'I was shocked' - Ravichandran Ashwin tears into CSK's handling of Ayush Mhatre's injury

Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has slammed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and expressed shock over their handling of Ayush Mhatre's hamstring injury.

While reacting to CSK's 10-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in match No. 27 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season 19 on Saturday, Ashwin said that CSK shouldn't have let Mhatre continue to bat after he started limping in the middle.

Mhatre came as Impact Sub, replacing left-arm seamer Gurjapneet Singh after the fall of Sanju Samson's wicket on the first ball of the second over. The U19 World Cup-winning captain looked in his element in the third over when he hit Praful Hinge for 24 runs, including three consecutive fours.

Mhatre was a bit tentative while running between the wickets from the start, but a couple on the second delivery of the fifth over made matters worse for the youngster. The CSK physio rushed onto the ground to check on Mhatre, who was seen clutching his left hamstring and grimacing in pain.

Despite the pain, Mhatre decided to continue and was seen limping on the very next ball to complete a single. However, Mhatre's agony came to an end on the third ball of the over as Heinrich Klaasen pulled off a brilliant catch at extra cover.

Notably, Ashwin felt that CSK's management shouldn't have let him continue to bat as he was carrying an injury.

"It couldn't have been a cramp because he did not field at all," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. "Even if he had gotten cramps even when not fielding, then we have to look at his hydration. Okay, it's not a cramp. Let's assume it was an injury. Your physios have come in and checked him. He was limping badly, you are asking him to play another ball and making him run between wickets!"

"I couldn't understand. Should he have not retired out when he was limping? In this season, Ayush Mhatre has been one of the stars. I don't understand how they can handle him carelessly. I was shocked.

“Everyone in the commentary box kept their mic on the table and watched what was happening with complete shock. Very, very surprising."

CSK's batting coach Michael Hussey on Ayush Mhatre's injury

CSK's batting coach, Michael Hussey, said the injury to Ayush looked like a hamstring tear and the management would take a call based on the results of the scans.

"It's obviously a hamstring tear," Hussey said at the post-match presser. "I don't know how bad it is. I'm sure we'll scan him, probably tomorrow or the next day. I'm not sure. But looks pretty bad, unfortunately, and yeah, he's gonna be a big loss because he has been in really nice touch for us. He's an exciting young talent, but it's gonna give someone else an opportunity. So that's exciting as well. We have got some really good players who haven't been able to get an opportunity. So it's gonna be exciting for one of those guys. So, as much as we are really disappointed to lose Ayush, I don't know how long for, but it's exciting for a new player to come in and get a chance."