Sehwag slams CSK captaincy after 7-wicket loss to LSG in IPL 2025
Synopsis
Virender Sehwag didn't mince words after CSK's seven-wicket collapse against LSG — calling out Ruturaj Gaikwad's refusal to use spin in the Powerplay as 'quite weak' captaincy. With Marsh and Inglis racing to 86 without loss in six overs, Sehwag argued one early spinner could have changed everything. CSK now need two wins from two to stay alive.
Key Takeaways
Chennai Super Kings lost by seven wickets to Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025 , conceding the chase in just 16.4 overs .
Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis put on 86 without loss in the first six overs , dismantling CSK's pace attack.
Virender Sehwag called the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad 'quite weak', criticising the failure to deploy spin in the Powerplay.
Spinner Noor Ahmad bowled only after the Powerplay ended but finished as CSK's most economical bowler with 0/21 from four overs .
Sehwag argued Akeal Hosein or Noor Ahmad should have replaced Gurjapneet Singh as the Impact Player.
CSK sit on 12 points from 12 matches and must win both remaining league games to stay in playoff contention.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag delivered a sharp critique of Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad's tactical calls following CSK's seven-wicket defeat to Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025, calling the captaincy 'quite weak' and questioning the decision to bypass spin during the Powerplay.
How the Match Unfolded
Put in to bat, Chennai Super Kings posted 187/5 — a total that appeared competitive on a good batting surface. Lucknow Super Giants, however, made light work of the chase, reaching the target in just 16.4 overs. Openers Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis were the architects of the demolition, racing to 86 without loss in the first six overs and taking CSK's pace-heavy attack apart.
Sehwag's Criticism of the Powerplay Tactics
CSK relied on seamers Mukesh Choudhary, Spencer Johnson, and Anshul Kamboj during the Powerplay, while left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein was left unused after the side brought in Gurjapneet Singh as the Impact Player. Spinner Noor Ahmad was introduced only after the fielding restrictions ended, though he finished as Chennai's most economical bowler with figures of 0/21 from four overs.
Sehwag questioned both decisions, arguing that deploying spin early against two Australian batters comfortable against pace could have shifted the contest. 'When two Australian batters were playing together who played pace bowling well, you could have started with spin, right? I did not understand why you decided in advance that we would bring Gurjapneet?' Sehwag said in an interview with Cricbuzz.
'The captaincy was quite weak; you didn't even try spin at all in the Powerplay. You could have at least tried it once because Marsh plays pace bowling so well. At least you had a chance of getting a wicket if a spinner was brought on early. It may have been that the spinner was hit for four sixes, but even the pacers were hit for four sixes,' he added.
The Case for Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein
Sehwag argued that either Noor Ahmad or Akeal Hosein would have been a more effective Impact Player choice, particularly given Lucknow Super Giants' inconsistent middle order this season. 'So, that is why I think that if they had brought on a spinner in place of Gurjapneet, like Akeal Hosein, that would have been ideal. I would have actually used Noor Ahmad in the Powerplay itself, because even if he got hit, a wicket then would have meant a lot because their middle order isn't working at all,' he said.
CSK's Playoff Equation
Chennai Super Kings remain in the playoff race despite the defeat. The five-time IPL champions sit on 12 points from 12 matches and still have a path to the knockout stage, provided they win both remaining league fixtures. The margin for error, however, is now razor-thin.
Point of View
But his captaincy instincts are still being stress-tested at the highest level. The Powerplay is precisely where a captain earns or loses a match; choosing three seamers against Marsh and Inglis, two batters with well-documented records against pace, was a gamble that backfired visibly. What makes this harder to defend is that the alternative — Noor Ahmad — ended up being CSK's best bowler on the night, just too late to matter. With two must-win games left, Gaikwad cannot afford another tactical hesitation.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Virender Sehwag criticise Ruturaj Gaikwad's captaincy?
Sehwag criticised Gaikwad for not using spin during the Powerplay against Lucknow Super Giants, a decision he called 'quite weak'. He argued that bringing on a spinner early against Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis — both comfortable against pace — could have produced a wicket and disrupted LSG's momentum.
What happened in the CSK vs LSG match in IPL 2025?
Chennai Super Kings posted 187/5 batting first, but Lucknow Super Giants chased the target in just 16.4 overs for a seven-wicket win. Openers Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis put on 86 without loss in the first six overs, overwhelming CSK's pace attack in the Powerplay.
Which spinners did Sehwag say CSK should have used in the Powerplay?
Sehwag specifically named Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein as spinners who should have been deployed during the Powerplay. He also suggested that Akeal Hosein would have been a better Impact Player choice over Gurjapneet Singh.
What are CSK's playoff chances after the loss to LSG?
Chennai Super Kings remain in contention but must win both of their remaining league matches to secure a playoff berth. They currently sit on 12 points from 12 games, leaving no margin for further slip-ups.
How did Noor Ahmad perform in the CSK vs LSG match?
Noor Ahmad was CSK's most economical bowler on the night, returning figures of 0/21 from four overs. However, he was introduced only after the Powerplay ended — a timing Sehwag argued cost Chennai the chance to take early wickets.
