‘I wasn’t really…’: Ayush Mhatre breaks silence on being retired in CSK innings cricket news
Chennai Super Kings On Saturday, it took a strategic decision to retire Ayush Mhatre during his innings against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026.The decision came in the 18th over when CSK were 175/2, when the scoring rate slowed down after a steady middle phase.Mhatre, who scored 59 runs in 36 balls, was finding it difficult to accelerate against the spells of Lungi Ngidi and T Natarajan. Runs were needed in the last overs, so the team scored runs. Shivam Dubey.
“There was nothing special. I was batting and the team needed some big shots. Shivam can also hit big shots. I wasn’t really able to do that, so the team planned it that way. It happens in sports,” Mhatre said after the match on Star Sports.The move worked as Dubey helped CSK add runs in the end and take the total to 212/2. Earlier, after the initial setback, Mhatre had added 113 runs with Sanju Samson for the second wicket.Speaking about the stand, Samson said, “It’s very important to have a great partnership. It never felt like he (Mhatre) was coming out of the Under-19s – he was very calculated. Shows the character he has.”After this, CSK bowled out Delhi Capitals for 189 runs and won by 23 runs. CSK achieved their first win of the season and ended a six-match losing streak at home. CSK is at ninth position with one win and three losses, while DC is at fourth position with two wins and two losses.