Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad said the team suffered a batting lapse after losing by 10 runs [1] to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The defeat highlights critical struggles in the middle overs for CSK, a phase that Gaikwad believes cost them the match during the IPL 2026 season.
Speaking after the game at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, Gaikwad said the team was unable to maintain momentum. He noted that the batting unit failed to capitalize on the conditions, which hindered their ability to post a competitive total. "I was looking at a score around 220-230," Gaikwad said [4].
Gaikwad said the shortfall was due to a slowdown during the middle overs. This lapse prevented the team from reaching the envisioned target, leaving them short of the Sunrisers Hyderabad total, which ranged between 194 [1] and 195 runs [3].
While criticizing the batting performance, the captain praised the opposition's execution. He said that Abhishek played brilliantly [3]. Gaikwad also defended his bowling unit's effort during the final stages of the match, a period where the pressure is highest.
"Chasing 12-13 at death is tough," Gaikwad said [2].
The match served as a reminder of the volatility of T20 scoring, where a few stagnant overs can shift the outcome regardless of the initial trajectory. Gaikwad said that while the bowlers fought, the batting lapse in the middle period created a deficit that was too large to overcome in the final overs.
“"I was looking at a score around 220-230,"”
This result underscores a recurring tactical challenge for Chennai Super Kings in the 2026 season: the inability to sustain a high strike rate during the middle overs. By failing to reach the 220-230 run threshold Gaikwad envisioned, the team placed undue pressure on their bowlers to defend a lower total against an aggressive Sunrisers Hyderabad lineup.
