Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings, IPL, 2026 Apr 3 Full score card

FOUR! Hit with real authority! Punjab Kings ace the chase of 210 with 8 balls to spare. Full and on the off stump, Stoinis uses the depth of the crease to get under the ball. He swings through the line and drills it back over the bowler's head. The long off fielder stands no chance of cutting it off as the ball skips across the turf.

Full, on the pads. Shashank Singh nurdles it behind square leg for a single. 4 more required for PBKS.

Wide! Kamboj varies his length as he bangs it in short. The line is a bit too straight and he is lucky to get away with it. Shashank Singh walks inside the line of the ball and swings to get it away behind square leg but misses. Wide given by the umpire, but Ruturaj Gaikwad reviews the on-field call after consultation with Sanju Samson. The UltraEdge shows a flat line. The wide call stays.

Full and on middle. Shashank brings his wrists into play and flicks it to the left of deep square leg for a brace.

FOUR! Superb placement! Anshul Kamboj goes searching for the wide yorker but it comes out as a low full toss, outside off. Singh extends his hands and angles the bat face to place the drive to the right of the man at deep point for a four.

Just a matter of two big hits then? PBKS need 12 from 12 balls. Anshul Kamboj (3-0-31-2) to bowl the 19th over.

Low full toss, on off, this is carved to deep point for one.

FOUR! That's the risk involved with the wide line. On a length, going across. Shashank Singh flashes and flashes hard. The ball flies off the outer half over the man at short third for a boundary.

Falls safely between the two fielders! Henry continues the wide line ploy on a length. Shashank Singh, predicting the line, walks across the stumps and swings at it. Gets it right off the toe end of the blade over cover. The deep point fielder runs across to his right, and the fielder inside the circle also converges, but the ball drops between them. Two runs taken.

Very full, outside off. Stoinis digs it out. Henry gets across to his left on the follow-through but fails to cut it off. They cross.

FOUR! Streaky, but they all count! Running across the right-hander, on a length. Stoinis gets low and looks to smash it through the off side. The ball leaves him with the angle to take the outside edge but it goes well wide of the man at short third and the fielder at deep backward point is also beaten.

Out goes Nehal Wadhera and in walks Marcus Stoinis. CSK have a sniff.

OUT! CAUGHT! Two wickets in two balls and two set batters are gone. Henry delivers it on a wide line, far outside off, full in length. Nehal Wadhera takes a couple of baby steps forward and tries to slap it over covers, but ends up mistiming it off the toe end. Slices the ball flatly to the cover fielder, where Noor Ahmad takes a fine catch. PBKS are 186/5.

Is it too little too late for the Super Kings? Or is there any other twist left in the game? Shashank Singh walks in at number 6.

OUT! TAKEN! The wide line finally works for Anshul Kamboj. Full and pushed across the right-hander. Iyer reaches out to go big on the off side. He does not get the desired distance and hits it down the throat of deep cover, where Rahul Chahar runs in off the ropes and takes the catch. The Punjab Kings are 186/4, needing 24 runs from 18 balls.

Full again, around off. Shreyas goes deep in the crease and has a swipe across the line but connects with thin air.

Oh, not far away from crashing into the leg stump. It would not have mattered even if the ball had hit the timber as Anshul Kamboj has overstepped. Around leg, very full, Iyer walks inside the line but misses out on the glance. NO BALL called. Free Hit coming up.

FOUR! Not where Iyer intended but he will take it. That brings up the 28th IPL half-century for the PBKS skipper. He gets there in 26 balls. Full and wide on off. Iyer throws his hands at the ball. Get a thickish outside edge that flies fine of the man at deep backward point. Shreyas has looked in complete control tonight.

Did that carry? Just about did. Another wide yorker, outside off, Iyer drops his bat down on the ball. Slices it with an open bat face to short third, where Matt Henry gets low and gets his hands out in front.

Wide not given and Shreyas Iyer has taken the review. Anshul Kamboj gets the wide yorker in. Iyer reaches out but fails to connect. Iyer is standing a bit outside the off stump and so the guideline moves with him. The ball is well within the revised tramline and it is a dot.

FOUR! In the gap! Anshul Kamboj begins from over the wicket, full and on middle. Iyer plays the lofted hit whilst holding his shape. Smears it to the left of the man at deep mid-wicket for a four.

STRATEGIC BREAK​​​​​​! Punjab Kings are cruising nicely along to get their second win and have so far made a 200-plus target look so easy. Shreyas Iyer, since the moment he has come to bat, has looked in sublime touch and has kept his side firmly in the driving seat. They did slow down a little bit in the middle phase, but Iyer ensured the asking rate never goes out of reach. CSK, dare we say, have looked toothless with their bowling as they haven't been able to string quick wickets. So, 33 to get, in 24 balls, with 7 wickets in hand. It looks like Punjab's game to lose unless there is some miraculous comeback by the men in yellow. Anshul Kamboj (2-0-22-1) is back on after the break.

A swing and a miss! Out comes the googly from Chahar, turning away from the left-hander, sneaking just inside the tramline. Nehal Wadhera goes for the slog sweep, but the ball spins away to beat him. Sanju Samson whips the bails off. The background check confirms that Wadhera's back leg was grounded when the bails came off. 14 runs off Chahar's final over.

Closer to the off pole, a flighted delivery. Shreyas eases it towards wide long off for a run. The 50-run stand comes up in 24 balls.

Wide! This is sprayed beyond the tramline, on a length. Iyer lets it be.

Chahar drags the length back now, on off. Nehal punches it from the crease to long on for a run.

SIX! Clean as a whistle! Fired in at 93.7 kph, too full now, on middle. Nehal Wadhera gets the front leg out of the way and collapses his back knee to smoke it over long on for a biggie.

Floated up now, fuller and on middle. Shreyas pushes it to long on and rotates the strike.

FOUR! All too easy for Iyer! Too short, too wide by Chahar, Shreyas presses back and cuts it late to beat the fielder in the deep. Sarfaraz Khan sprints to his left and dives but the ball goes under his hands and into the fence.

Rahul Chahar (3-0-32-0) is brought back on. PBKS need 47 runs from 30 balls.

A low full toss on middle, Iyer looks to flick but closes the bat face a touch too early, getting a leading edge out to deep cover for a single.

SIX! PUNISHED! Goes pace off again, slightly short and around off. Shreyas Iyer picks the length in a trice and nails the pull shot towards deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Goes pace off and way too short and way too wide outside off. Not an ideal length with third man inside the ring. Shreyas Iyer gets too much width and ramps it comfortably over short third for a boundary.

Very full again, outside off, driven straight to the cover fielder by Iyer.

Overpitched around off, Shreyas Iyer carves it to deep cover for a single, but a fumble by Shivam Dube in the deep allows them to pinch in the second.

Short and slow, outside off, Shreyas Iyer hangs deep and pulls it to the right of long on for two runs. 150 up for Punjab Kings!

Dishes out the googly, on middle, slightly full. Nehal Wadhera plays from the crease and tucks it to the leg side with soft hands. Excellent over from Noor, given the context of the game. Just 5 runs off it. 62 runs needed from 36 balls for PBKS.

Flighted full and outside off, pushed behind point for a single.

Skids through from a length, outside off, Wadhera cuts it wide of short third for a single.

Full on leg, nicely flicked into the deep square leg region for a single.

WIDE! Tries the googly, on a length, outside off, but it breaches the tramline. Wided.

Quicker and flatter, outside off, on a length. Shreyas Iyer misses to cut it away.

