Former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla has praised Ruturaj Gaikwad for his sharp captaincy during Chennai Super Kings’ 32-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026, highlighting how the skipper used his fast-bowling options and matchups to break the KKR top order. Chawla singled out Gaikwad’s “smart” bowling rotations—especially the decision to keep Akeal Hosein out of the attack during the first six overs—and pointed to the way Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj helped CSK seize control early.
Gaikwad’s early plan vs KKR’s aggression
Chawla explained that the tactical backdrop was clear: KKR looked to turn the powerplay into an attacking phase by sending Sunil Narine to open the innings. In that context, Gaikwad’s call to delay Hosein’s introduction was designed to blunt KKR’s intent and force the openers to face a different brand of threat with the new ball.
- Gaikwad held back Akeal Hosein for the first six overs because KKR chose Sunil Narine as an opener, aiming to gain an advantage against the CSK spinner.
- As soon as Narine walked out to open, CSK brought in Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj with the new ball.
- Khaleel struck in the fifth over to dismiss Narine, while Kamboj removed Finn Allen cheaply as KKR’s chase never settled.
How CSK’s bowling spells shaped the chase
The former India spinner credited the captaincy for targeting KKR’s opening pair at the exact moment the match threatened to drift. With Allen and Narine dismissed early, CSK’s bowling plan gained momentum, and the pressure continued to mount as KKR lost their way.
- Chawla described Gaikwad’s approach as “a really good piece of captaincy” because both Khaleel and Kamboj removed KKR’s opening duo.
- After Narine’s dismissal, Hosein was introduced into the attack and, in Chawla’s words, “did his job brilliantly.”
- KKR ultimately managed 160/7 in response to CSK’s 192/5, leading to CSK’s 32-run win.
“Go for the kill”: Chawla on pressure-building captaincy
Beyond the specific match decisions, Chawla said Gaikwad’s leadership reflected a mindset of taking wickets to create scoreboard pressure. He also noted how the skipper ensured the contest didn’t remain “too deep” once the early breakthroughs began to land.
- Chawla praised Gaikwad’s ability to rotate bowlers effectively, saying it was “really good to watch.”
- He argued that a captain’s process should be to press for wickets because each dismissal increases pressure on the batting side.
- When Noor Ahmad and Akeal Hosein were bowling together, Gaikwad ensured the game was not allowed to run away from CSK, aiming to finish matters quickly.
Hosein’s impact in powerplay and the discipline factor
Chawla also pointed to Hosein’s positive influence on CSK’s powerplay returns. He suggested that when Hosein was not part of the playing XI earlier, CSK’s bowling had not looked as sharp, but once Hosein came in, he tightened the overs that had previously been difficult for the team.
- Chawla said Hosein is “bowling really well,” and that CSK’s powerplay had been struggling before his inclusion.
- He credited Hosein with controlling overs in the powerplay phase where CSK had been conceding heavily.
- Chawla added that Hosein has long shown what he is capable of, and in the IPL he made the opposition feel his presence during the early phase of the innings.
Even without wickets: Chawla on line, length, and fielding lapses
Although CSK’s fielding lapses meant Hosein did not receive as many wickets as he might have, Chawla maintained that the spinner’s discipline was the defining feature of his spell. He emphasised that Hosein consistently bowled good lengths and lines, making it hard for batters to hit cleanly.
- Chawla noted that Hosein “just comes and bowls good lengths and good lines,” not offering batters easy scoring options.
- He said Hosein was unlucky against KKR because two catches were dropped off his bowling.
- Chawla suggested that if those chances had been taken, Hosein could have ended up with two or three wickets.
- Despite that, he concluded that Hosein bowled “brilliantly.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
