Ayush Mhatre made 201 runs in 6 games this IPL 2026 with a strike rate of 177.87.
Ayush Mhatre has been one of the brightest stars for CSK in their otherwise poor outing in the ongoing IPL 2026. He had 201 runs in 6 games with two fifties and a strike rate of 177.87. However, he has been dealing with a few injuries that finally took their toll on the youngster.
Despite being assigned as an impact player to protect him from fielding duties, Mhatre arrived for his knock with a thick strap over his knee. Mhatre began clearly limping between the wickets in the power play during CSK's failed chase of 195, which turned the issue from concerning to problematic.
CSK decided to have Mhatre continue batting despite him being in visible pain and physios giving him a lengthy treatment. He was limping hard while running between the wickets and was even in danger of getting run out at the striker’s end as he completed the single.
Mhatre was caught at mid-off on the next delivery after he attempted to clear Nitish Kumar Reddy's full-length ball over the infield. The teenage hitter was on 30 off 17, but an unfortunate accident forced his early removal.
In his post-match analysis, Ashwin unleashed a scathing attack on Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) medical and managerial procedures. He was outraged at the decision to keep the boy on the field.
"Ayush Mhatre’s injury: I hope he is back, but by the look of it, I fear he will be out for a while. While coming into bat, he came with a strap on his knee. For 2-3 matches, he has been playing as Impact Sub. People are asking, ‘Why is he an impact player?' Is he not a good fielder? His injury has been a concern,” Ashwin stated on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin further stated that CSK’s decision to have a struggling Mhatre continue batting despite lengthy treatment by physios was a failure of the duty of care.
“It couldn’t have been a cramp because he did not field at all. Even if he had gotten cramps even when not fielding, then we would have to look at his hydration. Okay, it’s not a cramp. Let’s assume it was an injury. Your physios have come in and checked him. He was limping badly; you are asking him to play another ball and making him run between wickets!” he added.
Ashwin explained the clinical truth of the problem, indicating that if the injury is a Grade 2 hamstring strain or worse, Mhatre may be out for up to six weeks, which is a devastating blow for a young athlete in top shape.
Ashwin's assessment extended beyond a single event, implying that CSK has a history of poor injury treatment. He drew a direct parallel between Mhatre's condition and Deepak Chahar's fitness issues, pointing out a significant gap in player availability compared to other clubs.
"I have been saying this for a long time. CSK has been hit with such injuries season after season. Deepak Chahar has played for 3 years for CSK. He played a total of 16 games. But, for the Mumbai Indians, he played 14 matches straight. Injury management starts well before a season begins and goes year-long," he added.
Drawing from his own experience with the Rajasthan Royals, Ashwin highlighted what "proactive" care looks like.
"When I had a knee injury, the Rajasthan Royals monitored me the whole year. Muscle injuries, which happen during the season, can be easily avoided. If every year someone gets injured, how can you find players? You won’t get them in bazars,” he stated.
Mhatre’s injury added to CSK’s long list of fitness woes. MS Dhoni has already been nursing a calf strain since the start of the season, and ace pace bowler. Khaleel Ahmed was ruled out of the rest of the season with a right quadricep injury.