Chennai Super Kings (CSK) suffered a major setback in their 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) playoff push after a heavy defeat to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ended their three-match winning streak on Friday.
With Punjab Kings dropping points earlier, CSK had the perfect opportunity to climb into the top four, but a disappointing performance in Lucknow saw them waste the chance as LSG chased down 188 with remarkable ease in just 16.4 overs.
Former CSK batter Subramaniam Badrinath criticised captain Ruturaj Gaikwad for what he felt was a costly tactical error in team selection. According to Badrinath, leaving out left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein on a surface that appeared to assist slower bowlers proved to be a significant mistake.
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“CSK losing because of team selection errors is becoming a pattern this season. Leaving out Akeal Hosein on this track made zero sense. Another game, another missed opportunity,” Badrinath posted on X.
CSK losing because of team selection errors is becoming a pattern this season. Leaving out Akeal Hosein on this track made zero sense. Another game, another missed opportunity. #LSGvCSK
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) May 15, 2026
LSG Beat CSK By 7 Wickets
CSK had earlier posted what seemed a competitive total of 187/5, but Mitchell Marsh and the LSG batters dismantled the chase with an aggressive approach from the start. Despite the defeat, Gaikwad refused to sound alarm bells and instead focused on addressing the team’s shortcomings before the final two league games.
“I felt there was a bit of something for the fast bowlers. You know, when we batted, we found it difficult to hit off the hard lengths. Probably their bowlers executed it really well. But I think we were looking at 160 or 170 and we ended up getting 180. So I thought there wasn’t much more we could have done from a batting point of view, but I think credit to them. They batted really well, and you never know if the pitch got better or not, but I think they played some extraordinary shots,” he said.
(With inputs from Agencies)