A direct hit would have been curtains for Wadhera! Full and spinning away, outside off. Wadhera goes for the big-booming cover drive, but slices it to backward point. Shreyas is more than halfway through the run, but Wadhera stays put and seeing the fielder fumbling to pick it up, he starts off. However, the throw goes wide of the bowler, which allows Nehal to get home.

SIX! Too easy for the skipper! Chahar drops it short, on leg. Shreyas Iyer is quick to pivot on the back foot and pulls it cleanly into the stands behind deep square leg. 16 runs from the over.

Full, on off, Nehal Wadhera runs it to long off for a single.

Grips away from off, on a fuller length. Shreyas Iyer is sucked on the front foot, and tries to drive through cover, but outside edges it to the left of Matt Henry at short third. The Kiwi stumbles on the dive, but the ball spins back towards him and he manages to get his body behind the ball. The batters cross for a single.

SIX! All class! Full again, outside off. Shreyas Iyer lets the ball dip and gets under it, nailing the inside-out shot nicely over deep extra cover for a huge six.

Full now, on off. Iyer takes a big stride forward and heaves it on the bounce to long on for a couple.

A slider on a length, on middle. Iyer rocks back and punches it to the left of mid-wicket. Sarfaraz Khan moves across and dives to stop it.

Short of a good length, outside off, Nehal Wadhera dabs it to backward point. A wicket and 10 runs from the over.

One left-hander replaces the other. Here is Nehal Wadhera.

OUT! CAUGHT! Kamboj strikes and strikes big. Attempts the yorker around off but gets it wrong, ending up with a low full toss at 136.6 kph. Connolly swings hard by staying deep in the crease, aiming to go straight down the ground, but mistimes it and slices it straight to Henry at long off, who makes no mistake. Punjab Kings are 127/3, needing 83 runs from 49 balls.

FOUR! Extraordinary batting! Very full by Kamboj, wide outside off. Cooper Connolly shuffles far outside off, uses the pace and scoops it between short fine leg and square leg for a boundary. Connolly moves to 36 from 21 balls.

A slight nip back in from off, on a length. Shreyas Iyer lifts the front leg up and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Hits the hard length, around off, Cooper Connolly smacks it to the right of long off for a single.

FOUR! Loose ball and gets the treatment! Short and slow, outside off, sitting up nicely for the Aussie. Cooper Connolly stands tall and slices it over backward point for a boundary.

Flat and quick, full and on middle. Shreyas presses forward and smothers it to the mid-wicket region.

Short on middle and leg, a googly. Cooper pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Quicker and flatter on the stumps at 96.8 kph, Connolly lofts it straight down the ground. Mhatre moves across to his left from long off and cuts it off. Two runs taken.

NO BALL, FOUR! Beats the fielder again, and that's a cardinal sin from a spinner. Noor has overstepped. Quicker short ball, on middle. Cooper Connolly hangs deep and cuts it to the right of Khaleel Ahmed at deep backward point. Khaleel puts in a slide to flick the ball back in, but is a bit late to do so. Free Hit coming up.

Slowish one, short in length, on leg. Shreyas hangs deep in the crease and nudges it to the right of mid-wicket for a single.

Too full in front of the sticks, Cooper gets down on his knee and slogs it on the bounce to long on for a single.

FOUR! Quick hands! Flat and short, outside off, Cooper Connolly rocks back and cuts it past backward point and it blazes away to the fence in a flash.

Punjab's 103/2 meets Chennai's 101/1 at the halfway stage. The red and yellow lines are virtually locked together on the worm. PBKS need 107 runs from 60 balls. Noor Ahmad to continue from this end.

Googly, full and on middle. Cooper checks his drive wide of cover for one.

FOUR! Good shot! Floated up, full and on middle and leg. Cooper Connolly gets down on a knee and swings through the line. Launches it back over the bowler's head and to the right of long on for a four. 100 up for the Punjab Kings!

Angled into the pads, on a good length. Iyer nurdles it behind square leg for a single.

There comes the broom and the ball is swept away for a run by Cooper.

Beaten! Googly, on off. Cooper Connolly flashes but is beaten as the ball kicks up a bit.

Full and on off, this is driven through covers for a single.

On a length and on off. Cooper Connolly firms the drive to cover.

CSK are over the moon as Prabhsimran Singh is leaving the field, absolutely fuming. In walks the skipper, Shreyas Iyer, at number 4.

OUT! PRABHSIMRAN SINGH IS RUN OUT! A wicket against the run of play for the Chennai Super Kings. Flat and short, on middle. Prabhsimran plays it off the back foot towards the vacant mid-wicket region. Noor goes after it and slides to prevent the second run. Seeing Ahmad losing his balance while getting back up, Prabhsimran senses an opportunity to sneak in the second run but there was never a second there. Sarfaraz Khan swoops in off the ropes, picks the ball up and fires in a throw at the bowling end. Ruturaj Gaikwad does well to get behind the stumps and collects the throw on the bounce. A loud call of 'no' from Cooper Connolly but Prabhsimran Singh keeps running before returning halfway through the run. He is late by then and Gaikwad breaks the stumps with Singh well short.

Noor sticks to the short length, on middle. Cooper flat bats it to long on for another single.

Short and around off. Singh clips it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Nearly dragged it back onto the stumps! On a nagging length, on off. Cooper Connolly has a big swing at it. Gets an inside edge past the leg stump for one.

Three runs! Noor serves a half-tracker, outside off. Prabhsimran Singh stands tall and slaps it past the diving man at cover-point. Anshul Kamboj gets around in the deep and dives to prevent the boundary. He ends up deflecting the ball away from him, and that allows the batters to take the third run.

STRATEGIC BREAK! The team in red is dominating the team in yellow at the moment. Yes, there has been an evident grip for both the spinners, but CSK are still searching for the breakthrough. With a batting lineup that runs deep down, these two batters do have the license to play with complete freedom. They are actually going more than the asking rate and will look to maintain this tempo. CSK need wickets and they need them right now to arrest the momentum and push PBKS into another rebuild. 122 needed from 72 balls. ​​Noor Ahmad (1-0-12-0) to continue after the break.

FOUR! Nicely put away! Wrong'un by Chahar, a bit too short, outside off. Cooper Connolly waits on the back foot and pumps it towards wide long off for a boundary.

In the air...but safe! Tossed up, on a length, outside off. Prabhsimran Singh looks to go big on the off side with an open bat face. Slices it off the outer half in front of the man at deep point. Just a single.

Keeps it short, on middle. Cooper Connolly works it off the back foot towards mid-wicket for another single.

Googly, short and on middle. Prabhsimran Singh turns it in front of deep mid-wicket for a single.

A loud shout for LBW! Turned down by the umpire. Is the impact outside the line? That is what Sanju Samson is asking the bowler. CSK don't go for the review eventually. Very full, landing around the off stump line. Prabhsimran Singh premeditates as he goes for the reverse, but the ball is too full for that shot and he wears it on the boot. The replays show that the impact was indeed outside the line.

Dropped short, on off, Cooper Connolly hits it down to long on for one.

Spin in tandem now. CSK's impact player, Rahul Chahar, replaces Khaleel Ahmed. PBKS need 130 runs from 78 balls.

FOUR! Innovative and effective! This is bowled full and quick by Noor, on off and middle. Fast hands from Prabhsimran Singh as he brings out the reverse and hits it to the left of the diving backward point fielder for a boundary. Hands on head for Noor as Singh would have been trapped in front had he missed.

