Chennai Super Kings seized control early, winning the PowerPlay battle against Sunrisers Hyderabad on its own turf — something few teams manage with such authority. Even after losing Sanju Samson early, it surged ahead thanks to Ayush Mhatre’s blistering 13-ball 30, putting itself firmly on course for a third straight win.

Mhatre tore into Praful Hinge, smashing five boundaries in a single over and barely needing to run between the wickets. Ironically, it was running that cut short both his innings and CSK’s momentum.

Responding to Ruturaj Gaikwad’s call for a quick two, he completed the runs but immediately clutched his hamstring.

The 18-year-old attempted to continue but fell soon after, and the chase gradually unravelled. Batting coach Mike Hussey tried to keep a positive outlook even as he acknowledged the severity of the injury.

“It’s obviously a hamstring tear. It looks pretty bad unfortunately. He’s going to be a big loss because he’s an exciting young talent and has been in really nice touch for us. It’s going to give someone else an opportunity, we’ve got some really good players that haven’t been able to get that.

As much as we’re really disappointed to lose Ayush, and I don’t know how long for, it’s exciting for a new player to come in and get a chance.”

Hussey, however, stopped short of calling Mhatre’s dismissal the decisive moment.

“It’s hard to say as he didn’t last too many balls after the injury. The hard thing is a new batsman has to come in and they have to start again, whereas Ayush was settled on the pitch and he knew the conditions. It definitely set us back a little bit, no question about that. I wouldn’t use that as an excuse,” he said.

“Maybe the pitch slowed down a little bit more through the middle and towards the back end. A little bit of reverse swing made it difficult for a new batsman to start. That’s why it was important that once we got a good partnership going that those two tried to carry it for as long as they possibly could. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way tonight.”

The 50-year-old also explained the thinking behind Shivam Dube’s role in the batting order.

“We talk about our batting order all the time. We try and make it as flexible as possible. Depending on the situation and who might bowl the next few overs, that’s when we decide.

Probably in the last few matches, he’s been saved more for the death. He’s obviously such a power hitter for us and that’s the role that he’s been filling in the last couple of matches. But that’s not to say it’ll be like that all the time.”

He added that Dube, Dewald Brevis, and Sarfaraz Khan will continue to be rotated based on match situations.

Hussey signed off with an encouraging update on M.S. Dhoni.

“He’s progressing nicely with his rehab. I’m a batting coach and I’m happy with how he’s batting.

As you saw in training, he’s batting well. He even walked out of the nets early last night because he was very happy with where his batting is at,” he said.

“If he’s going to bat towards the back end of the innings, he’s going to have to scurry through for those twos and things like that. He just needs to get confidence in his running and build that speed up. I don’t know when he’s going to play, but I’m hoping, like the fans are, it’s sooner rather than later.”