IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings Match Scorecard: Chennai Super Kings finished with 209 runs on the board in the first innings. Ayush Mhatre starred with a knock of 73 runs but it was Shivam Dube (45*) and Sarfaraz Khan (32) who provided the finishing touches to the innings.
Toss Update: Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bowl first against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad informed of one change in the match – Prashant Veer comes in for Matthew Short. While PBKS have made no change in the XI from the previous match.
This is Chennai’s initial home match of the season, marking a return to their stronghold. However, it also revisits the concern that has hovered over the franchise throughout the season: can CSK endure the initial weeks without MS Dhoni? Currently, it appears to be quite disorganized. This evening presents them with an opportunity to reverse the situation.
CSK and PBKS have faced off in 32 IPL games, with both sides securing 16 victories apiece. This establishes it as the most evenly-matched rivalry in IPL history.
Nonetheless, recent performances strongly support Punjab. In the previous five encounters, PBKS has secured 4 victories while CSK has managed just 1 win. Chennai has managed to win only 1 of the 7 meetings with Punjab since 2022
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh(w), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed
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Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh sealed the win for Punjab Kings in an emphatic fashion. The visitors won the match by five wickets with eight balls to spare.
CSK have made a huge comeback in the game. Picking up two wickets in two balls, the hosts have sent Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera back to the pavillion. Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis are in the middle with PBKS needing 24 runs in 17 balls.
Shreyas Iyer is playing a blinder of a knock and has brought Punjab Kings slightly ahead in this clash. The PBKS skipper has scored 42 runs in 22 balls. Meanwhile, Nehal Wadhera struck a huge six in the 16th over as the required rate gets close to 8 runs per over. With only 33 runs needed in four overs, the visitors would fancy their chances of chasing this total down.
Cooper Connolly could not finish the job as he did in the previous game. The Australian batter was looking in fine touch before he was dismissed by Anshul Kamboj in the 12th over. The game still hangs in balance as PBKS need 83 runs in 48 balls to get their second win of the season.
An unnecessary run-out resulted in CSK being gifted the wicket of Prabhsimran Singh. The Super Kings were looking for answers but have been given an opportunity to climb back into the game.
Punjab Kings are going all guns blazing against the Super Kings. With eight overs gone, the run-rate from PBKS has been 11 RPO lowering the required rate to close to 10 runs per over.
It has been one-way traffic at Chepauk in the second innings. Prabhsimran Singh, despite losing his opening partner, has carried on to attack with intent. The right-handed batter another six and a four in the seventh over as Noor Ahmad was thrown the ball to bowl the seventh over.
After a poor start in the second innings, Matt Henry bounced back strongly as he dismissed Priyansh Arya on the second ball of his second over. The Kiwi pacer almost got a second wicket but the umpire’s call went in Prabhsimran Singh’s favour.
Anshul Kamboj replaced Matt Henry in the attack and came to bowl the fourth over. He gave 12 runs in his over after conceding three boundaries.
The two opening batters from Punjab Kings have seemed to silence the passionate CSK crowd at Chepauk. Both Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya are smashing the Chennai bowlers all around the park. Khaleel Ahmed gave away nine runs in the third over as the onslaught from the two openers continued.
Matt Henry once again was on the receiving end of bashing from yet another left-handed batter. The Kiwi pacer was struck for three boundaries in the second over by Priyansh Arya. Punjab Kings are off to a flying start.
Khaleel Ahmed bowled a nine-ball over to start the second innings. The left-arm pacer bowled three wides and was hit for a couple of fours by Priyansh Arya. Khaleel gave 14 runs in the first over but found movement.
Shivam Dube, after scoring 14 runs in 14 balls at one stage, finished with 45 runs in 28 balls, powering the hosts to a score of 209 runs. Punjab Kings will need 210 runs to keep their winning streak alive.
A big over for Chennai Super Kings as Shivam Dube hit a couple of fours in the penultimate over against Xavier Bartlett.