Tossed up, on off. Prabhsimran reaches out in front and taps it to cover.

A slight halt in play as a mandatory concussion test is underway for Prabhsimran Singh. The physio rushes out, and Singh looks alright to continue.

Flighted delivery, outside off. It is the googly, Prabhsimran Singh shuffles across and goes hard on the sweep but misses. The ball catches him on the strap of the glove and deflects onto the helmet.

SIX! Into the stands! Noor Ahmad drops it short again, on middle and leg. Prabhsimran Singh picks up the length quickly and presses back to nail the pull over deep square leg for a six.

Too short again, on middle and leg. Cooper Connolly knocks it to long on. They cross.

A bit of turn, into the pads, on the shorter side. Prabhsimran Singh nudges it from the crease towards square leg for a single.

That's the end of the Powerplay. PBKS' 68/1 meets CSK's 57/1 at the same stage. The visitors need 142 runs from 84 balls. And as the field spreads, Noor Ahmad is summoned into the attack, replacing Matt Henry. As per the on-air commentator, Deep Dasgupta, there is not much dew on the ground as yet, which might just bring the spinners in forefront to control these middle overs. Let's see how this phase pans out.

Tucking the batter up for room, on a good length, on middle. Cooper Connolly stabs it down on the off side.

Outside off, on a length. Prabhsmiran pushes it wide of cover for a single.

And again! Hang on, Khaleel Ahmed has heard something. Ruturaj Gaikwad has a word with the keeper and eventually decides against taking the review. Pace on, running across the batter, on a good length. A bit too close to his body for the cut.

A swing and a miss! Slower one, full and outside off. Prabhsimran Singh has a heave across the line but is undone by the slowness of the ball and it sneaks under the blade.

FOUR! Width offered and Prabhsimran Singh cashes in. This is fuller in length, wide on off. Singh takes a step back in the crease and carves it over cover for a one-bounce boundary.

Across off, on a good length, Prabhsimran Singh dances down the track and flays at it. A bit of lift off the deck and the ball sails over the blade.

Just short of mid off! At 134.4 kph, very full on the line of middle. Prabhsimran goes for the lofted drive without any foot movement, sending it to the right of mid off. There’s a slight fumble, and the batters sneak in a quick single.

Huge shout for LBW! Skids through from a good length, nipping back into the batter, on the leg stump. Prabhsimran Singh plays all around it and gets struck on the back thigh. A big appeal for LBW, but the umpire stays put. Matt Henry is really confident and convinces his skipper to take the review, challenging the on-field decision. But is that doing a bit too much? UltraEdge comes up with a flat line. Ball Tracking saves Singh as the ball is projected to clip the leg stump on umpire's call. So, the on-field decision is upheld.

Huge swing and a miss! This one is hurled fuller and it stays low on the bounce as well. Full and outside off. Prabhsimran Singh swings across the line to smoke it into the stands, but it shapes away a touch to zip past the outside edge.

Swings in from middle to leg, on a length. Cooper misses the flick shot and the ball rolls off the front pad to backward point for a leg bye.

Arya goes after delivering a flying start to his team. The hero of the previous game, Cooper Connolly, walks in at number 3.

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Henry lets out a huge roar. Back of a length on middle and leg, and it just nips away a touch. Arya charges down the track, exposing the stumps and swings wildly. He misses it completely, and the off stump is sent cartwheeling. PBKS are 61/1, needing 149 more runs from 94 balls.

SIX! Goodness me, that's out of the top drawer! A length ball by Henry, on the stumps. Priyansh Arya picks it up and over the bowler's head for a cracking six. He didn't try to hit it hard, just kept his head still and timed it to perfection.

An absolute ripper of a ball! Back of a length outside off, it kisses the surface and zips through. Prabhsimran has a loose waft at it and is beaten for pace. Still, this over goes for 12 runs.

Just past the bowler! Full and straight, around off. Prabhsimran Singh plays with a straight bat and spanks it to the left of the bowler. Kamboj tries to pluck it, but it evades him to race past mid off.

FOUR! Runs are flowing far too easily here. Not good bowling with two fielders in the deep on the leg side. Full and wide outside off, Prabhsimran Singh needs no second invitation as he slices it over point for a boundary.

Back of a length, nipping back in and around off. Prabhsimran Singh hangs back and dabs it straight to backward point.

FOUR! Top shot! Around off, on a fuller length. Singh picks it up nicely and hits it over mid on for a boundary. 50 UP FOR THE PUNJAB KINGS!

FOUR! Straight as an arrow! Full from Kamboj, on off. Prabhsimran Singh bumps the ball straight back to the bowler and it bursts right through the bowler's hands before racing to the fence behind.

Will Matt Henry continue? The answer is no. Anshul Kamboj replaces him.

SIX! Just long enough for Priyansh to get his third six. Hard length into the batter. Priyansh Arya presses back and pulls it aerially, more off the top edge. He gets enough distance on it to clear the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen runs. Arya moves to 33 off just 9 balls.

Around off, on a length, Prabhsimran Singh cuts the slower ball to deep backward point for a single.

A slower one by Khaleel this time around, on a good length, at just 119 kph, angling across the batter. Prabhsimran Singh throws the kitchen sink at it, trying to smoke it downtown, but loses his shape and gets beaten by the lack of pace.

Short of a length, coming in with the angle on middle. Arya taps it to mid-wicket and charges across for a single.

Shapes in again, on a good length, on middle. Singh brings the bat in front, and eases it to the right of cover for a single.

Much fuller, on middle and leg, with a slight inward curve. Prabhsimran Singh flicks it straight to Noor Ahmad at mid-wicket. A yard or two either side and that would have kissed the fence.

Questions already for Ruturaj Gaikwad. He is persisting with Khaleel Ahmed.

Fractionally full, nipping away from outside off. Prabhsimran scythes it to deep backward point for a single. 20 runs from Henry's first over.

FOUR! Henry is struggling to find his length! Way too short and on the leg stump. Prabhsimran Singh takes a step back in the crease and wrists it behind square on the leg side for a boundary.

Back of a length, on top of middle. Priyansh nudges it in front of mid-wicket and steals a run.

FOUR! Spanked! Touch fuller, on off, Arya gets on the front foot and cracks the drive uppishly between cover and mid off for a boundary.

SIX! KABOOM! Short in length, on middle. Priyansh Arya presses back and nails the pull shot, clearing the deep mid-wicket fence with comfort for a six.

EDGED, FOUR! Bashes the length hard, outside off. Priyansh Arya slashes hard at it off the back foot, looking to hit it over cover-point. Gets a thick outside edge instead and the ball shoots between the keeper and the short third fielder for a boundary.

Matt Henry will operate from the other end. Surprisingly, no one at slip for the Kiwi.

BEATEN! A good ball to wrap the over. Pulls the length, does Khaleel. Gets the ball to shape away from the right-hander, outside off. Prabhsimran Singh goes fishing at it, trying to punch it through cover. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

WIDE! Gets the ball to shape well beyond the tramline, full in length. Prabhsimran Singh tries to smash it past cover, but misses to connect.

WIDE! Far across the guideline, on a good length. Singh leaves and Samson puts in a full-length dive to his right. Half stops with his right hand as the ball rolls to Sarfaraz Khan at first slip.

Fantastic delivery! Very full and leaving the batter from the off stump. Singh's feet go nowhere as he tries to drive it straight, but gets beaten on the outside edge by a whisker.

A little bit of away shape, full and outside off. Prabhsimran Singh presses forward and taps it to the point fielder.

