Chennai Super Kings despite putting up a competitive total on the board were not able to defend it and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad blamed the below-par bowling, which handed Punjab Kings a five-wicket win in an IPL 2026 match on Friday.
Powered by Ayush Mhatre’s 43-ball 73, CSK posted 209 for 5, but failed to contain the Punjab batters. The visitors led by Shreyas Iyer’s fifty chased down the target in 18.4 overs.
“We felt we had three seamers going in, and obviously we have two good wrist spinners bowling in tandem, especially in the middle after the powerplay. We felt that, you know, it will help,” Gaikwad said after the match.
“But I think, you know, slight off day for both of them. So, I think, that is what cost us. Sometimes we executed really well. Sometimes we just didn’t execute at the right time,” he added.
The CSK skipper felt the bowlers failed to contain in the middle overs, which eventually hurt them at the end.
“There was a point when it (required run-rate) went to 11, and a couple of good overs would have taken it to 12-13. We just did not get momentum in the middle (with the ball),” he said.
However, he said that the batting performances of Mhatre and Shivam Dube were impressive, but the bowling department needs improvement.
On the other hand, Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer lauded openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh for giving the team a fluent start in the run chase.
“The way we started today, that was an exceptional start for us. I feel the way they (Arya and Prabhsimran) have been batting has been phenomenal and it stabilises the rhythm for us.
“I am glad everyone is getting to bat. It gives immense confidence to the team. Whenever we are in a pressure situation, people are aware on how to handle it. We just decided in the dressing room, we will play a brand of cricket to impress each other — that gives us a certain sort of clarity, and basically challenging each other.”
