Gaikwad Acknowledges CSK's Struggles, '50-60 Runs Short' Due to Challenging Chepauk Pitch

Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad attributed his team's defeat against Punjab Kings to the challenging conditions at Chepauk, stating they fell significantly short of a competitive total due to the difficult pitch. After losing the toss and batting first, CSK managed only 162 for 7, with only one batsman scoring at a strike rate exceeding 150.

Gaikwad expressed that they were "probably 50-60 runs short" given the pitch conditions and the impact of dew during the latter stages of the match. He highlighted that the pitch improved for batting later in the game, making it tougher for the bowling side.

CSK's struggle was particularly noticeable against Punjab's spinners, with Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar combining for impressive figures of 4 for 33 in eight overs. CSK's bowling attack was also depleted, with key players unavailable due to injuries.

Furthermore, Gaikwad pointed out the challenge of using an Impact Player for batting after Deepak Chahar left the field due to injury, leaving them short of bowling options.

Despite this setback, Gaikwad remained optimistic, emphasizing that CSK still has four games left in the league and expressing confidence in turning their performance around. Their next game will be against Rajasthan Royals, and they will face Punjab Kings again in Dharamsala on Sunday.