CSK’s Loss To Punjab Kings Linked To Poor Fielding; Says Captain Gaikwad

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has attributed his team’s fourth consecutive defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 to poor execution in the field, following their 18-run loss to Punjab Kings in Match 22 on Tuesday.

The five-time champions handed two crucial lifelines to Punjab’s opener, Priyansh Arya, who took full advantage by scoring the second-fastest century by an Indian in IPL history.

Gaikwad emphasized that dropped catches played a pivotal role in their defeat.

He noted that every time a catch was missed, it allowed Arya to score an additional 20-30 runs, which ultimately made the difference.

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“In the last four games, that’s been the key difference. Dropped catches have cost us,” Gaikwad said in the post-match presentation.

He further added, “If we had executed better, we could have turned things around. For example, in the last three chases excluding the RCB game it came down to one or two key hits. The extra runs given away due to dropped catches made the outcome difficult for us.”

Improved Batting Performance Amidst Defeat

Despite the defeat, Gaikwad acknowledged the team’s improved batting performance.

The CSK batting lineup, particularly during the powerplay, showed promise.

Gaikwad highlighted that the top order, led by the best batters who excel at playing pace, put up a solid performance.

“This is the kind of performance we were aiming for,” he stated. “Our best batters played up the order and had a brilliant powerplay. There were definitely positives to take from this game.”

Controversial Decision: Conway Retired Out

A surprising moment in the match came when CSK decided to retire opener Devon Conway, who had scored 69 runs, while MS Dhoni continued to fire sixes at the other end.

Conway, who had been in fine form early in the innings, seemed to struggle in the latter stages, prompting the change.

Gaikwad explained the reasoning behind the decision.

“Devon is a timer of the ball and is very effective at the top of the order,” Gaikwad said. “However, Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) has a completely different role. We noticed Devon was struggling to maintain his rhythm, so we brought in Jadeja at that moment to keep the momentum going.”

Moving Forward: Execution Key For CSK

While the loss is a setback for the Super Kings, Gaikwad remains focused on improving their execution, especially in the field.

With the season still ongoing, the captain stressed the importance of rectifying mistakes and building on the positives from the match.