Rayudu Defends Kamboj After Nightmare Spell Against LSG: “It’s Like Getting a Golden Duck”

Anshul Kamboj endured the toughest outing of his breakthrough IPL 2026 campaign as Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran powered Lucknow Super Giants to a dominant seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in Lucknow on Friday.

Kamboj, who had been among CSK’s standout bowlers this season, started steadily by conceding just 11 runs in his opening over. However, the match quickly spiralled away from him in his second over as Marsh launched a brutal assault, smashing four consecutive sixes off the first four deliveries before ending the over with another boundary. The over cost 28 runs and dramatically shifted momentum in LSG’s favour.

The young pacer was taken out of the attack immediately after that over and only returned in the 17th, with CSK defending just 24 runs. Pooran, who had struggled to accelerate earlier in the innings, then finished the chase emphatically by hammering four straight sixes off Kamboj. LSG completed the chase with 20 balls remaining.

Former India batter Ambati Rayudu sympathised with the youngster, describing the outing as an unavoidable bad day for a bowler.

“The guy has been bowling so well throughout the season, you’re bound to have a bad day. It’s like getting a golden duck,” Rayudu said on the TimeOut show.

Rayudu pointed out that, barring one loose delivery down the leg side, Kamboj’s bowling was not particularly poor and credited Marsh and Pooran for producing exceptional hitting.

“Most of the balls were decent deliveries. It was just incredible hitting. He came up against Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran, who is just finding form,” he added.

Marsh was at his destructive best, smashing 90 off just 38 deliveries, while Pooran finished unbeaten on 32 from 17 balls after being only eight off 13 before his late assault on Kamboj.

Former New Zealand fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan also defended Kamboj, saying bowlers often suffer when batters play without pressure.

“You’ve got LSG out of the competition, so Marsh could just swing freely without worrying about the consequences,” McClenaghan said. “That’s where it really sucks to be a bowler.”

Rayudu further suggested that CSK lacked experienced on-field leaders capable of calming Kamboj during the difficult phase. Without directly naming him, he hinted at the absence of the composure and tactical intervention often associated with MS Dhoni.

“I feel the CSK side doesn’t have too many smart heads on the field right now,” Rayudu said. “Someone just needed to go up to him, slow things down, ask him a question, help him reset his thinking.”

He explained that experienced players often help bowlers recover by engaging them in simple tactical conversations rather than giving direct instructions.

McClenaghan agreed, citing players like Chris Jordan and Kieron Pollard as examples of senior figures who excel at calming teammates during pressure situations.

Kamboj eventually finished with figures of 0 for 63 in 2.4 overs — a harsh comedown for a bowler who has otherwise enjoyed an impressive season with 19 wickets and remains third in the Purple Cap standings.