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The IPL 2026 campaign for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) came to a disappointing end after a crushing defeat to Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Needing a victory to keep their fading playoff hopes alive, CSK were completely outplayed in all departments as Gujarat sealed a dominant 89-run win and confirmed their place in the top two of the points table.
Following the defeat, former India captain Kris Srikkanth did not hold back while assessing CSK’s performance, particularly targeting young pacer for his dramatic dip in form during the latter half of the tournament.
Kris Srikkanth questions CSK bowler’s decline
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth did not hold back while reviewing Kamboj’s performance. He pointed out that the young bowler had a good first half of the season but completely lost his way later on.
“Anshul Kamboj was impressive in the first half of the season. But in the end, instead of scoring 500 runs with the bat, he has conceded over 500 with the ball. He got intimidated after getting smashed in the LSG match. Ever since, his legs and hands are both gone, and he’s not able to bowl,” Srikkanth said.
Kamboj finished the season having conceded 530 runs in 14 matches at an economy rate of 10.52, one of the highest among regular bowlers this season. His poor showing in the death overs became a major concern for CSK, especially in crunch games.
Injury-hit CSK endure frustrating IPL 2026 season
CSK’s campaign was heavily affected by injuries and inconsistency throughout the season. The franchise struggled to settle on a stable bowling combination after injuries to several players, like Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton and Khaleel Ahmed. At the same time, their middle-order batting also failed to click consistently under pressure.
Despite showing flashes of promise earlier in the tournament, Anshul struggled in the final phase and became symbolic of CSK’s larger collapse. After impressing with his control and wicket-taking ability during the first half, the young pacer found it difficult to recover once opposition teams began targeting him aggressively. The defeat officially ended CSK’s playoff hopes, while Gujarat Titans strengthened their position as one of the strongest contenders for the IPL 2026 title.
