CSK lose by 7 wickets against LSG (Image: IPL/BCCI)
Ravi Shastri believes that Chennai Super Kings should treat their seven-wicket loss against Lucknow Super Giants as a valuable learning experience rather than a major setback in their playoff race for IPL 2026. CSK’s qualification hopes took a hit after the loss in Lucknow, leaving them in a must-win situation in their remaining league matches. However, Shastri felt there were still positives that the Chennai team could take away from the contest.Speaking on JioHotstar, the former India head coach pointed out that the Ekana Stadium pitch was not as batting-friendly as the final score suggested, and credited CSK for reaching 187 despite key batsmen failing to fire.“I would take the positives from this match for CSK. I think this wicket was not that easy and despite batting first, they still made 187. “Sanju Samson didn’t score runs, Ruturaj Gaikwad didn’t score much either, so if they find a form (in the upcoming matches), that would be key for CSK,” Shastri said on JioHotstar.“Their players will learn what distances they need to play in conditions like these. In Chennai, they know what works and where to play, so they will be a much stronger team at home. They will also have their plans ready for that surface. So, I would consider this a bad day, but also a game that offered a lot of lessons,” he added.The former India captain spoke specifically about young pacer Anshul Kamboj, who had a tough outing against Mitchell Marsh. Marsh smashed four consecutive sixes off Kamboj during a brutal over that changed the game decisively in Lucknow’s favour.“After getting four sixes, what should Anshul Kamboj have done? In my opinion, he should have thought more about bowling yorkers, aiming for the stumps right at the block hole.“When you know Marsh was expecting a little less length, bowl yorkers on the stumps or, if you are bowling bouncers, bowl them outside off stump with a deep third man in place. Bend your back and bowl them closer to head height, not chest or waist height, because that is bread and butter for someone who has grown up playing in Perth. It becomes very easy for him to use pace,” opined Shastri.
Lucknow overtook Chennai
Chennai Super Kings suffered a major setback in their playoff push after a seven-wicket loss to Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium.Playing his first match of IPL 2026, left-arm pacer Akash Singh starred for LSG with figures of 3/26, dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson and Urvil Patel using short, sharp bowling on a lively surface. CSK struggled from the start and managed just 37/2 in the powerplay.Despite fighting off Kartik Sharma’s 71 off 42 balls, CSK could not put enough pressure on Lucknow.In response, Australian openers Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis dominated the chase with a spectacular opening stand of 135 runs in just 11.4 overs. Marsh hit 90 off 38 balls, including four consecutive sixes off Anshul Kamboj in a brutal over that effectively sealed the contest.Nicholas Pooran then ended the chase in the 17th over as LSG comfortably completed the victory.
