The IPL 2026 match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) held at Barsapara Cricket Stadium stirred a debate about the type of pitch. On the one hand, the guests hardly managed to locate their rhythm and were dismissed for a low 127; on the other hand, the ex-India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly supported the wicket. The seasoned off-spinner did not want to hold the conditions responsible for the batting disaster that led to the defending champions losing by 8 wickets in Guwahati.
Ravichandran Ashwin Refuses To Blame Barsapara Wicket For CSK Collapse
Speaking on his YouTube channel following the match, Ravichandran Ashwin was firm in his assessment that the pitch was not the primary reason for the low score. Despite moisture being present due to the surface being under covers following recent rain, Ashwin insisted that the quality of bowling from the Rajasthan Royals pace attack was the deciding factor. He noted that while the red soil offered bounce and movement, it was still a surface where runs could be scored with better application.
“RR outplayed, outclassed, did everything to CSK. Please don’t say anything wrong about the wicket, I won’t accept that,” Ravichandran Ashwin stated. He further explained that while there was some moisture, it was not a 127-run wicket and highlighted that Sanju Samson and his team showed the right tempo during the chase. Ashwin concluded that it was simply a day where the Chennai-based franchise was “beaten black and blue” with very few options to counter the clinical performance of the hosts.
Jofra Archer And Nandre Burger Exploit Early Conditions In Guwahati
Chennai Super Kings’ top order seemed quite unsettled by a very incisive opening spell from the foreign pace duo of Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger. The seamers’ skill in combining movement and bounce off the pitch made CSK collapse to a vulnerable 19 for 3 in the first four overs. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad admitted that the initial stage was very challenging. He said that the conditions were quite tough for high-quality pace bowling as well as spinning bowling.
Their low total of 127 has now become the lowest score ever recorded in an IPL game at Barsapara Stadium. Though the longest 10th wicket stand of 42 runs between Jamie Overton and Anshul Kamboj added some respectability to the score, RR comfortably chased down the target in 12. 1 overs.
Due to this heavy loss, the Super Kings’ net run rate has gone down drastically, and they find themselves at the bottom of the IPL 2026 points table as the season is getting more and more competitive.
