CSK Captain Ruturaj: 'Couldn't Adapt to Tricky Chepauk Pitch in GT Defeat'

The MA Chidambaram Stadium witnessed another twist in IPL fortunes as Gujarat Titans routed Chennai Super Kings by 8 wickets, chasing 159 with ease. CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad shouldered the blame squarely on the pitch's peculiarities after his side folded for 158/7. Leading from the front with 74 runs – laced with aggressive strokeplay including six boundaries and four maximums – Gaikwad was the lone warrior in a batting debacle. 'It was a difficult surface,' he confessed. 'Seamers got extra grip, ball speed fluctuated, bounce was erratic. Fewer wickets lost, and we could've pushed to 170-plus.' Reflecting on recent outings, Gaikwad noted, 'Chepauk's conditions are hard to predict. Last few matches gave us strong chances at 60-70%, but today caught us off guard. Adaptation was our Achilles' heel.' The middle order mirrored the woes: Samson managed 11, Sarfaraz a duck, Brevis 2, Dube 22, and Sharma 15. GT, meanwhile, cruised with Sudharsan's explosive 87 (46 balls, 4x4, 7x6), Buttler's unbeaten 39, and Gill's steady 33. As CSK grapples with this setback, Gaikwad's words signal a team in introspection mode, eyeing corrections for upcoming battles in the high-stakes IPL tournament.