IPL 2026: Everyone gave their hearts out, says Gaikwad, proud despite CSK's defeat to SRH
Chennai, May 19
Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad praised his team's fighting effort despite suffering a five-wicket defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 63 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Monday.
The loss daunted five-time champion CSK's playoff hopes, while Sunrisers Hyderabad booked their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs after successfully chasing down 181 with six balls to spare.
Speaking after the match, Gaikwad said CSK remained in the contest for most of the chase and credited his players for showing character despite missing several key players during the season.
"Good game of cricket. We were in the game until the second-last over. Good T20 pitch. Didn't change over the course of the game. Just missed out on a few. Just cashing in on the opportunity could have been done," Gaikwad said after the match.
Batting first, Chennai Super Kings posted 180/7 in 20 overs with Dewald Brevis top-scoring with 44 runs. Sanju Samson provided a strong start with a quick 27, while Kartik Sharma and Shivam Dube also made useful contributions.
However, SRH chased down the target comfortably through Ishan Kishan's match-winning 70 and Heinrich Klaasen's aggressive 47-run knock.
Despite the defeat, Gaikwad said he was proud of the effort shown by the squad, especially considering the challenges faced by the team this season. "Still, given the team we had and the limited squad, I'm still proud and feel we did well. A lot of positives, to be honest," he added.
Gaikwad also praised wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson for his performances during the tournament and highlighted the support received from Chennai fans throughout the season.
"Sanju has been playing really well for us. Missed out on a few key players. Obviously, it depends on a lot of factors. Everyone gave their heart out today, and I'm proud of the boys," he said. "The crowd and the fans we have, they support us through thick and thin. Compared to last year, we were very much better this year," Gaikwad added.
After the loss, CSK are still present at sixth position in the points table with 12 points in 13 matches. They will next face the Gujarat Titans in their last group stage match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 21 May.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Typical SRH batting dominance! Ishan Kishan was unstoppable today, and Klaasen just finishes matches like it's nothing. But CSK should be proud - from being at the bottom last year to still in playoff contention with one match left is commendable. Our middle order needs work though. Dube and Kartik Sharma need to convert starts into big scores. 😅
Gaikwad is right - we were in the game until the 19th over! That's more than most teams can say against this SRH batting lineup. But I think our bowling at the death needs serious improvement. Pathirana was missed badly. Also, why didn't we give Theekshana more overs on this Chepauk pitch? 🤔
As a die-hard CSK fan, I'm both proud and heartbroken. We started the season without major stars and yet fought to the last ball of the group stage. Gaikwad's leadership has matured so much - he's learning from Dhoni's calmness but adding his own aggressive touch. The Chepauk crowd never stopped supporting even when we were losing. THAT is why we love this franchise! 🦁💛
Let's be honest - we overachieved this season. With half the squad injured and no big overseas stars, finishing sixth with 12 points is actually a great achievement. But management needs to plan better for next year: we need a proper finisher in the middle order and a death bowler who can nail yorkers. Jaydev Unadkat has been decent but not enough. Still, proud of our boys! 😊
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