At a glance:
- CSK batting coach Michael Hussey said every remaining IPL 2026 match is now a “final” for Chennai Super Kings after their defeat to Lucknow Super Giants.
- The loss left CSK with 12 points from 13 matches, meaning they likely need to win both remaining league games and depend on other results to qualify for the playoffs.
- CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad also remained optimistic, saying the playoff scenario is still achievable despite the setback.
According to batting coach Michael Hussey, the Chennai Super Kings’ IPL campaign is in jeopardy following their loss to the Lucknow Super Giants, hence they need to approach every remaining game as a “final.”
The next two league games for the five-time champions are now almost must-wins. Mitchell Marsh’s scorching 38-ball 90 propelled the hosts to an easy chase of 188 on a pace-friendly track on Friday, and CSK was thoroughly defeated by an already-eliminated LSG team.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side was left with 12 points from 13 games after the loss, making their next two league games essentially elimination games. According to Hussey, CSK now has to win both of its remaining games and rely on a few other outcomes to go its way.
“Well, I mean, I actually love this time of the tournament because every game is like a final, you know, and we’re in that situation now. “We’re going to have to win our last two matches. I mean, I haven’t studied the table that closely. Yeah, there’s a lot of teams fighting out for probably the last couple of spots in the top four,” he said.
“This is the stage of the tournament where the pressure is really on everyone, not just us, but all the other teams as well. And you can see some crazy things happen. So we’re still in with a chance… we still have belief that we can make it through,” he added at the post-match press conference.
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Michael Hussey says CSK still believe in IPL 2026 playoff qualification
Hussey had similar thoughts to CSK skipper Gaikwad, who insisted the playoff task was still manageable despite the defeat.
“We’re obviously going to have to take care of our business. Probably need a couple of results to go our way as well. But that’s the nature of this tournament. And I feel like it’s really building to a really nice climax.
“And that’s why I think it’s one of the best tournaments in the world, because at this stage of the tournament, you know, there are only two teams that are actually definitely out. Even the teams that are below us are still a chance, you know, theoretically, to make the final. So I think it’s an awesome opportunity for everyone. But, yeah, that’s the way we’ll be looking at it,” Hussey said
Hussey acknowledged that the bowlers’ inability to break the opening partnership between Marsh and Josh Inglis early on allowed LSG to convert the match into a one-sided game, but he thought CSK’s batters had done an admirable job posting 187 on a ground that offered pace and bounce.
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Michael Hussey praises Mitchell Marsh after CSK defeat to LSG
He noted that Marsh was able to easily adapt to the bouncy circumstances because of his prior experience batting on fast Australian pitches. Hussey believed that Marsh is always dangerous when his confidence is high, and that’s precisely what occurred on Friday.
“Our guys did a pretty good job to get to that score, 180… what did we get, 187. I thought it was a good effort to get there because it did look challenging, especially with, you know, they (LSG) had a good pace attack, hit the pitch hard, got some good pace and bounce, so it was a really good effort.
“And then, I think, the way they started, you know, they obviously were going to come out pretty hard, take their chances, and if they get away, they’re hard to stop. You know, Mitch Marsh, Josh Inglis, they both enjoy playing on those sort of faster, bouncier pitches coming from Australia.”
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