The IPL 2026 campaign for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) came to a disappointing end after a crushing defeat Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Needing a win to keep their fading playoff hopes alive, CSK were completely outclassed in all departments as Gujarat claimed their 89th win to confirm their place in the top two of the points table.
After the defeat, the former Indian captain Chris Srikanth He did not hold back in his assessment of CSK’s performance, particularly targeting the young pacer for his dramatic dip in form in the second half of the tournament.
Kris Srikkanth questions the CSK bowler’s decline
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth did not hold back while reviewing Kamboj’s performance. He noted that the young bowler spent the first half of the season well, but then completely lost his way.
“Anshul Kamboj was impressive in the first half of the season. But in the end, instead of scoring 500 runs with the bat, he conceded more than 500 runs with the ball. It scared him after he got smashed in the LSG match. Since then, his legs and hands are gone and he can’t play the ball,” Srikkanth said.
The Cambodian finished the season conceding 530 runs in 14 matches with an economy rate of 10.52, one of the highest among regular bowlers this season. His poor performance at the death has been a major concern for CSK, especially in crunch games.
Injury-hit CSK have been upset in the 2026 IPL season
CSK’s campaign was heavily affected by injuries and inconsistencies throughout the season. The franchise has struggled to hang on to a stable bowling combination after injuries to several players. Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton and Khalil Ahmed. At the same time, their middle-order batting has also failed to click consistently under pressure.
Despite showing promise earlier in the tournament, Anshul struggled in the final stages and became emblematic of CSK’s larger downfall. After impressing with his control and wicket-taking ability in the first half, the young pacer struggled to recover as opposition teams started targeting him aggressively. The defeat officially ended CSK’s playoff hopes, while Gujarat Titans cemented their position as one of the strongest contenders for the IPL 2026 title.
