Chennai, April 3 (NationPress) Ruturaj Gaikwad expressed that the Chennai Super Kings had set a commendable total on a pitch that favored bowlers, yet acknowledged that their failure to maintain consistent pressure with the ball was detrimental as they faced a second consecutive defeat by five wickets against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

“Honestly, I believe it was a strong score. The pitch was advantageous for fast bowlers, while spinners found it gripping slightly. Given the large boundaries of this ground, it was a very respectable total,” Gaikwad remarked following the match at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday.

CSK started their innings with a rocky phase as Sanju Samson (7) fell early once again, highlighting his difficulties against movement. Amidst the early challenges, Mhatre took control, displaying remarkable intent and preparation, particularly against short deliveries. Having refined his pull shot, he confidently attacked the pacers, scoring 59 runs off 32 balls in just nine overs, including four fours and five sixes.

While Mhatre excelled, Ruturaj Gaikwad (28 off 22) found it hard to accelerate, getting out at a crucial juncture when CSK needed a push. Mhatre’s dismissal marked a pivotal moment, as he contributed 73 runs out of CSK’s total of 123 — nearly 60%, indicating CSK's over-dependence on him while the rest of the batting lineup managed only 38 runs off 32 balls, with 12 extras.

Sarfaraz Khan then provided late-game momentum with a creative cameo, utilizing ramps and deft touches to counter both pace and yorkers, achieving a strike rate of 266. Although Dube had a rocky start, he finished strongly, anchoring the final overs with a composed, unbeaten 45. CSK’s 209/5 also marked their first 200-plus score at Chepauk since April 2024, signaling a revival of their high-scoring capabilities.

Discussing the inclusion of Rahul Chahar as the impact substitute, Gaikwad explained the team’s bowling strategy and conditions. “We believed we had three seamers ready. We had effective wrist spinners bowling after the Power-play. It was just an off day for both of them; that was our thought process.”

Reflecting on the bowling performance, the CSK captain underscored a failure to exert pressure at crucial moments. “It was a mix of factors. We executed well at times, but not at the right moments. The pressure didn’t build effectively. It remained at 11; a couple of good overs could have elevated it to 12 or 13. We failed to create pressure with the ball.”

Despite the loss, Gaikwad chose to highlight the positives from the game, especially individual performances. “It was definitely a challenging match. However, as I mentioned, there were many positives. Ayush batted exceptionally well, and it’s important to have confidence in him moving forward. Shivam also performed admirably. Our bowling was somewhat off today.”

Regarding his own performance, Gaikwad shared that he was adjusting to the team's requirements in the middle order. “I'm feeling good. It’s about adapting to what the team needs. Given that the pitch was gripping a bit and Ayush was performing well at the other end, I opted to play a supporting role. Unfortunately, I got out at an inopportune time.”