Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu has called on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batters to show more focus after their defeat to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2026. The team struggled despite a low score of 127, falling short by eight wickets. MS Dhoni, CSK’s former captain, is currently sidelined due to a calf injury and unable to play for the first two weeks.
Rayudu pointed out that while the pitch was challenging, better shot selection in the opening overs could have made a difference. “If they had lost fewer wickets early on, they might have reached 150 or more, which would have been tough for RR to chase,” he said. The team’s young batting lineup, including Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Matthew Short, struggled to score, with only Jamie Overton contributing a solid 43 runs in 36 balls.
Rayudu emphasized that there are no excuses for the loss, especially given the team’s experience. He acknowledged the youth of the squad but stressed the need for improvement. The CSK side will next face Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 3 and then take on defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) two days later.
CSK, who last won the IPL in 2023, had a disappointing 2025 campaign, finishing tenth with just eight points. In IPL 2024, they narrowly missed the playoffs, ending fifth with 14 points but falling short due to a lower Net Run Rate compared to RCB.