Short of a good length, shaping in on the pads. Arya tucks it to the right of deep square leg for a single.

SIX! Clears the fence with absolute ease and will! Back of a length, on middle, Priyansh Arya pivots on the back foot and pulls it behind deep mid-wicket for a cracking six.

FOUR! Gorgeous stroke! An inswinger on a fuller length, on middle. Arya lets the ball curve and then commits on the front foot. Presents the full face and drives it gun-barrel straight down the ground for a boundary.

WIDE! A bit of an iffy start by Khaleel. Too straight down leg, on a hard length. Arya gets on the back foot, tries to glance it to the leg side, but misses.

FOUR! Finishes with a flourish, does Shivam Dube! Arshdeep keeps the line of attack outside off, on a fuller length. Dube brings his bottom hand to play by getting under the ball and pumps it over the bowler for a boundary. It is struck with such brute force that long on stands no chance to cut that off to his right. CSK FINISH AT 209/5!

FOUR! Lucky runs for Dube and CSK! Singh slips a wide full toss, outside off, Dube tries to slap it past covers, but only manages an inside edge, just past the off stump and it squirrels behind to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

Two dots in a row! Very full at 133.9 kph, outside off, Dube attempts to carve it through the point gap, but finds the fielder.

Good comeback by Arshdeep! Full and wide outside the off stump, at 134.5 kph. Just inside the wide guideline. Dube swings hard without moving his feet. Gets beaten on the outside edge.

FOUR! Connects just well enough. Arshdeep fires a full one, outside off. Dube picks it up and over mid-wicket, but hits it off the inner half. However, he has enough power on the shot to find the fence, beating long on to his left. 200 UP FOR THE SUPER KINGS!

Wide! PBKS have challenged the wide call. Arshdeep Singh looks to keep it away from Dube's hitting arc. Sprays it beyond the tramline, on a good length. Dube lets it pass. The replays show that even though Shivam had walked across the stumps, the ball was still outside the revised guideline. The on-field call of wide is upheld.

Singh shoots in a short ball, keeping the line of attack on the bodyline. He gets a good lift as well which beats Veer on his attempted pull shot. Dube, though, is quick to get off the blocks and calls Prashant to cross over. Veer responds as Prabhsimran Singh collects the ball but misses the throw to the batting end, which allows them to cross easily.

Arshdeep Singh to close out the innings. Remember, the Punjab Kings are allowed only 4 fielders outside the inner circle due to the slow over rate penalty. Point, square leg, mid-wicket and mid on are the 4 men back on the boundary.

Fair delivery! Bartlett tries to keep it away from Dube's arc, and goes for another wide yorker. Dube walks a bit across the stumps before deciding to leave. The umpire signals a wide, but Xavier Bartlett has gone upstairs to challenge the decision. Has Dube walked a bit too much across in the crease? The replay comes up with a revised guideline. It shows that the ball is marginally inside the new guideline. So, it is deemed a fair delivery. Excellent review by the Aussie quick, which keeps Dube off strike at the start of the final over. 4-0-48-1 for Xavier Bartlett tonight.

WIDE! Miles outside off, crossing the tramline. Dube lets it be. Wide given.

FOUR! Excellent field manipulation by Dube! A bit too full and on leg. Shivam Dube stays put, uses his wrists and flicks it all along the ground, behind backward square leg for a boundary.

Halt! Prashant Veer is undergoing the concussion check.

Ouch, that was a hostile delivery by Bartlett! A well-directed short ball that jags back into the batter sharply. Prashant Veer has very little time to react. Tries to pull it to the leg side, but the ball kicks up a bit, clips the gloves and hits the helmet before rolling to the short third fielder for a single.

Bowls to the field, does Bartlett, with 6 fielders on the off side and 3 on the leg side. He bangs it short and slow, outside off. Shivam stands tall and clubs it aerially to deep cover for just a single.

Keeps it wide outside off, a low full toss, Dube carves it past point and scampers back for two.

FOUR! Up and over! Bartlett serves it full and wide on off. Dube gets under it, holds his shape nicely and lofts it inside out over the extra cover fielder for a boundary.

Punjab Kings have been penalised for a slow over rate. They will be allowed only 4 fielders outside the 30-yard circle for the remaining two overs. Punjab Kings bring in Priyansh Arya as their Impact Sub. He will have a job to do later with the bat. Yuzvendra Chahal has been subbed out. Xavier Bartlett to bowl the 19th over. 3-0-35-1 so far for the Aussie.

Yuzvendra Chahal is substituted by Priyansh Arya

Slower into the pitch and outside off. Dube knocks it to deep extra cover for a single. Jansen is done with his spell, with figures reading 4-0-43-1.

Follows the batter who shuffles outside leg and bowls it right in the blockhole on the leg stump. Prashant is cramped for room and can only drill it down to long on for a single.

What has happened here? Punjab Kings have taken a review for LBW. They are taking a chance more than any real conviction. From around the wicket, full and landing around the leg stump. Veer walks across for the scoop but fails to lay any bat on it, and the ball drops at his feet after striking the pads. Jansen gets to the ball and cuts down the possibility of a single. The Ball Tracking shows that the ball has landed outside the line of the leg stump. PBKS burn a review.

FOUR! Veer with a bit of innovation to get his first runs in the IPL! Good length by Jansen, around off, from around the stump. Prashant Veer gets across the off stump and executes the scoop wide of short fine leg for a boundary. In fact, the replay shows that he hit it between the keeper and Chahal at short fine leg.

Short and across the left-hander, at 127.7 kph. Shivam Dube stands tall and slaps it with a flat bat, to the left of long off for a single.

SIX! And away she goes! A juicy half volley on the leg stump, Shivam Dube gets his front leg out of the way to create room and smokes a 91-meter six behind deep mid-wicket.

WIDE! Far, far across the batter, and beyond the guideline, short in length. Dube ignores. Umpire signals for a wide.

Marco Jansen (3-0-29-1) will bowl out now.

A sharp short ball that climbs through the deck, just outside off. Veer hops, attempts to dab it fine to the off side, but is late on the shot.

Snorter! From around the stump, this is slammed very hard onto the pitch, on off with a good zip on it. Prashant drops his wrists in time and lets it fly behind.

A wonderful cameo from Sarfaraz Khan. Prashant Veer comes out to bat on his IPL debut.

OUT! Straight up the chimney and gone! Back of a length just outside off, Sarfaraz, mindful of the field change, looks to muscle it down the ground. He doesn’t quite get the connection he’s after, managing only height without the distance toward mid on. Wadhera backtracks from mid on and takes a well-judged catch. An entertaining knock from Sarfaraz Khan comes to an end. CSK are 168/5.

FOUR! He has played that so fine! Vyshak bangs it on a hard length, just around off. Sarfaraz Khan lets the ball come to him and plays it very late. Uses the pace, and guides it uppishly between the keeper and Chahal at short third for a boundary. He moves to 32 (11).

FOUR! Off the top edge! Slightly on a back of a length, outside off. Sarfaraz Khan gets a bit across and tries to whip it over square leg, but gets a thick top edge. The ball flies over Prabhsimran Singh and bounces away towards the ropes.

FOUR! That's nonchalantly played! Vyshak fires one outside off, and this is very full in length. Sarfaraz Khan just drops his bat down, opens the face at the point of contact and gets it wide of the short third fielder, to his right, for a boundary. Shreyas Iyer is not happy with his bowler. And rightly so. The field square on the off side is up inside the circle, and bowling wide outside off is asking for trouble.

