Kamal Ghorui
Chennai Super Kings made a tactical decision to retire out Ayush Mhatre during their innings against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026 on Saturday.The decision came in the 18th over with CSK at 175/2, when the scoring rate had slowed after a steady middle phase.Mhatre, who scored 59 off 36 balls, was finding it difficult to accelerate against spells from Lungi Ngidi and T Natarajan. With runs needed in the final overs, the team brought in Shivam Dube.
“There was nothing much. I was batting and the team needed some big shots. Shivam also can hit big shots. I wasn’t really getting it going, so the team planned it that way. It happens in the game,” Mhatre said after the match on Star Sports.The move worked as Dube helped CSK add runs at the end and take the total to 212/2. Mhatre had earlier added 113 runs for the second wicket with Sanju Samson after an early setback.Speaking about the stand, Samson said, “Very important to have a great partnership. It never looked like he (Mhatre) was coming out of U-19 — he was so calculative. Shows the character he has.”CSK then bowled out Delhi Capitals for 189 to win by 23 runs. CSK secured their first win of the season and ended a six-match losing run at home. CSK are ninth in the standings with one win and three losses, while DC are fourth with two wins and two losses.
