Chennai Super Kings‘ disappointing IPL 2026 After a heavy 89 defeats, the campaign came to a crushing end Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The defeat officially eliminated the five-time champions from the play-off race, while Gujarat finished in the top two with a dominant all-round performance. After the defeat, the former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan He openly criticized CSK’s tactical decisions, especially how the franchise handled the power hitters. Shivam Dubey during a run chase.
Zaheer Khan unhappy with Shivam Dube’s batting number 7
CSK were chasing a daunting target of 230, but their innings never really picked up momentum after the early hits from Gujarat’s pace attack. At the collapse, Dube emerged as the lone bright spark for the Chennai side with a fearless 47 off just 17 deliveries. His aggressive batting entertained the fans briefly but by the time he reached the crease, the game was already out of CSK’s control.
Zaheer felt that the team management failed to maximize Dube’s strengths by pushing him too far down the batting order. Speaking during the debate, the former fast bowler questioned the logic of using one of CSK’s most devastating batsmen at number seven.
According to Zaheer, a player like Dube needs to get enough time at the crease to make an impact, especially in high-pressure chases. He suggested that CSK should seriously consider promoting the left-hander to a higher level from next season to make better use of his attacking prowess. The former India pacer pointed out that Dube’s clean bowling and confidence against spin and pace make him a valuable middle-order asset and keeping him down only limits his impact.
“Perhaps Shivam Dube doing the bidding is something they can consider. You know seven is a very low number for him.” Zaheer said on Cricbuzz.
CSK’s bowling unit is also under the scanner
While discussing Chennai’s campaign, Zaheer also highlighted concerns about the team’s bowling department. He said CSK is still searching for the right balance after the departure of Ravindra Jadeja, whose all-round presence has been crucial to the franchise over the years.
Zaheer mentioned that the team needs a reliable player who can contribute consistently with both bat and ball. He noted that Akeal Hosein He showed promise during the season but CSK needed to develop such players carefully and move forward.
Despite the disappointing performance, Zaheer has not completely dismissed Chennai’s efforts this year. He described it as a decent season overall, suggesting that despite a number of inconsistencies throughout the tournament, the franchise still showed fighting spirit.
“They definitely need to strengthen their bowling and Jadeja’s replacement is something they are looking for, who will do that consistent hitting with ball and bat. Akeal Hosein has shown some signs of that, so how they develop is something CSK will be watching closely. But overall, it has been a decent season for them.” Zahir added.
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Gujarat Titans dominate from start to finish
The match itself turned into a one-sided affair as Gujarat Titans completely outclassed CSK in every department. Batting first, Gujarat amassed a massive score of 229/4 thanks to some spectacular batting. Sai SudharsanThe skipper who broke the 84 Shubman Gill64 who do and If Buttlerwhose unbeaten 57 provided the final touch.
In reply, Chennai’s batting order crumbled under relentless pressure Muhammad Siraj and Kagiso Rabada during the power play. CSK finally ended their IPL 2026 journey on a disappointing note with a total score of 140 in 13.4 overs.
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