Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad offered a brutally honest reaction after Rajasthan Royals handed the five-time champions a crushing defeat in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash on Monday at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. The third match of the 19th edition turned into a one-sided affair as the inaugural IPL champions chased down 128 with ease, sealing victory by eight wickets with 47 balls remaining.
Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag set the tone early after winning the toss and choosing to bowl first. Despite expectations from the CSK batting unit, even in the absence of Dewald Brevis and MS Dhoni, the side failed to deliver. Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger exploited the overcast conditions brilliantly and dismantled CSK’s top order by removing Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre inside the powerplay.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Admits CSK Failed to Handle Tough Guwahati Conditions
Chennai Super Kings failed to recover after the early collapse. Jamie Overton’s 43 turned out to be the only meaningful knock and pushed the side beyond 100. Rajasthan Royals, in contrast, made the chase look effortless. Fifteen-year-old sensation Sooryavanshi led the charge with a stunning 52 off just 17 deliveries.
Reflecting on the loss, Ruturaj Gaikwad said CSK encountered challenging batting conditions right from the start. He credited Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger for maintaining disciplined lines and lengths throughout their spells. Gaikwad also observed that the surface offered help to both medium pacers and spinners. He admitted CSK should have shown more composure with the bat and batted deeper to post a stronger total in the 150–160 range.
Despite the setback, Gaikwad did not appear overly disappointed. He said T20 cricket often makes it hard for teams to know what score will truly prove enough.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad Backs CSK’s Lot of Youngsters After Defeat
Gaikwad, who managed only 6 off 11 balls against Rajasthan Royals, stayed positive after the defeat. He said CSK would recover quickly and not carry the burden of the loss for long. He also pointed to the team’s young makeup as one reason for staying calm.
The CSK captain said the side must show better batting in the upcoming matches. He added that the team needs to assess conditions better and avoid entering with a fixed mindset. Gaikwad also admitted that a few youngsters may have felt nervous early on, but he saw the game as an important learning step.
He further accepted that CSK fell short with the bat. Still, he expressed confidence in the batting lineup. Gaikwad said the team must keep playing with intent, especially while setting a target. He also noted that the same batting unit can deliver a much better score on a more favourable surface.
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