The five-time champion now stares at a virtual must-win situation in its final two league matches.<\/p>\n
CSK was outplayed by an already-eliminated LSG side as Mitchell Marsh\u2019s blistering 38-ball 90 powered the host to a comfortable chase of 188 on a pace-friendly surface on Friday.<\/p>\n
The defeat left Ruturaj Gaikwad\u2019s side stranded on 12 points from 13 matches, turning its final two league fixtures into virtual knockout contests.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I mean, I actually love this time of the tournament because it\u2019s like every game is like a final, you know, and we\u2019re in that situation now,\u201d Hussey said, with CSK now needing victories in both its remaining games while also relying on a few other results to go in its favour.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to have to win our last two matches. I mean, I haven\u2019t studied the table that closely. Yeah, there\u2019s a lot of teams fighting out for that, probably the last couple of spots in the top-four,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is where (stage of the tournament) the pressure is really on everyone, not just us, but all the other teams as well. And you can see some crazy things happen. So, we\u2019re still (in with) a chance… we still have belief that we can make it through,\u201d he said during the post-match press conference.<\/p>\n
Much like CSK skipper Gaikwad, who remained unfazed by the defeat and insisted the playoffs task was still manageable, Hussey too struck a calm note, saying the team was building towards an exciting climax to the league stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to obviously have to take care of our business. Probably need a couple of results to go our way as well. But that\u2019s the nature of this tournament. And I feel like it\u2019s really building to a really nice climax.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s why I think it\u2019s one of the best tournaments in the world, because at this stage of the tournament, you know, there are only two teams that are actually definitely out. Even then, the teams that are below us have still a chance, you know, theoretically to make the final. So, I think it\u2019s an awesome opportunity for everyone. But, yeah, that\u2019s the way we\u2019ll be looking at it,\u201d added Hussey.<\/p>\n
Hussey felt CSK\u2019s batters had done a commendable job in posting 187 on a pitch offering pace and bounce, but admitted the bowlers\u2019 inability to break the opening stand between Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis early allowed LSG to turn the contest into a one-sided affair.<\/p>\n
He added that Marsh\u2019s experience of batting on quick Australian surfaces helped him adjust seamlessly to the bouncy conditions on offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur guys did a pretty good job to get to that score, 180, what did we get, 187. I thought it was a good effort to get there because it did look challenging, especially with, you know, they (LSG) had a good pace attack, hit the pitch hard, got some good pace and bounce, so it was a really good effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then, I think, the way they started, you know, they obviously were going to come out pretty hard, take their chances and if they get away, they\u2019re hard to stop. You know, Mitch Marsh, Josh Inglis, they both enjoy playing on those sort of faster, bouncier pitches coming from Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marsh is a player who is always dangerous when he has his confidence up and that\u2019s what happened on Friday, feels Hussey.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, there was a bit of an advantage there and then, once they get their confidence up and impose themselves on the game, then it can be hard to stop. So, yeah, obviously the plan was to try and get a couple of early wickets and then really put the pressure on them through the middle and yeah, we just couldn\u2019t unfortunately break that opening partnership until it was probably a little bit too late,\u201d said Hussey.<\/p>\n
Published on May 16, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n