Vijaykumar Vyshak returns to the attack for his final over. 3-0-26-1 so far for Vyshak. Punjab Kings have been given a warning for not starting the over on time, informs Harsha Bhogle (on air).

Fires in a full toss on middle, Sarfaraz whips it to deep backward square leg for a single.

SIX! Proactive batting! Bartlett goes pace off, on a length, on leg. Sarfaraz Khan comes charging down the track and heaves it over the deep backward square leg fielder for a six. 150 UP FOR THE SUPER KINGS!

WIDE! Spotting Khan advancing down the track, Bartlett fires one beyond the tramline, outside off, trying to keep it away from the hitting arc. Khan leaves. Wide called.

Nails the wide yorker, at 132.9 kph, Dube drills it down to long off for a single. So far, so good by the Aussie. Just 3 off the first four balls.

Short and slow, outside off, Dube gets on the toes and taps it behind backward point for a single.

Pushes it wide and full, outside off. Dube extends his arms and tries to carve it past covers, but misses to connect as the ball sneaks past the inside edge.

Speared full and on middle, Dube flicks it right between long on and deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

This is banged in short, over middle. Shivam pulls it through square leg for another single. 15 runs off the over!

Low full toss, outside off. This is sliced to deep point for one.

FOUR! Skilful shot! A hat-trick of boundaries for Sarfaraz Khan. In and around the off pole, on a hard length. Sarfaraz hangs back and meets the ball right under his eyes. He opens the bat face, and the ball takes a bit of glove on the way before racing past short third.

FOUR! Smart batting! Arshdeep switches to around the wicket and bowls the bumper, over middle. Sarfaraz arches back and gets under the ball to play the upper cut over the keeper for four more.

FOUR! Good use of the feet! Pushed across the right-hander, on a good length. Sarfaraz Khan jumps out of the crease and plays it on the up nicely. Lofts it over the man at mid off for a boundary.

Arshdeep bangs it in short, over the left shoulder. Shivam swivels and goes for the pull but takes his eyes off the ball as he plays the shot. It goes behind square leg for a single.

With just 20/3 in the last 3 overs, this has been an excellent phase for PBKS. The run rate has dipped for CSK as they search for momentum. Arshdeep Singh (2-0-13-0) returns and replaces Vijaykumar Vyshak.

Honing in on the off stump, on a good length. Sarfaraz covers the line and stabs it down on the deck.

Keeps it nice and full, attacking the front pad. Sarfaraz Khan brings his bat out in front and pushes it to mid-wicket.

110/1 becomes 130/4 for the Super Kings. And like the previous game, the Punjab Kings have made a roaring comeback in this middle phase. Sarfaraz Khan now walks out to the crease at number 6.

OUT! LBW! Punjab Kings get the review right. A short stay for Kartik Sharma. From around the wicket, on a length and on middle. Kartik collapses his back knee and has a swipe across the line. The ball goes under the bat to catch Sharma on the knee roll of the front pad. That looks straight, but the umpire shakes his head. Marco Jansen is pretty confident, and Shreyas Iyer takes the review. No bat involved. The Ball Tracking comes up as three reds with the ball crashing into the leg stump.

Off-pace delivery, full and on leg. Dube works it off the pads to deep square leg for one.

Nails the yorker, right at the toes. Shivam gets the front leg out of the way and jams it out in the vacant mid-wicket region. By the time the fielder in the deep can get to the ball, Dube comes back for the second run.

Begins from around the wicket and starts with a full ball, on middle. Dube flicks it neatly through mid-wicket. Xavier Bartlett runs around to his right and mops it up. He relays it towards the converging long-on fielder. Two runs taken.

STRATEGIC BREAK​​​​​​! A small comeback by the Punjab Kings in the last two overs. 15/2 in that phase. Wickets of Gaikwad first and then Mhatre in the previous one. They will now look to slow things down with two new batters at the crease. Even better, keep picking wickets. With a strong base formed for a big finish and wickets in hand, Dube, who is the senior man of the two batters, might as well try to keep the scoring rate high by picking his moments. CSK would be disappointed if they don't finish above 200 with the way they have gone about so far. Marco Jansen (2-0-24-0) is brought back on, replacing Yuzvendra Chahal.

On a hard length, on middle. Dube wrists it in front of deep mid-wicket for one.

Sharma goes deep in the crease and guides it through third man for a single.

Half a shout for caught behind! Not given by the umpire. Kartik Sharma looks perplexed. He feels that it should be a wide and takes the review. Angled in on leg, on a short of a length. Sharma looks to help it away but misses. The UltraEdge shows a slight scratch when the ball goes past his trousers. A review lost by CSK as it is deemed a fair delivery.

End of a top knock by Ayush Mhatre. He walks off to a standing ovation from his teammates. Kartik Sharma is the new batter.

OUT! TAKEN! Huge moment in the game as two set batters are dismissed in successive overs. And after being dropped twice, Mhatre runs out of luck. Very full and wide by Vyshak, Ayush Mhatre yet again jams the bat down and looks to squeeze it through the backward point and the short third gap, but this time around, he fails to hit it along the ground and airs it to Yuzvendra Chahal at short third. Chahal takes it comfortably over his head. Mhatre looks at the heavens in utter disappointment. Vyshak is over the moon. CSK, from 110/1, are 123/3 now.

FOUR! Through the gap! At 132 kph, this is overpitched wide outside off. Ayush uses the pace and carves it to the left of the diving backward point fielder for a boundary.

Hard length, on middle, angling in. Shivam plays off the back foot and steers it to deep square leg for a single.

Full and at the sticks, Dube knocks it to long on for a single.

Wide! Down leg, Dube lets it pass. Already an 8-ball over.

NO BALL! A cardinal sin for a spinner to overstep. Full and on off, Mhatre reaches out in front and eases it to wide long off for one. Free Hit coming up.

Two wides! Fired down leg, full in length. Dube lets it go. A half-stop by Prabhsimran Singh and the ball goes away off the gloves. The batters cross for one.

Dube sweeps this away but finds the short fine leg fielder in the way.

DROPPED! Ayush Mhatre is living a charmed life. The second catch that has been dropped off the bowling of Chahal, and both have been of Mhatre. Nicely tossed up by Chahal, fuller and on off. Mhatre jumps out of the crease and takes the risk of going against the turn. It is skewed over extra cover. Shashank Singh runs in off the ropes and slides. He is on the move when the ball hits his palm, and he fails to cling on. Single taken.

Well, well! This is slowed down by Chahal, landing around middle and leg, on a good length. Mhatre is squared up on the back foot by the spin, but manages to keep it out.

Floated up, on off. Dube pushes it down to long off and opens his account with a single.

Who else but Chahal? He breaks the 96-run partnership for the second wicket. Shivam Dube, the spin basher, as they call him, walks in at number 4.

OUT! CAUGHT! An innocuous delivery, but Yuzvendra Chahal will take it. Sprayed on the pads, slightly on the shorter side, and this skids through. Gaikwad gets down on a knee and swings away on the leg side. He fails to beat the fielder at deep backward square leg. It goes flat towards the man in the deep. Nehal Wadhera moves to his right and snaffles it with ease. The Super Kings are 110/2.

Vijaykumar Vyshak sticks to the wide line, full in length. Mhatre premeditates as he walks across for the scoop. On seeing the line of the ball, he shapes up to angle the bat face and steer it past short third but misses. Mhatre has a look at the umpire, but since he had moved across the stumps, the umpire does not call it a wide.

