Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad didn’t hold back after his team’s fourth straight loss in the IPL, this time falling 18 runs short against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Speaking after the match, Gaikwad pointed the finger squarely at CSK’s shaky fielding, calling it the “big difference” in their recent skid. Dropped catches, he said, have let key batsmen off the hook, piling on extra runs—sometimes 15, 20, or even 30—that CSK just can’t afford.
The game itself was a rollercoaster. PBKS, batting first after winning the toss, stumbled to 83/5 before Priyansh Arya lit up the pitch with a blazing 103 off just 42 balls. Shashank Singh (52*) and Marco Jansen (34*) joined the party, smashing CSK’s bowlers around to finish at 219/6. Gaikwad tipped his hat to Priyansh’s high-risk, high-reward century, admitting, “Sometimes you’ve just got to appreciate it.” Still, he couldn’t help but wonder how 10-15 fewer runs might’ve flipped the script.
Chasing 220, CSK started strong. Openers Rachin Ravindra (36) and Devon Conway put up a lively 61-run stand, setting the tone. Conway kept the fire going, scoring a classy 69, while Shivam Dube chipped in with a hard-hitting 42. Even MS Dhoni unleashed a quick 27, smashing three sixes, but it wasn’t enough. PBKS’s Lockie Ferguson (2/40) and crew held firm, bowling CSK out for 201/5.
One talking point? Conway’s “retired out” call. Gaikwad explained they stuck with him, waiting for his timing to click, but swapped him out when it didn’t. “He’s a timer of the ball, super useful up top,” Gaikwad said. “We just wanted him to find his groove.” Meanwhile, he brushed off any drama, saying the team’s focus is on enjoying the game—especially fielding. “If you’re nervous, you drop catches. If you aim to shine out there, save a few runs, or nab a run-out, it lifts everyone.”
Despite the loss, Gaikwad saw bright spots in the batting. “We were just two or three big hits away,” he said, staying upbeat. For PBKS, Priyansh’s heroics earned him Player of the Match, boosting his team to fourth place. CSK, though, slipped to ninth, with only one win in five games. The road ahead? Tighten up those hands in the field—or this spiral might not stop.
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