Chennai Super Kings (CSK) entered IPL 2026 with injury troubles and an early wobble that included three straight defeats, but they still managed to keep their playoff hopes alive until the final league match. Their season ended on Thursday when they fell to Gujarat Titans (GT) by 89 runs, a result that brought an end to CSK’s pursuit of a place in the knockout stage.
CSK finished with six victories and eight losses from 14 matches. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad described the campaign as a period of transition, adding that he felt the side’s commitment deserved credit even though the team had to fight through setbacks. In his view, the sharp turn came when injuries struck later in the tournament, particularly to seam-bowling allrounders Jamie Overton and Ramakrishna Ghosh, just as the team had begun to build real momentum. After winning six of their eight games in the middle phase, CSK then slipped in their final three outings.
Gaikwad said the opening stretch was difficult to navigate, especially after the early sequence of defeats. Once the team found the right flow, he felt the players started fitting into their roles more effectively, which allowed combinations to click. However, he argued that repeated injuries again disrupted their balance, notably with Overton and another allrounder, Ramakrishna Ghosh, sidelined. According to Gaikwad, the last three matches were played with a disadvantage, with the team frequently having to manage either a batting slot or a bowling option less than ideal.
“Well, tough season to start, especially the hat-trick of losses, and then after that, once we found that momentum, obviously we found guys playing at the right spot, the right combination, everything started working,” Gaikwad said. “And then, a couple of injuries again and again didn’t really help much, especially missing out Jamie and another allrounder in Ramakrishna Ghosh, kind of unsettled our playing 12. We were always playing a batter short or playing a bowler short in the last three games we played.
“Not many people actually buy the fact that we are a young team, we are in a transition phase, and [we don’t have] a lot of players who are experienced enough, especially in the toughest competition. But given the fact that [we have] eight to 10 players who have played just below 20 games, it’s good to have that exposure for them, especially this year. We got to know what are the areas we are lacking [in], but still, to get those six wins and a couple of great wins as well, I’m really proud of the unit.”
Gaikwad also singled out a pair of defeats to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as moments where CSK might have turned the outcome in their favour. The first was in Hyderabad, where CSK slipped despite needing only 84 runs from the final 10 overs while holding seven wickets in hand. The second came in Chennai during SRH’s chase of 181, where Ishan Kishan’s 47-ball 70 proved decisive as CSK failed to keep SRH under the target.
“When we traveled to Hyderabad, we missed out on chasing [84] in 10 overs, and then even last time when we played in Chennai, we could have restricted them to 180, so a couple of games where we could have just got over the line, failed to do that, but still very much proud.”
CSK are often associated with getting the best out of established, seasoned players, but Gaikwad said this season offered a different picture. He pointed to the progress some of the younger members of the squad made over the course of the tournament, even though the team had to deal with changing circumstances and squad availability.
“Moving on from the likes of Ajinkya Rahane or Ambati Rayudu [who were part of CSK’s last title win in 2023], we had experience throughout the years [to] Kartik Sharma, Urvil [Patel], even Brev [Dewald Brevis], obviously missed out on playing initially in the season as well.
“Kartik obviously impressed a lot. He has a lot of potential going ahead, obviously a lot of areas to improve. Urvil, again is someone playing a full season for the first time, so you have a lot of expectations coming when you’re playing a full season, so definitely that could have played in his mind, but obviously, good to have those games in the bag for everyone and definitely we’ll come back stronger next year.”
One major talking point throughout the campaign was MS Dhoni, who remained on CSK’s roster but did not take the field during the season, largely because of injury. The uncertainty around his future has followed him for years, and it remains the same now, with the question of whether he will return next year at the age of 45.
“You’ll get to know it next year itself,” Gaikwad said. “You and I will get to know it next year itself. Obviously, it’s a hard miss for us, definitely. He’s someone who can [instill] a fear in the opposition, especially coming in those late overs, can really change the game, can really change the momentum just by staying at the crease, so he’s someone we definitely missed a lot this season.
“We never know about next season, but obviously really happy with the guys we had and really happy with the experience they got this year.”
