Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth blasted Chennai Super Kings’ think tank after their eight-wicket loss against Gujarat Titans in the ongoing IPL 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Sunday. CSK could only manage an under-par score of 158-7 and GT were able to chase down the score with 20 balls to spare.
Srikkanth expressed his surprise after CSK used Sarfaraz Khan as an Impact Player in the early stages of their batting innings. The home team were left tottering at 25-2 after they lost early wickets of in-form Sanju Samson and Urvil Patel.
However, the move to send Sarfaraz Khan as an impact player didn’t pay dividends as the right-hander was dismissed for a golden duck by Mohammed Siraj.
Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “What was the need to bring Sarfaraz Khan as the Impact Sub? It was a horrible move. It was stupid and a panic move. You were only two down. If you were five down, then the move would have been justified. You sacrificed an in-form Mukesh Choudhary because of this.”
The 1983 World Cup winning player said head coach Stephen Fleming must be held accountable for this decision.
“But Ruturaj Gaikwad cannot be blamed for this decision. It was Fleming and Co. making the decision from inside. Why Sarfaraz Khan? Is he such a great player? He has also done nothing the whole season. Except Sanju Samson, who else has done anything this season? He scored once against RCB when the match was already dead. So even that wasn’t a great knock.”
The former Indian skipper reckons CSK opener Sanju Samson got rattled after Mohammed Siraj beat his bat on a few occasions in the first over.
“GT actually gave CSK the match on a platter by bowling first. But Sanju was clueless against Siraj in the first over. Sanju got rattled by that. Then, when Rabada started pounding the ball at pace, Sanju lost his concentration there. He played a wild shot and got out,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
Srikkanth said CSK has become dependent on Sanju Samson.
“It’s become like CSK wins only if he scores. If it’s no Sanju in a match, CSK are dusted. They are Kings only if Sanju hits. It cannot be like this, where if Sanju doesn’t score, it’s game over.”
Chennai Super Kings will next take on Mumbai Indians at the Chepauk Stadium on Saturday.
