Akash Singh delivered a statement performance in his opening outing of the IPL 2026 season, striking early in the powerplay against Chennai Super Kings in Lucknow on Friday. The left-arm pacer wasted little time in unsettling CSK’s top order, taking three wickets in a burst and setting a tense tone for the visitors.
Instant impact for Akash Singh in the Lucknow powerplay
From the first overs, Akash bowled with pace and tight control, repeatedly landing on a hard length that disrupted CSK’s rhythm. His spell produced key breakthroughs, starting with the removal of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson during the early phase of the chase.
- Akash Singh struck twice early by dismissing openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson.
- He then took the wicket of Urvil Patel later on to complete a three-wicket run.
- His approach combined pace with discipline, making it difficult for CSK’s batters to get set.
- He bowled four consecutive overs and maintained control throughout the power-packed spell.
Celebration note goes viral as wickets keep falling
After each wicket, Akash marked the moment with a celebration that included showing a note to the crowd. The message read: “#Akki on fire – Akash knows how to take wickets in T20 game.” The display spread quickly across social media.
- Akash’s wicket celebrations featured a handwritten note: “#Akki on fire – Akash knows how to take wickets in T20 game.”
- The celebration caught attention online within minutes.
- LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka also praised Akash on X.
Goenka’s post carried the message: “Akash, three crucial wickets tonight. Well done. The note says it all, you showed exactly how to take those wickets in a T20 game. Keep at it, Akki. Proud of you.”
How the dismissals and CSK recovery shaped the innings
Akash’s hard-length bowling played a part in Samson’s dismissal as well. The batter attempted to pull a rising delivery, but he couldn’t find enough timing to execute the shot. The catch was taken by Mukul Choudhary near the square-leg boundary.
CSK, however, did not collapse completely after early setbacks. They steadied the innings through Kartik Sharma, who struck form to score 71. A key partnership then followed: Kartik and Dewald Brevis added 70 runs for the fourth wicket after CSK had fallen to 52 for three in 7.2 overs.
- Samson was dismissed after trying to pull a rising ball but lacking sufficient timing.
- Mukul Choudhary took the catch near the square-leg boundary.
- CSK’s recovery was led by Kartik Sharma, who made 71.
- Kartik and Dewald Brevis combined for a 70-run stand for the fourth wicket.
- That partnership came after CSK slipped to 52 for three in 7.2 overs.
CSK finish with a competitive 187 for five
Despite Akash Singh’s early damage, Chennai managed to push the total to 187 for five, giving them a defendable score as the match progressed.
- Final team total: CSK posted 187 for five.
