Mohit Sharma has criticised the bowling approach of Chennai Super Kings after their disappointing five-wicket defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk in IPL 2026. The former India pacer believes CSK’s bowlers failed to adapt to the slow surface, a mistake that proved costly in a must-win game for the five-time champions.
Defending a target of 181 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, CSK started reasonably well with the ball and restricted SRH to just 45 runs during the powerplay. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the middle overs when Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen counterattacked with a crucial 75-run partnership off only 41 deliveries.
Their aggressive stand put SRH firmly in control of the chase as Chennai struggled to create sustained pressure with either pace or spin. SRH eventually sealed the win with an over remaining, leaving CSK’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Mohit Sharma said Chennai’s bowlers failed to learn from the first innings despite the pitch clearly favouring slower deliveries and cutters.
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“Ishan Kishan’s partnership with Heinrich Klaasen was significant in this match,” Mohit Sharma said. “CSK did not learn anything from the first innings. The way the surface should have been used, it did not happen.”
The former pacer particularly questioned the decision to rely heavily on yorkers instead of bowling hard lengths and slower balls on a sluggish wicket.
“The way SRH used slower balls, almost 60 to 65 percent of their deliveries were cutters or slower variations,” he explained. “Instead, CSK bowlers kept trying yorkers. On a slow wicket, you have to bowl more into the surface and stay on length.”
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Mohit Sharma also pointed out that both Mukesh Choudhary and Anshul Kamboj had the skillset to execute cutters effectively but failed to fully utilise those variations. The two pacers conceded 82 runs in their combined eight overs despite picking up three wickets. For Anshul, it was another difficult outing after leaking 63 runs in his previous appearance against the Lucknow Super Giants.
