RR vs CSK IPL 2025: Ruturaj Gaikwad reveals WHY CSK lost in Guwahati

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Guwahati, March 30: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fell short once again in their chase of a 180-plus total, suffering their second consecutive loss in IPL 2025 on Sunday (March 30). Despite restricting the Rajasthan Royals to a seemingly manageable 182, their batting faltered, exposing familiar issues that have plagued them in recent seasons.

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who top-scored with 63, pointed out critical moments where the team lost control of the chase at the post-match presentation after his team lost the game by six runs.

A Promising Start That Slipped Away

CSK would have been pleased with their bowling effort, especially considering Rajasthan looked set to breach 200 at one stage. Gaikwad acknowledged that the bowlers executed their plans well in the death overs to pull the Royals back, keeping the target within reach. However, the chase never gathered momentum, as an early wicket and a sluggish powerplay set the tone for the eventual failure.

Jofra Archer, making an impact for Rajasthan, struck in the very first over to dismiss Rachin Ravindra for a four-ball duck, leaving Chennai on the back foot. Although the Super Kings didn't lose another wicket until the seventh over, they struggled to push the scoring rate.

By the end of the fifth over, they had only managed 28 runs, a stark contrast to Rajasthan's 79-run powerplay blitz.

Lack of Proactivity and Middle-Over Collapse

Gaikwad highlighted one key tactical failure- CSK's inability to contain Nitish Rana, who was targeting runs behind square. "We were not proactive, knowing he was going behind square. We should have forced him to play in front of the wicket," he admitted. Additionally, sloppy fielding cost them 8-10 extra runs, further adding to their woes.

With the required rate climbing, CSK attempted to accelerate midway through the innings. However, Wanindu Hasaranga turned the game on its head, picking up four wickets in a spell that lasted from overs eight to 16. The leg-spinner's final scalp was Gaikwad himself, who departed for 63, leaving CSK in deep trouble.

Tactical Adjustments Not Paying Off?

Addressing the decision to bat at No. 3, Gaikwad explained that the team had envisioned him playing a stabilising role in the middle overs, similar to what Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu had done in the past. The idea was to allow someone like Rahul Tripathi to take an aggressive approach at the top. "Anyway, it doesn't matter because I am getting to bat early in all three games (smiles)," he quipped, acknowledging that their strategy hasn't worked as intended.

Recurring Issues in Chasing Big Targets

CSK's inability to chase targets above 180 runs has been a persistent problem. They have now failed in their last nine attempts to chase down such totals, dating back to 2019. While Ravindra Jadeja (32*) and former skipper MS Dhoni (16) tried to pull off a dramatic finish, needing 19 runs off the last over, the latter could not finish the game and perished on the first ball, almost sealing Chennai's fate.

The Super Kings began their campaign with a gritty win against the Mumbai Indians but have since fallen flat against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Rajasthan Royals. Unless they address their slow starts, middle-order collapses, and inconsistent finishing, their hopes for a strong IPL season could quickly diminish.

With crucial games ahead, CSK will need to find solutions fast in terms of tactical adjustments and execution if they want to bounce back from these defeats.