Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth criticised Kartik Sharma after Chennai Super Kings registered a five-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants in the ongoing IPL 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Sunday.

Sharma scored a run-a-ball 20 in the run chase of 204 and Srikkanth reckons the youngster was playing for himself rather than the team. Urvil Patel smashed a blistering knock of 65 runs off just 23 balls, but Sharma was not able to carry the aggressive approach.

When Kartik was dismissed, CSK found themselves in a precarious situation, needing 35 runs off 23 balls.

Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “Kartik Sharma and Dewald Brevis fully scratched around. Ruturaj Gaikwad played well initially, and then he did the same thing. Shivam Dube should have come the moment Urvil Patel or Gaikwad got out. He should have come straight at No.4. Instead, you sent a Kartik Sharma, who was taking singles and playing for himself.”

“At one stage, it looked like CSK would lose the game. LSG dropped laddu catch (simple) after laddu catch. Prashant Veer’s 17 off 12 is not the true picture. LSG kept dropping catches for him. The real hero was Shivam Dube, who should come in at No.4.”

The 1983 World Cup-winning player said Kartik Sharma is only good when CSK is chasing around 160 to 170.

“Kartik Sharma is only good for chasing 160 to 170. Beyond that, there is no scope for CSK with him. When it’s a 200 chase, everyone must have seen how he fared. He is not able to hit fast bowling at all. He can only hit spinners. Like the earlier SRH game, if Dube had gotten out, CSK would have lost this match,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).

Chennai Super Kings will once again take on Lucknow Super Giants at Lucknow on Friday.