Chennai Super Kings‘gloomy ipl 2026 The campaign came to an end after a heavy 89-run defeat against Gujarat Titans At Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The defeat officially eliminated the five-time champions from playoff contention, while Gujarat sealed a top-two finish with a brilliant all-round performance. Former Indian fast bowler after the defeat zaheer khan Openly criticized CSK’s tactical decisions, especially the way the franchise handled the power-hitter Shivam Dubey During the run chase.
Zaheer Khan unhappy with Shivam Dubey batting at number 7
CSK were chasing a tough target of 230 runs, but their innings never gained momentum after initial shocks from Gujarat’s pace attack. Amid the collapse, Dubey emerged as the only bright spark from the Chennai side with a fearless 47 off just 17 balls. His aggressive innings entertained the fans for a while, but by the time he reached the crease, the game was far out of CSK’s control.
Zaheer felt that the team management failed to maximize Dubey’s strengths by pushing him too far down the batting order. Speaking during a discussion, the former fast bowler questioned the logic behind using one of CSK’s most destructive batsmen at number seven.
According to Zaheer, a player like Dubey should get enough time at the crease to impact the game, especially in high-pressure chases. He suggested that CSK should seriously consider promoting the left-handed batsman to the upper order next season to better utilize his attacking potential. The former India fast bowler pointed out that Dubey’s clean ball-striking and confidence against spin and pace makes him a valuable asset in the middle-order, and keeping him down further limits his impact.
“Maybe they might think about getting Shivam Dubey to bat higher up the order. You know seven is a very low number for them.” Zaheer said on Cricbuzz.
CSK’s bowling unit is also under question
While discussing Chennai’s campaign, Zaheer also highlighted the concerns regarding the team’s bowling department. He said CSK is still looking for the right balance after the departure of Ravindra Jadeja, whose all-round presence has been crucial for the franchise over the years.
Zaheer said that the team needs a reliable player who can contribute consistently with both bat and ball. he mentioned it Akil Hossein There were glimpses of promise during the season, but CSK will need to carefully develop and support such players going forward.
Despite the disappointing outing, Zaheer did not completely dismiss Chennai’s efforts this year. He described it as a good season overall, suggesting that the franchise still showed fighting spirit despite many inconsistencies throughout the tournament.
“They definitely need to strengthen their bowling and are looking for a replacement for Jadeja who will make a consistent impact with ball and bat. Akeal Hosein has shown some signs of that, so CSK will keep a close eye on how he develops. But overall, it has been a good season for him.” Added Zaheer.
Gujarat Titans dominated from beginning to end
The match itself turned out to be one-sided as Gujarat Titans completely outclassed CSK in every department. Batting first, Gujarat made a huge score of 229/4 due to brilliant innings. Sai SudarshanWho scored 84 runs, captain Shubman Gillwho made 64, and jos buttlerWhose unbeaten 57 runs provided the final touch.
In reply, Chennai’s batting order collapsed due to constant pressure. Mohammad Siraj And Kagiso Rabada During the powerplay. CSK were eventually all out for just 140 runs in 13.4 overs, ending their IPL 2026 journey on a disappointing note.
Also read: Ruturaj Gaikwad breaks silence on MS Dhoni’s future after CSK’s exit from IPL 2026
