Former Australian opener and Chennai Super Kings legend Matthew Hayden didn’t hold back in his assessment of CSK’s timid approach during their crushing eight-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders at Chepauk. Speaking after the game, Hayden questioned the logic behind MS Dhoni’s conservative tactics during the powerplay, especially on a surface he felt had plenty of runs in it.
“I genuinely felt like this was a 180-plus wicket,” Matthew Hayden remarked on JioHotstar. “The pitch looked great — hard black soil, true bounce. And yet, MS spoke about being cautious in the powerplay. I completely disagree with that mindset. If you’re giving away 30 runs early and trying to bat through 20 overs just for survival, you’re missing the point.”
ALSO READ: Abishek Porel’s Heartfelt Tribute To Virat Kohli After DC vs RCB Clash
Hayden stressed that such an approach puts undue pressure on middle-order batters like Shivam Dube and even Dhoni himself, who are then expected to pull off miracles in the death overs. “They’ve got enough firepower,” Hayden added. “But by being too careful upfront, they’re forcing their finishers to bail them out every time. That’s not sustainable.”
Chennai’s batting crumbled to a meagre 103/9, which KKR chased down with ease in just 10.3 overs — CSK’s most humiliating defeat in IPL history in terms of balls remaining. Sunil Narine and Harshit Rana wreaked havoc with the ball, exposing CSK’s lack of intent and application.
Captain MS Dhoni, visibly disappointed after the loss, acknowledged his team’s shortcomings, particularly with the bat. “We just didn’t have enough runs on the board,” he said at the post-match presentation. “It’s been a few tough nights. The key is to avoid desperation. We need better application and to accept the challenge ahead.”
WATCH – KL Rahul Sends Heartfelt Wishes To Bengaluru FC Ahead of ISL Final
With Chennai now searching for answers mid-season, Hayden’s critique may resonate with fans and analysts who feel CSK need to shake off the rust and return to their bold, attacking brand of cricket.
