Former cricketer Piyush Chawla slammed Chennai Super Kings, saying that the five-time champions looked confused and underprepared in the IPL 2026 clash against Rajasthan Royals. On Monday, CSK slumped to an eight-wicket defeat at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati, attracting criticism from Chawla.
Chawla said that with Dewald Brevis injured, CSK should have utilised Sarfaraz Khan in a better way. The Super Kings brought Sarfaraz as an Impact Sub after they were reduced to 19 for three in 3.1 overs. Sarfaraz scored 17 runs off 12 balls before Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him LBW.
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Chawla, who played a solitary season for CSK in 2020, said that Sarfaraz should have batted higher up the order for the Super Kings and should have been in the starting XI.
“CSK did not look ready at all. As I mentioned earlier, they looked really confused, and when a team lacks clarity, these things tend to happen,” Chawla told ESPNcricinfo.
“Sarfaraz Khan batted at No.3 for Mumbai this season and had a strong run. But if CSK really wanted him in the top order, especially with Dewald Brevis injured, he should have been in the playing XI from the very beginning – the same applies to Urvil Patel,” Chawla added.
SUPER KINGS CRUMBLE IN GUWAHATI
CSK endured a forgettable outing against Rajasthan Royals, getting bowled out for 127 in 19.4 overs. Reduced to 94 for nine in 15.3 overs, they were at one stage in danger of being dismissed for under 100. However, Jamie Overton’s 43 off 36 balls gave the total some much-needed respectability.
In reply, the Royals chased down the target with 47 balls to spare, thanks largely to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive 52 off just 17 deliveries, which included four fours and five sixes.
The Super Kings will now look to bounce back when they take on Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Friday, April 3, in their first home match of the season at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
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