Former pace bowler Mohit Sharma criticised Chennai Super Kings bowlers for their lack of adaptability during the team’s five-wicket defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday, May 18. The loss has left CSK's hopes of qualifying for the IPL (Indian Premier League) 2026 playoffs hanging by a thread.

Defending a target of 181 on a sluggish Chepauk surface, CSK made a decent start with the ball, restricting SRH to 45 runs in the powerplay. However, the hosts failed to maintain control in the middle overs as Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen stitched together a crucial 75-run partnership off just 41 deliveries for the third wicket, putting the visitors firmly in command of the chase.

SRH eventually crossed the line with an over to spare, while the hosts struggled to find a bowler capable of building sustained pressure. In contrast, SRH bowlers, led by Pat Cummins and Shivang Kumar, used the conditions effectively after being asked to bowl first. The ex-cricketer pointed out that the franchise's fast bowlers failed to make proper use of the slow surface, not bowling enough hard lengths and cutters.

“Ishan Kishan’s partnership with Heinrich Klaasen was significant in this match. Both of them are big players, but at the same time, I would say that CSK did not learn anything from the first innings, the way with which the CSK bowlers should have followed the plan, the way the surface should have been used, it did not happen,” he said via Cricbuzz.

“The way SRH used the slower ball, up to 60-65 percent of their deliveries were like that, which was difficult for you guys to play on your home ground. Instead, you are trying to go for yorkers. On a slow wicket, you try to remain on length as much as possible. I understand that yorkers might be your strength, but Mukesh and Anshul are both capable of bowling cutters. If they had bowled according to the surface, they could have made life difficult for SRH batters, and could have turned the match in CSK’s favor,” he added.

CSK pacers Mukesh Choudhary and Anshul Kamboj leaked 82 runs in their combined eight overs despite picking up three wickets between them. Notably, it was Anshul’s second consecutive expensive outing after conceding 63 runs in 2.4 overs against Lucknow Super Giants in CSK’s previous match.