After starting the season with two consecutive defeats in IPL 2026, five-time titleholders Chennai Super Kings will be looking to quickly regroup and address their bowling concerns as they gear up to take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.

CSK’s bowling struggles came to the fore in their latest outing against Punjab Kings at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, where they failed to defend a strong 209/5. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad felt the total was more than competitive given the nature of the surface.

“I feel it was a really good score, to be honest. The wicket was good for fast bowlers, but for the spinners, it was gripping a bit. On this ground, with big boundaries, it was a very good score,” Gaikwad said after the match.

However, what followed exposed a recurring issue. CSK’s bowling unit failed to apply sustained pressure, allowing Punjab to dictate terms throughout the chase. Despite moments of decent execution, the lack of control during key phases proved decisive.

“I think it was a mixture of both. We executed really well, but we didn’t execute well at the right time. The pressure didn’t really build. It went to 11, and a couple of good overs could have pushed it to 12 or 13. We couldn’t build pressure with the ball,” Gaikwad admitted.

The concern is not limited to a single match. Across their first two games, CSK bowlers have struggled to contain runs or pick up wickets at crucial junctures, often allowing opponents to recover or accelerate without much resistance.

Even on a Chepauk surface that offered some grip for spinners, CSK were unable to capitalize. The inclusion of Rahul Chahar as an impact substitute reflected an attempt to strengthen their spin options, but the move did not yield the desired control.

“We felt we had three seamers going in. We had good wrist spinners bowling post the Powerplay. It was a slight off day for both of them—that was the thought process,” Gaikwad explained.

Earlier in the match, CSK’s batting effort had shown promise despite an inconsistent start. Contributions from Ayush Mhatre (73) and Shivam Dube (45) helped them reach a formidable total, even as the team leaned heavily on individual performances rather than collective momentum.

“Definitely a tough one. But as I said, lots of positives. Ayush batted really well. We have confidence in him going ahead. Shivam also played very well. The bowling was a bit off today,” Gaikwad said.

Reflecting on his own innings, Gaikwad, who scored 28 off 22 deliveries, said, “I’m feeling well. It’s just about adapting to the role that the team needs. Since the wicket was gripping a little bit and Ayush was going well at the other end, I thought of holding one end up. But I got out at the wrong time.”