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Captain Gaikwad’s poor form
Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad failed to lead from the front this season. As an opener, he struggled to find his rhythm and managed just 337 runs in 14 games. His poor strike-rate of 123.44 not only affected his own form but also hampered the team’s momentum at the top. He failed to provide the explosive start required in modern T20 cricket, as CSK failed to cross 70-plus nine times in the Powerplay. His batting slump also impacted his confidence as a leader.
Lack of 200-plus totals
The ongoing IPL edition has seen teams batting first post 200-plus totals with ease — 32 in 66 games — and has also witnessed the highest number of successful 200-plus chases (16). However, CSK’s batters failed to keep pace, managing 200-plus scores just thrice in eight innings while batting first. They were bowled out for 127 in their opening game against Rajasthan Royals and managed only 158-7 against Gujarat Titans. These below-par totals left their bowlers with little margin for error, resulting in five defeats.
Injuries derail campaign
Ayush Mhatre
CSK’s campaign was severely affected by constant injuries. Former skipper MS Dhoni did not play the entire season due to a calf and thumb injuries. The team lost pacer Khaleel Ahmed early in the tournament to a quadriceps injury. The biggest blow came when in-form youngster Ayush Mhatre (201 in six games at a strike-rate of 177.88) was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Pacer Jamie Overton (14 wickets in 10 games), who had taken three or more wickets thrice, was also ruled out with a thigh injury, adding to CSK’s woes as they lost their last three must-win games in his absence.
Inconsistent team selection
Sarfaraz Khan
CSK are known for sticking with a settled XI, but that wasn’t the case this season. The team management frequently shuffled the line-up. Middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan, despite an impressive strike-rate of 169.47 (161 runs off 95 balls), did not feature in the playing XI after the first eight matches. Spinner Akeal Hosein was in and out of the side despite some impactful performances, while spin-bowling all-rounder Prashant Veer, who was bought for R14.2 crore, went underutilised with the ball, bowling in just one out of the six matches he played.
Powerplay bowling struggles
The new-ball bowlers failed to provide early breakthroughs, claiming just 16 wickets in 14 games in the Powerplay. CSK’s Playoffs hopes took a hit in the initial overs itself in two of their last three games. While defending 188 against Lucknow Super Giants, the Overton-less attack conceded 86-0 in the first six overs. In the final league match, Gujarat Titans raced to 62-0 in the Powerplay and eventually posted 229-4, taking the game away from CSK.
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