Former India batter and ex-Chennai Super Kings player Ambati Rayudu criticised CSK’s death-over tactics following their third consecutive defeat in IPL 2026. On Sunday, April 5, CSK lost by 43 runs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, extending their struggles in the tournament.
In RCB’s penultimate over, Jamie Overton leaked 30 runs as Tim David went on the attack. Overton bowled around the wicket, but David consistently got under the ball to find the boundary.
Rayudu noted that the team had tried certain angles in practice, but MS Dhoni never approved them in matches. He added that batters found these deliveries easy to counter and advised CSK to focus on conventional strategies, good yorkers, well-pitched slower balls, and keeping it simple.
RCB vs CSK: Scorecard | Highlights
“They’ve tried that in practice sessions over the years, but it never translated into games because MS didn’t approve of using that kind of angle in the depth. Even as batters, we found it easy to counter those deliveries – if you stand just half a foot outside the crease, the angle is completely nullified,” Rayudu told ESPNcricinfo.
“I think that’s an area they need to review. Sometimes, it’s better to stick to conventional strategies: good yorkers, well-pitched slower balls, keep it simple and basic,” Rayudu added.
Death overs remained a major issue for CSK, as they conceded 78 runs in the final four overs, allowing RCB to post a massive 250 for three. Although the Super Kings crossed the 200-run mark in their chase, they fell well short of RCB’s total.
CSK’S BOWLING STRUGGLE CONTINUES
CSK’s death bowling has taken a hit, especially after Nathan Ellis was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Spencer Johnson, brought in as Ellis’ replacement, has yet to join the squad. In Ellis’ absence, Jamie Overton has struggled to fill the gap. Bowling around the wicket is unfamiliar to him; before the RCB clash, he had bowled fewer than two overs that way in his entire career.
In recent years, Super Kings franchises worldwide, including the Joburg Super Kings in SA20 and Texas Super Kings in the MLC, have adopted the strategy of bowling around the wicket, often relying on specialists for the role.
In their first three games, CSK’s bowling has been a major concern, leaking runs at an economy rate of 11.57. Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar earlier noted that the team’s biggest challenge for the rest of the tournament will be their bowling, with batters often under pressure to post scores around 225-230.
With the defeat to RCB, CSK remained at the bottom of the table, holding a net run rate of -2.517. The Super Kings will look to bounce back when they take on Delhi Capitals on Saturday, April 11, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
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