During the IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Ayush Mhatre of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) played despite suffering from a knee injury, which drew sharp criticism from former Indian spinner R Ashwin. Mhatre, who batted with a heavy strap on his knee, scored 30 runs off 17 balls but visibly limped while playing. Ashwin expressed his disbelief at CSK's decision to let Mhatre continue, especially after the physios had checked on him twice. He stated, 'I couldn't understand. Should he have not retired out when he was limping?' Ashwin emphasized that Mhatre's injury management is part of a larger issue within CSK, referencing the injury struggles of Deepak Chahar, who has played significantly fewer matches for CSK compared to his time with the Mumbai Indians. Ashwin's comments reflect ongoing concerns about the team's approach to player health and injury management.