CSK Captain Gaikwad Laments Middle-Order Collapse in Narrow Loss to SRH
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad attributed his team's ten-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2026 to a critical middle-order batting failure. Chasing a target of 195, CSK was well-positioned at 111 for 3 after ten overs but managed only four runs in the subsequent two overs. This stagnation forced the team to chase an difficult 12-13 runs per over during the death overs, ultimately finishing at 184 for 8. Despite the loss, Gaikwad praised the bowling unit for restricting SRH to 194 for 9, noting that he initially feared a total exceeding 220 given SRH's strong powerplay. He specifically highlighted all-rounder Anshul Kamboj’s impactful performance, who took three late wickets to curb SRH’s momentum. The match marked CSK's second loss in their last three games, following a brief recovery from three successive defeats earlier in the season. Gaikwad emphasized the need for better partnership building in the middle overs to avoid high-pressure situations at the end of the innings.
Wire timeline
CSK Captain Gaikwad Laments Middle-Order Collapse in Narrow Loss to SRH
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad attributed his team's ten-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2026 to a critical middle-order batting failure. Chasing a target of 195, CSK was well-positioned at 111 for 3 after ten overs but managed only four runs in the subsequent two overs. This stagnation forced the team to chase an difficult 12-13 runs per over during the death overs, ultimately finishing at 184 for 8. Despite the loss, Gaikwad praised the bowling unit for restricting SRH to 194 for 9, noting that he initially feared a total exceeding 220 given SRH's strong powerplay. He specifically highlighted all-rounder Anshul Kamboj’s impactful performance, who took three late wickets to curb SRH’s momentum. The match marked CSK's second loss in their last three games, following a brief recovery from three successive defeats earlier in the season. Gaikwad emphasized the need for better partnership building in the middle overs to avoid high-pressure situations at the end of the innings.
The Indian Express