CSK are in touching distance of the magic number of 200, but they have been pulled back by PBKS. Umpires call for a two-over powerplay. Shivam Dube is in the middle, facing the 19th over.
Punjab Kings have introduced a pacer as Shivam Dube is back in the crease. Xavier Bartlett is bowling the 16th over. Sarfaraz Khan is looking to attack every ball. He wants to maximise with each delivery.
Ayush Mhatre’s innings finally come to rest. He falls for a well-made 73 off 43 balls. Kartik Sharma is the new batter along with the senior pro Shivam Dube in the middle. For CSK to reach a fighting total, one of them has to stay till the end,
Chahal, who removed Ruturaj Gaikwad, had a chance to remove Ayush Mhatre in the line-up as well, but to no avail. He is continuing to make the most of the chances provided to him.
Exactly at 10 overs, the run rate stands at 11 an over. Ayush Mhatre is entertaining the Chennai crowd with his batting. Ruturaj Gaikwad will face Chahal in the start of his third over.
Ayush Mhatre has been a revelation in this innings. Excellent intent from the young batter. Chahal has been asked to continue from one end. Gaikwad, on the other hand, is ensuring that he gives the strike back to Mhatre.
CSK batters Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre are going at a great strike-rate to keep the scorecard moving swiftly. Chahal has been introduced in the attack. Mhatre is approaching his half century.
Vyshak has been incredible in the powerplay with his line and length. He tried to fox Mhatre but the youngster flat batted it for a six. Solid hitting by the youngster. CSK 49/1 (5)
There is swing on offer for both the Punjab Kings’ pacers. Mhatre gets off the mark with a boundary. Gaikwad applauds him. This will do good for the young man’s confidence. Back-to-back boundaries.
Chennai Super Kings have been struck early with the loss of Sanju Samson. Xavier Bartlett got him out with a beautiful outswinger. Ayush Mhatre is the new batter in, and there is a problem with his bat. CSK 14/1 (2)
An excellent over by Arshdeep Singh against the CSK bowlers. You can almost sense the tentative nature of the openers while playing the deliveries. Xavier Bartlett to bowl from the other end.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson are taking the crease in the middle. Arshdeep Singh has the ball in hand. He will try to bring the ball inside the right-hander. Shreyas Iyer is setting the final changes in the field.
Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed
Prabhsimran Singh(w), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bowl first against Chennai Super Kings. Just as expected, the Punjab Kings have decided to chase in this innings due to the dew factor.
Don’t go anywhere as we are minutes away from the toss. As per the predictions, the team winning the toss will opt to bowl first, considering the dew factor, which will make bowling harder. Will it spin in Chennai? The surface could be a belter replicating the track which we saw during the recently-concluded T20 World Cup.
Yuzvendra Chahal, the IPL’s all-time leading wicket-taker, has a dominant record against CSK’s marquee signing Sanju Samson, having dismissed him 5 times in 12 innings.
PBKS has won 6 of the last 7 encounters against CSK. Notably, they have beaten Chennai at Chepauk in three consecutive seasons. The Ruturaj Gaikwad will definitely have this on the back of their minds.
Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings in 32 meetings — both teams have secured 16 wins each, making this the most statistically balanced rivalry in the IPL.
In a major blow to CSK’s middle order, Brevis is reportedly sidelined with a side strain. Matt Short is expected to retain his place in the XI.
Shreyas Iyer: The PBKS captain has been cleared to play. Despite a nasty blow to his hand in the previous match, assistant coach Brad Haddin confirmed there is no fracture, just minor swelling.
MS Dhoni: While he has resumed light training and power-hitting drills at Chepauk, he is unlikely to play tonight as he recovers from a calf strain. Reports suggest he may miss the first two weeks of the season.
The fans of Chennai Super Kings are no ordinary fans. It is more like a consortium of people who never let the side feeling short on enthusiasm. Five-time IPL champions, who had a horror show in Guwahati, succumbed to a heavy defeat against RR. Will their fortunes change?
Hello and welcome to the live cricket coverage of match number 7 of the Indian Premier League, which is set to take place between the Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
