‘Read this to understand:’ Ravichandran Ashwin defends viral pitch report after SRH defeat CSK

Chennai: Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took to social media on Tuesday to defend his pre-match pitch analysis following Sunrisers Hyderabad’s victory over the Chennai Super Kings, pointing to a stark tactical disparity in how both teams utilised slower deliveries.

Ashwin, who conducted the official pitch report ahead of Monday's Indian Premier League match, had initially advised that the team winning the toss should elect to bat first. Following criticism from fans and pundits after the game's outcome, Ashwin shared an analytical breakdown illustrating that the match was decided by tactical execution rather than a flawed pre-match assessment.

"Yes! I did the pitch report & I did say that the team winning the toss should bat first!" Ashwin posted on X, formerly Twitter. "All cricket experts here, take a minute & read this to understand where the game was lost."

The shared data revealed that Pitch No. 5 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium mirrored the historic, slow conditions of the venue, where the ball frequently gripped and hung in the surface.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad adapted effectively to the sluggish track, with its seamers delivering slower variations on 39 of 102 balls—nearly 40% of their total deliveries. The tactical shift proved decisive, yielding four wickets and restricting Chennai batsmen to just 49 runs off those deliveries.

In contrast, Chennai Super Kings bowlers utilised slower balls just 17% of the time, delivering only 12 slower variations out of 72 balls. The strategy yielded no wickets and conceded 23 runs.

Ashwin credited Hyderabad for demonstrating superior game sense and resolve on a surface he maintained was perfectly suited for the contest, offering congratulations to the visiting side for their tactical execution.

Captain Pat Cummins secured figures of 3-28, and Ishan Kishan delivered an aggressive 70 runs to help Sunrisers Hyderabad clinch a postseason berth in the Indian Premier League following a tense, five-wicket victory over the Chennai Super Kings on Monday.

The outcome at Chennai's M.A. Chidambaram Stadium additionally guaranteed a playoff position for the Gujarat Titans. Reigning titleholders Royal Challengers Bengaluru had previously become the first squad to advance to the next stage. Five franchises are now competing for the sole remaining postseason spot in the Twenty20 competition, which culminates with the championship final on May 31 in Ahmedabad.