Ambati Rayudu felt Chennai Super Kings\u2019 seven-wicket loss to Lucknow Super Giants on Friday exposed a lack of calm, experienced influence on the field\u2014particularly during the brutal spell faced by young pacer Anshul Kamboj. In an evening at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, LSG chased down 188 in 16.4 overs, and the turning point for CSK came when Kamboj was targeted repeatedly by Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran.<\/p>\n
Rayudu, speaking after the match on ESPNcricinfo\u2019s TimeOut show, said CSK didn\u2019t have enough senior heads available to steady the situation when the pressure rose. He highlighted the moment Kamboj\u2019s confidence appeared to unravel after being struck for heavy blows.<\/p>\n
Rayudu specifically pointed to the attack on Kamboj by Marsh, who struck four consecutive sixes in a single over. Pooran then mirrored the damage later in the chase, again hammering Kamboj for a sequence of sixes. Rayudu argued that a more composed presence could have helped Kamboj reset his mindset during a spell when even small errors were punished.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel the CSK side, when you look at them at the ground, there aren\u2019t too many smart heads or experienced heads there\u2014players who can just control the game, who can go and give him a pat and say, \u2018Boss, just wait, hang on for ten seconds, tie your laces up,\u2019\u201d Rayudu said.<\/p>\n
The former CSK batter added that someone needed to interrupt Kamboj\u2019s negative thought process as the assault unfolded. Rayudu also suggested that wicketkeeper Sanju Samson was too far from the immediate action to influence the bowler at the most critical stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe ask him, \u2018Do you think a slower ball can work? Do you think we can bowl a yorker now?\u2019 Just change his chain of thought. Don\u2019t let him get lost in that moment,\u201d Rayudu added.<\/p>\n
Despite what he described as a nightmare outing for the youngster, Rayudu defended Kamboj and insisted the bowler hadn\u2019t suddenly become ineffective\u2014rather, he had run into batters in extraordinary form. Rayudu compared the situation to having an off day in a sport where even high-quality bowling can be punished.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe guy has been bowling so well throughout the season, you\u2019re bound to have a bad day. It\u2019s like getting a duck or a golden duck. If you look at the balls he bowled, except for maybe the last ball of that over down the leg side, most of them were decent deliveries. It was just incredible hitting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
LSG\u2019s chase was built around Marsh\u2019s whirlwind knock of 90 off only 38 balls, featuring seven maximums and nine fours. The Australian attacked from the outset and moved to his half-century in 21 deliveries, setting the tone for a chase that became increasingly difficult for CSK to arrest.<\/p>\n
Kamboj\u2019s figures summed up the damage: he finished with 0\/63 in 2.4 overs. Pooran\u2019s late assault ensured there was no collapse after CSK\u2019s momentary breakthrough.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the match, CSK posted 187\/5. Their innings was propped up by Kartik Sharma\u2019s 71 and Shivam Dube\u2019s unbeaten 32, but Rayudu\u2019s concerns about game control and experience proved relevant when LSG accelerated in the chase.<\/p>\n
The result leaves Chennai Super Kings placed sixth in the IPL 2026 points table, with 12 points from 12 matches. Their record now stands at six wins and six losses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ambati Rayudu felt Chennai Super Kings\u2019 seven-wicket loss to Lucknow Super Giants on Friday exposed a lack of calm, experienced influence on the field\u2014particularly during…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10202,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Rayudu Slams CSK Leadership After Kamboj LSG Defeat","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Ambati Rayudu reacts to CSK\u2019s loss to LSG, claiming leadership gaps left Anshul Kamboj exposed as Marsh and Pooran turned the chase.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n