Chennai Super Kings failed to defend a target of 210 against Punjab Kings in their IPL 2026 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Friday. Ayush Mhatre top-scored with 73 for the five-time champions as they posted 209 for 5 after being invited to bat first. In the chase, PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer scored a fifty as the side chased down the target in 18.4 overs. Punjab lost five wickets but remained ahead in the chase on the belter track at Chepauk.
After the game, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had a different opinion regarding the pitch. “I felt it was a really good score, to be honest. Wicket was, yes, it was better for fast bowlers, but I felt it was slightly gripping for spinners, not coming on to the bat nicely. Slower balls was gripping as well,” said the skipper.
Former India and ex-CSK batter Subramaniam Badrinath criticised Gaikwad over his comments on the pitch.
“Are we fools to believe that? How’s the wicket slow? You scored 209, and there wasn’t one minute, ball, or over that they were under pressure in the run chase. How’s the wicket slow then?” Badrinath said on his YouTube channel, as quoted by News18 Sports.
Gaikwad scored 28 off 22 in the game. Despite sharing a 96-run partnership off 55 balls with Mhatre, the CSK captain’s final strike rate was 127.27. Badrinath defended Gaikwad over the latter’s batting approach.
“CSK are in a real dilemma. Mhatre and Ruturaj shared a good partnership. Had Ruturaj Gaikwad played a big shot and got out, the middle order is totally hollow. There is no experience there with Karthik Sharma, Prashant Veer, and Sarfaraz Khan. They didn’t play Overton also. So only Dube has any experience in the middle order,” he said.
Shivam Dube too took his time but accelerated later to score 45 not out off 27. Sarfaraz Khan also played a crucial cameo, scoring 32 off just 12 balls.
CSK bowlers failed to make an impact with the ball as all of them leaked runs at an economy of over nine.
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