FOUR! Clever batting! Vijaykumar Vyshak gets in the wide yorker, near the tramline. Mhatre reaches out and takes the ball on the full. He opens the bat face to glide it behind point. The man in the deep is a bit square and he is beaten to his left. This is the first four for CSK since the sixth over, but they have hit four 6s during that period.

On top of off, Gaikwad plays it on the up to long on. They cross.

Keeps it full, just outside the off stump. Ruturaj Gaikwad brings his bottom hand into play and he whips it to the right of long on for a couple of runs.

Very full, outside off. Mhatre digs it beside the strip on the off side and crosses over.

On a good length, on off. Gaikwad dabs it to the left of point and gets to the other end.

Vijaykumar Vyshak (1-0-10-0) is back. An opportunity for Vyshak to redeem himself after dropping Ayush Mhatre in the previous over.

Floated fuller and around off, Gaikwad presses in front and eases it down to long on for a single. At the halfway mark, the Super Kings are 101/1.

A slider on the pads at 91.1 kph, Gaikwad clips it neatly into the gap between long on and deep mid-wicket, picking up a couple of runs. 100 UP FOR CSK!

At just 71.3 kph now, full and on middle. Ayush Mhatre loses his shape while trying to slog it over mid-wicket and inside edges it past the leg stump, for a single to the right of short fine leg.

Pushed through, full and wide on off. Mhatre reaches out and lofts this over cover. Shashank Singh almost overruns the ball in the deep but manages to make the stop eventually. Two runs taken.

IN THE AIR AND DROPPED! Vijaykumar Vyshak is the guilty party at short fine leg. A big, big opportunity gone begging. Flighted delivery on the stumps, drifting in and around the pads. Mhatre goes early into the sweep and gets a top edge behind him. Vyshak from short fine leg charges in and dives full-length, getting fingertips to it but failing to hold on.

Gets a bit of an in-drift on the leg stump, too full. Gaikwad flicks it to the right of long on for a single.

A slight hold-up in play as Ayush Mhatre is changing his shoes. Mhatre is ready to resume.

Well-directed bouncer, over the off pole. Ayush Mhatre looks to pull, but the ball keeps rising and beats him.

Slightly short, outside off, Gaikwad drags it to long on for a single.

Two is the call and they will get it! Mhatre had to hurry a bit, though in the end. Back of a length, angled at the leg stump. Ruturaj Gaikwad plays it with soft hands, tucking it into the empty mid-wicket region for a couple of runs. The bowler himself rushes across and slides before throwing the ball to the bowling end, but doesn't get enough power on the throw, which allows Mhatre to slide his bat in.

Low full toss, outside off, Mhatre lofts it over the vacant mid on region for one run.

WIDE! Breaches the tramline, far outside off, on a length. Mhatre leaves. Wided.

SIX! Goes the distance once more! A hit-me ball once again, outside off. Mhatre pumps it over long off for one more six. That's his fifth of the evening.

SIX! FIFTY FOR AYUSH MHATRE! He gets there off just 29 balls. His knock so far includes four boundaries and four sixes. A slower one by Stoinis to start with, on off and in the slot. Ayush Mhatre waits for the ball to arrive and smacks it downtown for a six to get to his milestone. Chepauk absolutely loves this as they admire this impactful knock from a youngster from Virar, Maharashtra.

Bowler number six for the Punjab Kings. Marcus Stoinis replaces Marco Jansen now.

Make that six singles off the over! Touch short, on off and middle. Ayush Mhatre cuts it off the back foot to deep backward point and jogs an easy single.

Too full, outside off, quicker this time. Gaikwad drives along the ground to long off for one more run. 5 singles off the over in as many balls.

Provides more air on this one, full and outside off, at just 73.5 kph. Ayush Mhatre drives it to deep extra cover for a single.

Slows it up a bit, and pulls the length back, on leg. Ruturaj Gaikwad hangs back and drags it to a widish long on for a single.

Pitched on middle, on a fuller length, Ayush Mhatre uses his bottom hand to drill it down to long on for a run.

Floats it up there, full and on leg. Gaikwad sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

First look at spin as Yuzvendra Chahal comes on.

Slower yorker on off, Ayush Mhatre laces it to the extra cover region. 14 runs from the over.

SIX! This is brilliant batting from the youngster. Half volley from Jansen this time around, with a little bit of pace taken off. Ayush Mhatre clears the front leg and gets under the ball nicely before sailing it into the stands behind deep mid-wicket. His third six of the night so far.

Pushed into the batter and bashed on a hard length. Mhatre tucks it across to mid-wicket.

From around the stumps now. This is pitched full, angling in and around middle. Ayush leans on and drives it behind cover for a couple of runs.

Big swing and a miss! Nips away from a fractionally fuller length, outside off. Ayush throws the kitchen sink at it, only to miss.

SIX! INTO THE STANDS! Short ball by Jansen, at shoulder height, on leg. Ayush Mhatre creates a stable base before pulling it behind deep square leg for a six. Mhatre marches on.

STRATEGIC BREAK! The Punjab Kings take the timeout at the first opportunity in an attempt to regroup. The early swing on offer in the first couple of overs has faded. Spin is yet to be introduced, but that shouldn't be far away now. The ball has come on nicely to the bat, and after losing Sanju Samson early, Ayush Mhatre has stepped up for the home side to deliver the desired start. No spin just yet as Marco Jansen will resume the proceedings after the break.

Excellent bowling! Arshdeep tries the yorker, but ends up as a low full toss, on middle. Mhatre drags it in front of mid on for a quick run. That ends the Powerplay with 57/1 on the board for CSK.

Almost a yorker, outside off, Mhatre tries to squeeze it through the off side, but inside-edges it to the right of the bowler.

Angled across on a hard length, at 135.1 kph. Ruturaj Gaikwad scythes it along the ground to deep point for a single.

Into the blockhole, on off, with a little bit of tail back in. Mhatre takes it on the full and drills it to the right of mid off for a quick single.

FOUR! PUNISHED! Full from Singh, around off. Mhatre clears the front leg, and pumps it down the ground, to the left of mid off for a boundary. He moves to 27 off just 16 balls.

WIDE! Down the leg side, on a hard length, Mhatre misses to pull. Wide called. 50 UP FOR CSK!

Full and on leg, Ayush heaves off the inner half to mid-wicket.

Five overs in and CSK are going at almost 10s an over. Given their struggles in the Powerplay, this has been a good start. Arshdeep Singh is back on.

On a shortish length, on middle. Mhatre pulls it square on the leg side for a run.

A big swing and a miss! On a length, outside off. Ayush Mhatre swings for the hills but does not connect.

Not as short as the previous ball but still short enough, on middle and leg. Mhatre loses his shape as he swings across the line. Hits it to the left of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

SIX! Clean hit! Vijaykumar Vyshak brings out the slower one and bashes the surface, on middle and leg. Mhatre takes it on as he presents a horizontal bat and thumps it off the front foot over wide long on for a biggie.

Angled into the pads, on a good length. Mhatre is beaten on the flick and wears it on the pads.

Fractionally short, on off, Ruturaj Gaikwad goes deep in the crease and guides it through point for a single.

That was a hugely profitable over for the Super Kings. Mhatre with a jailbreak as 15 runs came in Bartlett's second. Vijaykumar Vyshak is brought into the attack, replacing Marco Jansen.

Back to bowling it full, on off. Mhatre pushes at it with hard hands. The ball squirts off an outside edge to backward point. 15 runs off the over!

