After the Chennai Super Kings’ devastating loss to Punjab Kings at Chepauk, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin did not hold back in his criticism of the team, saying it was ‘painful to watch’ his former team suffer. In an emotional response, Ashwin stated that he could not overlook the decline in standards but was prepared to take criticism for speaking up. CSK’s problems have persisted into IPL 2026, as they are currently at the bottom of the standings following back-to-back losses.
They failed to defend the score after scoring 209 for five in their first home game, as PBKS easily chased it down, revealing well-known problems with their bowling and energy. Ashwin offered a personal assessment of the team’s performance on his YouTube channel.
“No offence — I don’t blame any player. But from the outside, it’s hard to watch at times. You know what kind of team this used to be once? Watching the match today from the stadium, from the commentary box, for the first time with a straight view — I felt it,” Ashwin said.
“People can say whatever they want; I don’t care. You can judge me, abuse however you like; it doesn’t matter. For me, Chennai is a matter of pride. Think whatever you want; it doesn’t bother me. But when I watched this team today, by the 15th over, everyone’s shoulders had dropped. It was painful to watch. Really painful. With inexperienced players, you can see it in their body language — the atmosphere becomes clear. It was genuinely disappointing,” he added.
Ashwin also mentioned how the team’s attitude might have been affected by MS Dhoni’s absence. There was a clear lack of presence and leadership during the Chepauk match because Dhoni, who is now sidelined due to a calf injury and has been progressively moving into a limited on-field role, missed it.
“Bring that culture back. I still believe this team can make the top four. I’m confident — they just need to get things right. One small regret today — MS Dhoni wasn’t at the ground. If he was there, players like these would benefit. His presence in the dressing room changes the vibe completely,” Ashwin said.
CSK was defeated despite a good batting effort. They reached 209 for five because to Ayush Mhatre’s 73 and helpful contributions from Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube. But following Priyansh Arya’s explosive start, Punjab easily chased down the score, and the bowlers were unable to protect it. Ashwin’s remarks revealed a deeper worry for the team’s future as CSK’s problems have been getting worse over time.
“When I watch cricket, the place I played, the team I represented — nothing is bigger for me than Tamil Nadu. The biggest regret of my life is not being able to win the Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu. Not doing anything for India is not my regret — not doing it for Tamil Nadu is.”
“I don’t want any player to go through phases where the identity of the team starts slipping. This team had a culture, and that’s what needs to come back,” he added.
