R Ashwin has hailed Urvil Patel\u2019s dazzling innings against Lucknow Super Giants as the defining knock of IPL 2026 for Chennai Super Kings, crediting it with unlocking CSK\u2019s chase of 204 and helping them stay firmly in the hunt for a late playoff spot. Patel struck 65 off just 23 balls, smashing two fours and eight sixes at a strike rate of 282.61, as CSK finished on 208\/5 in 19.2 overs after a tense target of 204.<\/p>\n
The knock also snapped a long-standing problem for CSK in run chases. Since IPL 2019, the franchise had not managed to chase down a target of 180-plus, but the LSG game changed that narrative in emphatic fashion.<\/p>\n
Patel\u2019s innings included a remarkable 13-ball half-century, which became the joint-fastest fifty in IPL history. He matched the record previously set by Rajasthan Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.<\/p>\n
On his YouTube channel, Ashwin called the innings \u201cthe most important\u201d of CSK\u2019s IPL 2026 campaign so far. He said, \u201cUrvil Patel\u2014this was the most important innings of this IPL 2026 campaign. It\u2019s because CSK haven\u2019t chased 180 in the last seven years. With his knock, they got the chase done easily. They\u2019ve chased 180 only two times since 2019, including 204 versus LSG.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ashwin also praised the intent behind the batting. \u201cThe way he batted, he didn\u2019t even think for a minute whether he should take a single. I thought he would break the record, and he should have stuck to it. If we get powerplay like that, who knows\u2014it can be six wins in a row,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
However, Ashwin\u2019s praise came with a tactical note. He urged CSK to consider promoting Patel higher in the batting order. \u201cIf someone plays in that fashion, they would win the match in the power play. Ruturaj Gaikwad can change his tempo and play. What Kartik Sharma is doing, he can do. Why not? Promote Urvil at the top. Why keep him down the order? He can finish the match in the powerplay,\u201d Ashwin said.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Josh Inglis provided LSG with a strong start, blasting 85 off 33 balls. His knock featured 10 fours and six maximums, but once he departed the batting order lost momentum and wickets followed. LSG only crossed the 200-run mark after Shahbaz Ahmed entered the fray and took charge.<\/p>\n
Shahbaz remained unbeaten on 43 off 25 deliveries, guiding the late push that carried LSG to a defendable total of 204. For CSK, Jamie Overton was the standout with three wickets.<\/p>\n
R Ashwin has hailed Urvil Patel\u2019s dazzling innings against Lucknow Super Giants as the defining knock of IPL 2026 for Chennai Super Kings, crediting it…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9052,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL 2026: R Ashwin Hails Urvil Patel\u2019s CSK Blitzkrieg","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"R Ashwin praises Urvil Patel\u2019s 65 off 23 as CSK chase 204 vs LSG in IPL 2026, igniting their playoff push with a blitzkrieg win.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n