. Privacy-focused features, a verified no-logs policy, and a functional free plan make Proton VPN a good choice for viewers who want additional privacy while streaming cricket online. Our Proton VPN review covers the technical details in full.

Match preview, key duels, and Narendra Modi Stadium scouting report

This is the bonus value layer for fans tuning in: a short tactical look at how the match might play out, the matchups worth watching, and how the Narendra Modi Stadium pitch tends to behave at this point in the IPL season.

Form snapshot heading into the match

Gujarat Titans arrive in a controlled mood. They have already locked their playoff berth, sit at or near the top of the table, and have the luxury of fine-tuning their batting order and bowling rotation rather than chasing points. The Gill-Sudharsan partnership has been the season's most consistent opening stand, and the middle order has been quietly supplemented by a returning Jos Buttler in a finisher role.

Chennai Super Kings come in bruised. The five-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 18th has narrowed their qualification path, and they now need a win plus a favorable net run rate swing to keep their season alive. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been carrying the batting more often than the team would like, and the spin attack has had to compensate for a thinner pace unit on the road.

Three key matchups to watch

1. Shubman Gill vs the new ball from CSK's pace duo. Gill has been the leading run-scorer of the season for GT in 2026 and is the orchestrator of every successful chase. CSK's opening over choices, and whether they trust their senior seamers with the harder ball, sets the tone for the powerplay.
2. Sai Sudharsan vs Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja's left-arm spin has caused trouble for left-handers all season, and Sudharsan, fresh off an 87 in the reverse fixture, is exactly the matchup that decides who controls the middle overs.
3. Kagiso Rabada vs Ruturaj Gaikwad. Rabada has been GT's death-overs enforcer in 2026 and is the bowler most likely to break a Gaikwad innings if it goes deep. If Chennai bat first, the back ten of their innings is where this duel plays out.

Narendra Modi Stadium pitch and conditions

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is the largest cricket venue in the world by capacity (more than 132,000 seats) and historically rewards good batting in the first innings: par scores in IPL evening matches there have sat in the 175 to 195 range, with dew often turning the second innings into a chasing-friendly affair. Expect:

• A true, hard surface in the powerplay, with the new ball coming on nicely for the openers.
• Slower deliveries and cutters becoming more effective in the middle overs as the ball softens.
• Dew arriving from around the 12th over of the second innings, making spinners' grip and seamers' yorker control noticeably harder.
• Short straight boundaries (around 64 to 70 meters) but longer square boundaries, which puts a premium on bowlers hitting the stumps.

Net run rate scenario for CSK

CSK enter the match with 12 to 13 points depending on the latest results, with 1 match remaining (this one). Even with a win, they need other results to break their way and a positive net run rate swing. A heavy chase (chasing 160-plus inside 16 overs) or a 30-plus-run win batting first is the realistic ceiling for the NRR boost they want. If GT bat first and post a big total, CSK's qualification picture closes very quickly.

What's at stake for Gujarat

GT's job is twofold: finish in the top two for the Qualifier 1 advantage (a second life into the final if they lose), and confirm that their playoff form has not slipped after a long season. Rotation is possible (a rest for Rabada or a workload spell for a frontline spinner), but Shubman Gill's recent comments suggest the captain wants a full-strength rehearsal ahead of the playoffs.

The fan storyline

This is the second leg of the season series, and GT have a 3-0 record against CSK across the last three IPL meetings, with all three results being successful chases. The Motera crowd has not had many evenings of higher stakes this season; expect a full house and a noise level that adds another two or three percent to GT's home advantage.

Frequently asked questions about GT vs CSK