The Indian Premier League (IPL) always brings different kinds of challenges for teams, both on and off the field. How a side deals with these situations often decides how their season turns out. This year, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are in a spot they are not used to. One of the most successful teams in IPL history, with five titles, CSK have had a poor start to the season under captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
CSK's performance in IPL 2026
They are currently at the bottom of the table with a negative net run rate of 2.517. Fans and experts have pointed out that the team has not shown enough intent at the top of the order. There are growing concerns about experienced batters Sanju Samson and Gaikwad, who haven’t been able to give the team a strong start. This has put extra pressure on a young middle order that includes players like Ayush Mhatre and Sarfaraz Khan.
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Kumble on CSK's performance
Former India spinner Anil Kumble shared his thoughts on CSK’s struggles while speaking on Star Sports.
“It’s a massive concern for Chennai. If your two most experienced batters, Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad, haven’t fired in the first three matches, it becomes a serious challenge. The rest of the batting line-up, apart from Samson and MS Dhoni, is quite young. You need at least one of your experienced batters to step up and deliver a big innings. Unfortunately, in the first three games, things haven’t gone Chennai’s way. It’s still early in the season, but they will need to tighten things up quickly,” said Kumble.
Kumble’s concern clearly reflects what’s happening with the team. Samson, who was signed for ₹18 crores as an experienced batter and a long-term replacement for MS Dhoni behind the stumps, has scored just 22 runs in three matches so far. He hasn’t been able to continue the form he showed during India’s T20 World Cup 2026 win.
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Gaikwad who was announced as Dhoni's sucessor to lead CSK in 2024 has the support of the team management. However, his performances haven’t matched expectations. He has scored only 41 runs in three matches this season and has now faced seven straight losses as captain, going back to the end of the 2025 season.
CSK’s batting problems are not just about low scores but also about the lack of stability. The opening pair of Samson and Gaikwad have managed only 62 runs together so far, which has left the rest of the batting lineup under pressure. The younger players are still settling into the league, and without support from the senior players, things have become even more difficult.