Daijiworld Media Network- Chennai

Chennai, Apr 9: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has pointed to sloppy fielding and missed opportunities as key reasons behind the team’s fourth straight defeat in the ongoing IPL 2025 season.

Speaking after CSK’s latest loss, Gaikwad expressed frustration over the number of dropped catches that gave the opposition a significant edge. “We let the game slip away with poor fielding. Dropped catches at crucial moments made a huge difference. At this level, you can’t afford to give second chances,” he said during the post-match presentation.

CSK’s once-feared fielding unit looked visibly out of rhythm in their latest outing, with three catches going down — two of them proving especially costly as they allowed the opposition’s top-order batsman to settle and pile on the runs.

Despite putting up a competitive total with the bat, the lack of sharpness on the field allowed their opponents to chase down the target comfortably, leaving CSK languishing in the lower half of the points table.

Gaikwad, who recently took over the captaincy from MS Dhoni, acknowledged the pressure but remained optimistic. “The spirit in the camp is still high. We’ve been practicing hard, and I believe one good game can turn the momentum in our favour. We just need to get those basics right — especially in the field.”

CSK’s bowling coach Eric Simons echoed Gaikwad’s sentiments, emphasizing that “catching wins matches,” and noted that fielding drills would be ramped up ahead of their next game.

With their fan base growing increasingly anxious, the Super Kings now face a must-win scenario in their upcoming fixtures if they hope to remain in playoff contention.