Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has raised concerns over Chennai Super Kings’ bowling unit after their recent defeat in IPL 2026. Playing at home on April 3, Chennai posted a strong total of 209 for five against Punjab Kings, thanks largely to Ayush Mhatre’s impressive 73. Contributions from Shivam Dube and Sarfaraz Khan further strengthened the innings.
Despite the competitive total, Chennai’s bowlers were unable to defend it, as Punjab chased down the target comfortably with five wickets remaining. The loss has highlighted a recurring issue for Chennai this season—their inability to contain opposition batters.
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Speaking after the match, Gavaskar pointed out that the team’s bowling attack appears underwhelming compared to other sides in the tournament. He suggested that this weakness could force Chennai’s batters to aim for significantly higher scores, possibly in the range of 225 to 230, to stay competitive.
He also emphasized how modern T20 teams possess deep batting line-ups, making it increasingly difficult to defend totals that were once considered match-winning. Punjab’s chase, featuring strong contributions from lower-order hitters, served as a clear example.
Gavaskar concluded that unless Chennai addresses their bowling issues soon, the pressure on their batting unit will continue to mount, potentially affecting their overall performance in the tournament.
