Ravichandran Ashwin has taken Chennai Super Kings to task over the way the franchise dealt with Ayush Mhatre during IPL 2026 action, pointing to the youngster’s visible discomfort in the middle before he ultimately fell in the chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The incident became one of the defining moments of CSK’s run of trouble in the Hyderabad match, which ended in a 10-run defeat and left the team’s season searching for steadiness.
Mhatre’s injury becomes the talking point
- Mhatre walked out to bat against Sunrisers Hyderabad with a noticeable strap on his knee, but still showed urgency in his strokeplay early on.
- As the innings moved on, his running between the wickets appeared to trouble him, with his movement looking increasingly strained.
- CSK’s physio stepped in more than once during the spell, but Mhatre remained in the contest for a stretch before his innings ended after he scored 30.
Ashwin, who reacted sharply to what he saw, said he hopes Mhatre recovers quickly but suggested the signs indicated the injury could sideline him for a while. On his YouTube channel, the former India spinner also noted that Mhatre had already been involved in recent matches in a role that involves planning around specific game situations.
He argued that the injury concern was not something that suddenly appeared on the day of the match. “When he came in, he had a strap on his knee. For a few matches, he has been used as an Impact Sub,” Ashwin said, adding that questions had been raised about why Mhatre was being used in that capacity and whether his fitness or fielding was a factor in the team’s decisions. In Ashwin’s view, the injury itself had been part of the picture for some time.
Ashwin questions why Mhatre was kept on the field
The most pointed part of Ashwin’s criticism was aimed at CSK’s choice to continue with Mhatre despite the clear limp. He rejected the idea that it was simply a cramp, saying Mhatre did not field at all during the period in question. Ashwin then suggested that if it was not a cramp, CSK should have treated it as a more serious injury and responded accordingly.
“If it’s an injury, then your physios come in and check him. He was limping badly, and you are asking him to play another ball and make him run between the wickets,” Ashwin said, stressing that the decision-making felt careless once the discomfort became obvious.
He also said he couldn’t understand why the team didn’t opt for a retire-out earlier, especially given how valuable Mhatre has been for CSK this season. Ashwin highlighted that Mhatre has already delivered meaningful contributions, including a 59 against the Delhi Capitals and a 38 against the Kolkata Knight Riders, which has made him one of the clearer batting positives for the side.
“Should he not have retired out when he was limping? This season, Ayush Mhatre has been one of the stars. I don’t understand how they can handle him so carelessly. I was shocked,” Ashwin added.
To underline the scale of the moment, Ashwin claimed even those watching from the commentary set were left stunned. “Everyone in the commentary box kept their mic on the table and watched what was happening with complete shock. Very, very surprising,” he said.
Injury management, not just one match
Ashwin widened the criticism beyond a single incident, suggesting CSK’s approach to injuries has been a broader issue. He pointed to Deepak Chahar’s disrupted spell with the franchise and argued that managing fitness concerns begins well before match day, not only after a player shows distress in the middle.
While Ashwin’s immediate flashpoint was Mhatre staying on despite visible strain, his overall message was that careful injury handling should be proactive—especially when a team is already trying to find stability in a demanding IPL season.
