IPL 2026: 'CSK just stuck to that bad plan' - Ambati Rayudu reflects on Chennai's loss to RCB

Cricketer-turned-commentator Ambati Rayudu believes that sticking to a bad plan and strategy cost Chennai Super Kings the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Rayudu thinks that CSK could have slowed down things a bit, especially towards the death of the first innings, where their bowlers went for truckloads of runs in Match 11 of IPL 2026 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Sunday, April 5.

RCB started off quite well, with Philip Salt and Virat Kohli providing an excellent platform, which was carried forward by Devdutt Padikkal. But the real thunder began when Rajat Patidar and Tim David took centre stage and smashed CSK bowlers all round the park to add a mind-boggling 99 runs off just 37, taking RCB's total to a daunting 250-3 at the end of 20 overs.

"More than a bad plan, they just stuck to that bad plan. There was nobody to intervene and to just take some time off, take those 20-30 seconds, just make it slightly more slow and then guide the bowler with a message. I think they should have slowed it down a little bit," Rayudu was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Towards the death, Shivam Dube came and picked up a wicket but went for 30 runs in his two overs. Anshul Kamboj, who had picked Kohli in the powerplay, also went for 52 in his full spell. Lead spinner Noor Ahmad also went for 49 in his quota of four overs. Rayudu believes that Ruturaj Gaikwad's bowlers failed to follow up a boundary ball with a better one, which eventually proved to be the difference between CSK and win.

"Their follow-up balls after a boundary or a six aren't great. Generally, as a bowler, you need to be aware that, 'Okay, I have been hit for a six, but it's the next ball that matters.' Whenever you see good death bowlers, they always follow up with a very good ball. But their powerplay bowling and middle-overs bowling was much better than what it was last game," the former CSK cricketer added.

After a hat-trick of losses, CSK's next challenge is against Delhi Capitals, as the two teams prepare to meet at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday, April 11. DC are currently unbeaten, having defeated Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians. CSK, on the other hand, are yet to get off the mark on the IPL 2026 Points Table.