Keeps it on a back of a length, on off. Mhatre presses back and flat bats it down the ground. Arshdeep Singh sprints to his left at long on and dives to prevent the boundary. A bit of a clumsy effort from Singh and Ayush comes back for the second run.

FOUR! The length changes, but the result is the same. Leg-cutter, into the wicket, over middle. Mhatre is hanging on the back foot, and he swivels to pull it behind square leg for a boundary.

FOUR MORE! Nicely done! Too straight, sliding onto the pads and Xavier Bartlett serves it too full as well. Mhatre stays balanced at the crease and uses his wrists to flick it over mid-wicket for another boundary.

FOUR! Not from the middle but it does the job for Mhatre. Full and around the off stump, Ayush clears the front leg and goes hard at it. The bat turns in his hands and he smears it off the inner half over wide mid on for a four.

Lands it on a good length, on middle. Gaikwad turns it behind square leg and takes a single.

Very full, in line with the off stump. Ayush sets up deep in the crease. He looks to go down the ground but does not get the desired leverage. Ends up smacking it on the bounce to mid off.

Across off, on a back of a length, Mhatre is early into the shot and mistimes the punch to cover.

FIVE WIDES! Wayward from Jansen. He looks to go full in search of swing but starts too straight. It swings further down leg. Mhatre misses out on the tickle. Prabhsimran Singh dives to his left but can only get a hand on it.

Pace off now, fuller on middle, Mhatre is slightly early into the drive and bunts it back to the bowler.

On a good length, shaping back in, on middle. Mhatre taps it down the strip.

Around leg, on a good length. Ruturaj Gaikwad clips it in front of mid-wicket and crosses over.

FOUR! No need to run for that. Jansen offers width, on the shorter side. Gaikwad cashes in on the width and slams it wide of cover for a boundary.

Beautiful swing bowling by Bartlett. For Sanju, though, the start in new colors hasn't been that great so far. Ayush Mhatre walks in at number 3. Oh, hang on! His bat doesn't pass the gauge test. Gurjapneet Singh, the reserve player, brings another one and that's not going through either. Oh dear! That's a bit of an error from the umpire's side as he was holding the gauge upside down. Now, it passes the test easily. Smiles all around. Bowler number 3 for PBKS in the third over. Here's Marco Jansen into the attack, replacing Arshdeep Singh.

OUT! CAUGHT! Just a couple of balls earlier, Ian Bishop mentioned that Bartlett would be better off tightening his line against Samson and right on cue, the Australian reaps the rewards by doing exactly that. Samson shows his cards early as he backs away from the stumps towards the leg side. Xavier Bartlett spots that and bowls it on top of middle. Sanju looks to push it away on the off side with no footwork, and the ball nips away off the seam to catch the outside edge and the keeper, Prabhsimran Singh does the rest. The Super Kings are 14/1 after 2 overs.

FOUR! Uppish but in the gap! Not a bad ball by any means, on top of off. Stand and deliver stuff from Sanju. He plays it on the up through the gap between cover and mid off for a four.

A play and a miss! On a good length, shaping away, Samson does not move his feet at all and pushes away from the body, only to be beaten on the outside edge.

Good away shape, full and outside off. Gaikwad taps it off the front foot in front of point and takes a quick single.

The length is pulled back but he still gets the ball to move away. This is in the channel. Ruturaj goes searching for the ball with his hands. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads.

FOUR! Lovely stroke! A full ball at 132.3 kph, curving away in the air. Ruturaj Gaikwad leans into the drive and goes with the swing of the ball. Just eases it through covers to pick up his first boundary of the night.

Pretty good first over by Arshdeep. Got the ball to swing into the batters a bit. Xavier Bartlett will operate from the opposite end.

A hint of swing back into the right-hander, on a good length, on middle. Sanju nudges it from the crease to mid-wicket.

Beaten! Closer to the off stump, on a nagging length, the ball holds its line. No foot movement from Samson. A tentative prod by Sanju and he is lucky not to nick this one behind.

This is pushed across the right-hander, on a length. Ruturaj Gaikwad leans forward and dabs it behind point. The CSK skipper is off the mark with a single.

On the fuller side, moving back in, on middle. Gaikwad wrists it to mid-wicket.

Samson is away! A little too straight from Singh. Swings back in at the hips, on a short length. Samson hangs back and turns it through square leg. Shashank Singh gets around from deep fine leg and puts in a dive to push the ball away from the fence, saving a run for his side. Sanju opens his account with three runs.

Arshdeep pitches it up and gets a hint of an inward shape, on middle and leg. Samson walks down the track to negate the swing. He goes for the drive but miscues it off the inner half to mid-wicket.

Wide! Down leg first up by Arshdeep, and CSK are on the board with this extra. Singh bowls it on a back of a length. Sanju misses out on the glance. The ball just about carries to the keeper, Prabhsimran Singh.

It's absolutely deafening out there in Chepauk as the two umpires make their way out. It's the yellow territory with whistles echoing all round the stands, with an odd sprinkling of red here and there. Shreyas Iyer leads his men out to the middle as the Punjab Kings players spread and take their respective field positions. For the Super Kings, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson walk to the crease as the two openers. Arshdeep Singh will bowl the first over, with Samson taking the strike. Jansen is at first slip. Interesting battle first up. Here we go!

How rare is this? Just two overseas players in the CSK starting XI in the form of Matt Henry and Noor Ahmad. But if their batting falls short, they have the flexibility to turn to Matthew Short or Jamie Overton, with Short offering an added spin option through his off breaks if the surface assists. If things go well with the bat, expect them to go with either the leggie Rahul Chahar or the left-arm pace of Gurjapneet Singh.

Expects the wicket to stay the same - The skipper of the Chennai Super Kings, Ruturaj Gaikwad feels the surface is a bit on the drier side and doesn't expect it to change much. Believes that dew shouldn't be a major factor this early in April and, therefore, batting first is not a bad option. Reflecting on the last game in Guwahati, Gaikwad acknowledges the tough conditions and wants to treat it as a one-off. Mentions that the focus is firmly on this game. The CSK captain says that a strong top order remains key to their success as a franchise and their title-winning seasons have often been built on solid opening partnerships, and that is the thinking behind him opening with Sanju Samson. Gaikwad informs that they have made one change with Prashant Veer coming in for Matthew Short.

We want to make first use of the fresh surface - The captain of the Punjab Kings, Shreyas Iyer says since it is a fresh wicket, bowling first is a good option. About the condition of his hand, Shreyas informs that it is fresh, and then, after a slight pause, he says he likes to be positive, as talking negatively affects his game. Adds that the team draws immense confidence from the strength of their line-up, while also underlining that the opposition is a quality side that has performed consistently over the years. Stresses that they are focused on playing to the best of their abilities. On his batting approach, he says he likes to take on the bowlers when the chips are down and doesn’t want them to dictate terms, adding that he will carry a similar mindset into this game as well. Informs that they are going in with an unchanged XI.

Impact sub options for PBKS - Priyansh Arya, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Praveen Dubey and Harpreet Brar.

Punjab Kings (Unchanged Playing XI) - Shreyas Iyer (C), Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Cooper Connolly, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Impact sub options for CSK - Jamie Overton, Rahul Chahar, Matthew Short, Ramakrishna Ghosh and Gurjapneet Singh.

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI) - Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer (In for Matthew Short), Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry and Khaleel Ahmed.

TOSS - Time for the coin to go up in Chennai. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer have made their way out to the centre. The flip of the coin lands in favour of Iyer. Punjab Kings elect to BOWL first.

