CSK failed to defend the imposing total of 209 runs against PBKS.
Asked to bat first, CSK posted a formidable 209/5 on the board, thanks to Ayush Mhatre’s 73 off 43 balls and vital contributions from Shivam Dube (45* off 27) and Sarfaraz Khan (32 off 12).
In reply, PBKS overhauled the stiff target in 18.4 overs. The opening duo of Priyansh Arya (39 off 11) and Prabhsimran Singh (43 off 34) set the tone with a quickfire 61-run partnership.
Cooper Connolly (36 off 22) and skipper Shreyas Iyer (50 off 29) followed it up with blistering knocks to keep the required run rate under check post the powerplay. In the end, Shashank Singh (14* off 6) and Marcus Stoinis (9* off 3) produced handy cameos to take PBKS over the finishing line.
Reflecting on the loss, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad rued the underwhelming performance of spinners Noor Ahmad and Rahul Chahar in the middle overs.
The five-time champions used Chahar as an impact substitute, intending for him and Noor to operate in tandem in the middle overs on a track that seemed to assist spinners, but the plan did not yield success.
The spin duo conceded 84 runs in their combined 8 overs and failed to claim a wicket. Gaikwad noted it was a "slight off day" for both, stating that their inability to execute at critical moments "cost us" the game.
"I felt it was a really good score, to be honest. Wicket was, yes, it was better for fast bowlers, but I felt it was slightly gripping for spinners, not coming on to the bat nicely. Slower balls was gripping as well. So I think, you know, for this ground, especially with, you know, big boundaries, I felt it was a really good score," Gaikwad said at the post-match presentation.
“(On Rahul as impact sub) Yes, we felt we had three seamers in going in, and obviously we have two good wristspinners bowling in tandem, especially in the middle after the powerplay. We felt that, you know, it will help. But I think, you know, slight off day for both of them, so I think that is what cost us,” he added.
Commenting on the overall bowling performance, Gaikwad said they could not build pressure in the middle overs.
“Well, I think, you know, a mixture of both. Sometimes we executed really well. Sometimes we just didn't execute at the right time, I would say. Just when the over was going really well, we conceded that six or a boundary either way. So I think the pressure didn't really build. I think there was a point where it went to 11 an over and then maybe couple of good overs from there. It would have climbed to 12 and 13. That's how you gain momentum. So I think we just didn't got that momentum in the middle,” he remarked.
Gaikwad praised the aggressive batting from Mhatre and consistency of Dube, while also calling for improvement in the bowling department.
“It's definitely a tough one, but as I said, a lot of positives. You know, the batting came out really well. Ayush batted brilliantly. You know, to have him, have him that confidence going ahead in the season and definitely Shivam batted really well. So yeah, batting-wise, we had good confidence. You know, bowling, yes, definitely a lot to improve,” he stated.
Gaikwad scored 28 runs off 22 balls before being dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal in the 12th over. He regretted getting out at the "wrong time".
“I'm feeling good. You know, it is just about adapting to a role, whatever is needed for the team. Today I felt, you know, maybe just stick around a little bit since the wicket was gripping a little bit. So I thought, you know, the set batter Ayush was going really well. So I thought just hang in there a bit and then after that you can cash in. But unfortunately got out on the wrong time,” he concluded.