Michael Hussey Admits CSK Were Outplayed After Batting Struggles in Guwahati

Chennai Super Kings batting coach Michael Hussey admitted his side was outplayed and pointed to the challenging pitch conditions as a factor behind the batting collapse.

"They outplayed us today, but I think it was a good toss to win, definitely. The pitch had been under cover for a long time,” Hussey told reporters after the match.

Hussey stressed the need for adaptability when conditions are not ideal for batting and urged the team to take lessons from the defeat.

"We need to take the lessons from this game that if the conditions aren't perfect, maybe we need to adjust our sights a little bit and try to score our runs in different areas,” he said.

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“So we'll definitely take a few learnings from it. We want to try and put this one behind us pretty quickly and move on back to Chennai," he added.

Former India captain Anil Kumble praised Rajasthan Royals’ clinical new-ball bowling performance against CSK, highlighting how the opening spells set the tone for an emphatic eight-wicket victory on Monday.

Sanju Samson, opening the innings for CSK in his first match for the five-time champions, was dismissed early by left-arm seamer Nandre Burger in what proved to be a key turning point.

CSK struggled to recover from the early setbacks as RR’s pace attack capitalised on helpful conditions.

Speaking on JioHotstar, Kumble noted that the pitch offered early assistance to seamers, which Rajasthan exploited effectively.

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"It wasn't an easy pitch. There was something in it for the bowlers, a bit of moisture. In Nandre Burger's first over, everything was going into the right-hander, and even on the wicket ball, the angle looked like it was going to come in,” Kumble said.

“But after pitching, it straightened up. It was a perfect left-arm seamer's delivery to a right-hander, and Sanju Samson was beaten," he added.

He added that Rajasthan’s bowlers adapted quickly with disciplined lines and subtle variations in length, which kept the CSK top order under pressure.

"When Jofra Archer came on to bowl, Sanju was expecting a short delivery because he had gotten out that way against Jofra Archer, but he went full. It was a good toss to win for Rajasthan," he said.

Jofra Archer, Ravindra Jadeja and Nandre Burger delivered incisive spells, setting up the platform for RR’s comfortable chase, which was anchored by a sensational half-century from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

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Meanwhile, JioStar expert and former India cricketer Suresh Raina highlighted the importance of RR’s opening pair of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal, calling them potential game-changers for the franchise this season.

"Riyan Parag mentioned in the post-match presentation about the batting mindset that as long as the team is winning, they are sticking to their approach,” said Raina.

“The changes are evident from last season. You now have eight overs of spin in Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi, who are both capable of bowling four overs in every match. Then you look at the batting order, starting with the openers, followed by Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and then Ravindra Jadeja and Donovan Ferreira down the order,” Raina added.

“There's some serious depth in the batting. But I think the game-changers for RR will be the pair of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal," he said.

Drawing a comparison with a successful IPL opening duo, Raina added, "I immediately went back to the duo of Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli for RCB all those years ago, where Gayle would blow the opposition away, as Sooryavanshi did with a 15-ball half-century against CSK, and Kohli would control the innings, solid as ever. I think that combination will be very important for RR this season."

(With inputs from ANI)