IPL: CSK captain throws bowlers under the bus after 6th straight defeat at Chepauk

Chennai Super Kings fans fell silent at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday as Punjab Kings hardly broke a sweat chasing 210 runs on Friday, April 3. Priyansh Arya’s terrific start, followed by a brisk fifty from Shreyas Iyer, saw Punjab hunt down the target in just 18.4 overs. An irritated Ruturaj Gaikwad threw his bowlers under the bus after the loss, stating that 210 should have been enough on a pitch that was gripping and turning in the second innings.

Ruturaj’s analysis of the pitch came in sharp contrast to Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer, who called it a belter to bat on. Shreyas scored 50 off 29 balls in the middle overs and took apart Noor Ahmad and Rahul Chahar, taking away any chance Chennai had of winning the game.

"I felt it was a really good score, to be honest. The 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. Slow ball was gripping as well. So I think, you know, for this ground, especially with, you know, big boundaries, I felt it was a really good score," Ruturaj Gaikwad said.

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The CSK captain endured a difficult evening overall. Sent in to bat first, Ruturaj played a stuttering knock of 28 off 22 balls, getting out to Yuzvendra Chahal in the 12th over. The ball he got out to was bowled well down the leg side. Left alone, it could have been called a wide, but a struggling Ruturaj chased it, hoping to put it into the stands.

As it turned out, an out-of-form batter can fall to even the worst deliveries. In Ruturaj’s case, his sweep found the lone fielder at deep square leg, ending his painful innings.

However, Ruturaj argued that he felt good during his stay and wanted to carry on longer.

"I'm feeling good. You know, it is just about adapting to a role, whatever is needed for the team. Today I felt, you know, maybe just stick around a little bit since the wicket was gripping a little bit. So I thought, you know, the set batter Ayush was going really well. So I thought just hang in there a bit and then after that you can cash in. But unfortunately got out at the wrong time," the CSK captain said.

PUNJAB COMPLETE RUTHLESS CHASE

With just 210 runs on the board, Chennai failed to apply any real pressure on the Punjab batters. Despite early swing in the powerplay, CSK could not contain opener Priyansh Arya, who raced to 39 off 11 balls—a knock that earned him the Player of the Match award.

Ruturaj criticised his bowling attack, pointing out that loose deliveries in otherwise good overs allowed Punjab to collect easy boundaries and sixes.

"Sometimes we executed really well. Sometimes we just didn't execute at the right time, I would say. Just when the over was going really well, we conceded that six or a boundary either way. So I think the pressure didn't really build. I think there was a point where it went to 11 an over and then maybe a couple of good overs from there. It would have climbed to 12 and 13. That's how you gain momentum. So I think we just didn't got the momentum in the middle," Gaikwad concluded.

The loss against Punjab makes it six in a row for CSK at home. Last season, they managed just one win at Chepauk, which has otherwise been considered a fortress for the side.

Chennai will next play at home on April 11 against Delhi Capitals, who arrive with a strong spin-bowling attack.

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