Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad admitted that his team struggled to read and adjust to the tough conditions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as they slid to an eight-wicket loss against the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 on Sunday. Speaking after the match, the right-hander said the surface brought unpredictable bounce and uneven pace, making it difficult for batters to settle early—even with a clear plan in mind.
Gaikwad on the pitch and CSK’s challenge
- Gaikwad said he expected a more manageable contest, but the wicket kept changing—at times the ball arrived with inconsistent speed and the bounce varied from ball to ball.
- He added that while the team tried to hold shape against the pace, it was hard to judge the wicket properly and build the kind of innings that could have pushed CSK towards a higher total.
- The captain felt that if they had avoided losing too many wickets, the innings could have gone in the direction of 170 to 180.
- He also referenced the form of the previous three games, noting that CSK had felt they had a strong chance in the last two or three matches, but the day’s conditions produced a very different outcome.
CSK finished on 158/7 after recovering from early setbacks created by wickets falling in clusters. Gaikwad pointed out that the inability to adapt quickly to the unpredictable nature of the pitch was especially damaging during the Power-play and the middle overs, phases where partnerships are typically vital in T20 cricket.
While discussing how he communicated with the team management during the innings, Gaikwad said even a proactive approach could not fully counter the unpredictability of the track. He recalled telling a member of the support staff during the first timeout that he was aiming to stay positive and play aggressively, only for the ball to sometimes come off the surface in an erratic way.
“I was trying to be positive and aggressive, but at times the ball popped out with an inconsistent bounce. I told him I was trying to adapt, but it wasn’t possible. You couldn’t judge, and you couldn’t expect it to turn out well. We were lethargic and didn’t start well, but we needed to do better,” Gaikwad said.
Gaikwad’s composed stand and the impact of wickets
Despite the struggles, Gaikwad steadied the innings with a composed effort, finishing unbeaten and trying to guide CSK to a competitive score. Still, he acknowledged that wickets at regular intervals disrupted the flow and forced the batting plan to change.
- Gaikwad said he made a strong start, scoring 10 off 6 balls, and believed he could maintain the momentum.
- He then described how three wickets fell while the team was attempting to form a partnership.
- With another wicket going down, he felt he needed to slow the tempo and take his time.
- He added that on a different type of surface he might have rotated the strike more effectively, but after being struck, he focused on taking his chances to regain momentum.
On the innings, he also touched on the tactical decision to use an Impact Player, explaining that the early loss of wickets shaped the team’s choices. “We were batting really well; if we hadn’t lost two quick wickets, Mukesh would’ve come in the second innings. But we lost two wickets quickly, which is why we opted for an impact player,” Gaikwad said.
In the end, CSK’s total was not enough against a Gujarat Titans batting unit that chased down the target with comfort, sealing the win by eight wickets.
