Chennai Super Kings star Sarfaraz Khan had a horror day in the game against Gujarat Titans. Khan was named among the substitutes after CSK were put into bat in Chennai. Sarfaraz however was brought in after CSK slipped to 25/2, only to be dismissed for a first ball duck. It was an unusual call from the franchise, with fans expressing their frustrations online.
CSK's Sarfaraz move fails
Sarfaraz Khan was a major absentee as CSK named their playing XI for the game against Gujarat Titans. Ruturaj Gaikwad revealed that the team would be 'playing around' with their impact sub option, with Sarfaraz having dropped to the bench and Urvil Patel returning.
After Kagiso Rabada sent Sanju Samson and Patel packing, CSK turned to Sarfaraz as an impact substitute. The move failed miserably, with the Mumbai batter scoring a golden duck. Khan tried to hit out Mohammed Siraj, whose sharp boucer won the contest.
CSK post 158 after Gaikwad show
In a format usually ruled by power-hitters, it was the bowlers who dictated terms at Chepauk on Sunday as Gujarat Titans made full use of a lively, bounce-friendly surface to keep Chennai Super Kings in check. On a pitch offering sharp carry and extra bounce, stroke-making required patience and smart shot selection, but CSK’s batters repeatedly went for risky strokes without fully judging the conditions, leading to a series of miscued dismissals and a stop-start innings.
Asked to bat first, Chennai never found real momentum and struggled to build partnerships as Gujarat’s disciplined attack applied constant pressure. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, however, stood tall amid the collapse, scoring his maiden half-century of the current IPL season with an unbeaten 74 off 60 balls, including six fours and four sixes. Though his innings began cautiously, he accelerated late to give the hosts a respectable finish of 158 for 7 in an era where 200-plus totals have become the norm.
