Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has dismissed criticism of the Barsapara pitch following the Chennai Super Kings’ batting collapse against the Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2026 opener. According to Ashwin, the surface in Guwahati was far from unplayable, and CSK’s struggles were more a reflection of poor execution than difficult conditions.

The Barsapara Stadium pitch, prepared with red soil and affected by pre-match rain, did offer some assistance to fast bowlers early on. With moisture under the covers, seamers like Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger made full use of the conditions, reducing CSK to 19/3 inside the first four overs. Their pace, movement, and bounce exposed the top order, putting the visitors on the back foot immediately.

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However, Ravichandran Ashwin was clear that the surface was not to blame for CSK’s modest total of 127. “RR outplayed and outclassed CSK. Please don’t say anything wrong about the wicket,” he said on his YouTube channel. “There was some moisture, but it isn’t a 127-run pitch.”

He also pointed to the approach required on such a surface, highlighting Sanju Samson’s early dismissal. “It was a wicket where you needed to spend a bit of time. Coming from a high-tempo World Cup, adjusting quickly can be challenging,” Ravichandran Ashwin explained.

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Rajasthan Royals’ comfortable chase, completed in under 13 overs, further underlined his point. The ease with which they hunted down the target showed that the pitch eased out significantly as the game progressed.

CSK’s total now stands as the lowest IPL score recorded at the venue, well below the average first-innings score of around 142 in Guwahati. For Ashwin, the takeaway was simple—this was less about pitch conditions and more about one team being thoroughly outplayed on the day.