From one young sensation to another - Cooper Connolly admits that his debut still hasn't quite sunk in, describing the experience as a bit surreal. Adds that there were plenty of nerves heading into the game, but once he stepped onto the field, his focus shifted purely to the contest. Cooper believes the reality of the moment will only set in over the next couple of weeks, and he aims to keep putting his best foot forward. Mentions that there were nerves when he walked out to bat, but he was fortunate that things came off for him on the day. Connolly shares that they, as a team, haven't set any specific target, but the focus is more on assessing conditions as early as possible and figuring out the best way to go about their business. He also speaks about leaning on the more experienced players in the group, picking their brains on what works for them in these conditions, as a way to keep learning and improving his own game.

Up for a quick word - CSK's young star, Ayush Mhatre, on whether expectations are too high on him or if he’s comfortable with them, says that strong performances last season and in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy have naturally brought added attention, but he sees it as a positive kind of pressure. On whether he prefers any batting position, having opened and also batted at number 3, Ayush puts it down to him being okay with whatever the team needs from him. On being asked how CSK plan to bounce back from the previous loss, Ayush shares that the practice sessions leading into the game have been really good, with the squad putting in a lot of hard work. He adds that the pre-season camps were productive as well, and the team will look to give their best this time around. On whether he’s enjoying his time with CSK and how the winning experience has been, Ayush Mhatre says it has been a huge learning phase for him, adding that the support they receive from the crowd wherever they go is a big positive.

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta and Michael Clarke are pitchside with their reading of the conditions. Deep informs that the square boundaries are 67 meters and 66 meters respectively, with the straight hit being 78 meters. Says that the spinners have found more success traditionally at this venue because of slightly bigger boundaries. Also points out that it was a high-scoring venue in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. Clarke joins him and instantly calls it an absolute belter and a batting paradise. According to him, it doesn't matter if you choose to bat or bowl first here, as he doesn't see too much dew setting in. Observes that it is a bit dry underneath the grass and is rock hard as well. Believes that the ball will come nicely onto the bat, and the bowlers are going to have a tough night. Stresses that the bowlers should focus on pace variations to achieve success here.

Conditions in focus - At the World Cup, Chennai didn't quite play out as the spin-friendly venue it is often perceived to be. However, in the IPL, spinners have enjoyed an economy rate of 7.2 here, the best for any venue in the league's history (minimum 20 matches). Since 2024, batting hasn't been easy, with Chennai recording the lowest run rate (8.5) among all IPL venues (minimum 10 matches). All of which adds to an intriguing contest. Stay tuned for the toss and team news.

A fading stronghold in Chennai - Chepauk has traditionally been a fortress for the men in yellow, but cracks have begun to appear. CSK managed just 1 win in 6 matches here in 2025 and have lost their last five games in Chennai. Punjab Kings, meanwhile, will take confidence from their recent visits to the venue, having won each of their last three games here against CSK.

Clash of legacy and ambition - Hello and welcome from Chennai for the first time this season in the Indian Premier League, where the Super Kings take on the Punjab Kings. One team with five IPL titles to their name, the other still chasing a maiden crown after coming agonisingly close last season. There is little to separate the two sides, with 16 wins each, but recent history tilts the balance towards PBKS, who have won 7 of the last 8 meetings between the teams.

... MATCH DAY ...

Battle of the Kings - High-octane action in Season 19 of the Indian Premier League continues as Chennai Super Kings take on Punjab Kings in Match 7 of the new season at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Both teams have already played a match each, starting their campaigns in contrasting ways. CSK were handed a hefty defeat in their opening game by the Rajasthan Royals, whereas PBKS managed to fight a late stutter to come out on top against the Gujarat Titans. Homecoming for the Yellow Army - Chennai Super Kings will be pleased to be back at Chepauk after that torrid season opener up in Guwahati. The injury concerns still remain but the familiar sight of the ground and home fans will certainly be a boost for the players. Even with the injuries, that batting line-up should be one that oozes stability, with the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson in the top order. The middle order did show some fight but the absence of MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis did prove costly and CSK will be hoping that Shivam Dube holds it all together heading into the death overs. On the bowling front, there wasn't much to talk about as they were defending a low total but still, the overall performance didn't seem up to the mark. Khaleel Ahmed was economical and Anshul Kamboj picked up a couple of wickets but the likes of Matt Henry and Noor Ahmad, the two overseas strike bowlers, were put to the sword. At Chepauk, CSK will expect Noor to lead the attack better in the middle overs and maybe bring in an extra spinner. Looking for consistency - Punjab, on the other hand, arrive with confidence and clarity under Shreyas Iyer. Their squad appears balanced across departments, blending aggressive top-order batting with versatile all-round options and a varied bowling attack. A winning start has reinforced belief, and players like Marcus Stoinis and Arshdeep Singh provide both firepower and control at crucial stages. Unlike previous seasons where inconsistency plagued them, Punjab now look like a side with defined roles and a coherent game plan, capable of adapting to different match situations.In terms of their last match, PBKS seemed to be cruising in a chase of 163 after a very solid performance from their bowling unit. However, once the skipper got out, it triggered a huge collapse but Cooper Connolly showed why he is so highly rated as he steered them to the finish line with an amazing knock in his debut game. However, Punjab will want that middle order to show more grit as they look to make it two wins out of two. What's the head-to-head like? The head-to-head record between these two teams adds an extra layer of intrigue, with both sides historically evenly matched. However, recent encounters have tilted slightly in Punjab’s favor, suggesting a shift in competitive balance. For Chennai, reclaiming dominance at home becomes crucial, while Punjab will view this as an opportunity to assert themselves further against a traditionally strong opponent. Such evenly poised rivalries often hinge on small moments - an over of brilliance, a dropped catch, or a strategic gamble. The changing pitch at Chepauk - Conditions at Chepauk are expected to play a significant role in shaping the contest. Traditionally known for assisting spinners, the surface in recent seasons has offered more for batters, with improved bounce and carry. However, spin remains a factor, particularly in the middle overs, where bowlers can control the tempo of the game. The possibility of dew in the second innings may also influence captains at the toss, potentially making chasing a preferred option. Teams will need to strike a balance between aggression and caution, especially during the transition phases of the innings. The difference-makers - Key individual battles could ultimately define the outcome. The contest between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Arshdeep Singh in the powerplay will set the tone for Chennai’s innings, while the duel between Shivam Dube and Yuzvendra Chahal in the middle overs could determine whether CSK can accelerate or stall. For Punjab, Iyer’s ability to handle spin against Chennai’s slower bowlers will be critical, while Stoinis’ role in the death overs could prove decisive in pushing the total beyond par or finishing a chase. Team form (Last 5 completed IPL matches) - CSK- LWLWL | PBKS- WLWLW. Predictions? Early-season fixtures often shape narratives, and this clash already carries added intrigue: a historically balanced rivalry, shifting team dynamics, and questions around form versus familiarity. With Chepauk’s evolving pitch conditions and two differently constructed squads, the match promises both tactical depth and high entertainment value. From a tactical standpoint, Chennai are likely to rely heavily on their spin attack to choke Punjab’s scoring in the middle overs, while aiming for a more measured start with the bat to avoid early collapses. Punjab, conversely, may look to attack early with the ball and then build partnerships through the middle phase before unleashing their finishers. The contrasting approaches - CSK’s control-oriented style versus PBKS’s dynamic aggression - set up an engaging strategic battle. Who are you backing for the win?