IPL: CSK captain blames bowlers after sixth straight defeat at Chepauk

Chennai Super Kings fans were left stunned at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as Punjab Kings comfortably chased down 210 on April 3. A blazing start from Priyansh Arya, followed by a brisk fifty from skipper Shreyas Iyer, powered Punjab to victory in just 18.4 overs.

A frustrated Ruturaj Gaikwad blamed his bowlers after the loss, insisting the total should have been enough on a surface he felt was gripping and aiding spinners. His assessment, however, sharply contrasted with Iyer’s view, who described the pitch as ideal for batting while taking on bowlers like Noor Ahmad and Rahul Chahar in the middle overs.

Gaikwad also endured a tough outing with the bat, scoring a laboured 28 off 22 balls before falling to Yuzvendra Chahal. Despite the dismissal, he said he felt comfortable and was trying to anchor the innings before accelerating later.

Chennai failed to build pressure during the chase, with Arya’s explosive 39 off just 11 balls setting the tone. Gaikwad pointed out that his bowlers conceded boundaries at crucial moments, preventing any sustained pressure on Punjab’s batters.

The defeat marked a worrying trend for Chennai, extending their poor run at home. They will look to bounce back when they face Delhi Capitals at Chepauk on April 11.