The last few seasons have not gone well for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. They ended the 2025 edition at the bottom and started the IPL 2026 with a big defeat against Rajasthan Royals. The five-time champions will be back at their den in Chennai for their first home game. They will collide with Punjab Kings. This contest will be live from MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 3 (Friday) at 7:30 PM IST.
MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis have started training, but they are still doubtful for this game against PBKS. So, CSK might have to go with a similar playing XI with minimal changes. They need a better plan against a strong PBKS. Shreyas Iyer and co. have started the season with a good win. Cooper Connolly played a crucial role in that win with a debut half-century. Their bowlers did a decent job, but the middle order looked a little rusty.
CSK vs PBKS: Match Info.
·Tournament: Indian Premier League 2026
·Match: Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings, Match 7
·Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
·Time: 7:30 PM IST
·Date: April 03, 2026 (Friday)
CSK vs PBKS: Head-to-Head: CSK (16) – PBKS (16)
There is nothing. much to separate these two in this rivalry. These sides have played 32 games, and both teams have won 16 games each. Meanwhile, PBKS have won four of the last five encounters.
CSK vs PBKS: Pitch Report
The wicket at Chepauk Stadium has been a good venue for the batters. This wicket has turned into a flat surface in the last year or so. Team India scored 256 runs against Zimbabwe here last month in the T20 World Cup 2026. But the wicket can be two-paced, and the slower ones will grip later on. That can make the chase a bit difficult here.
CSK vs PBKS: Live Streaming Details
·TV: Star Sports Network
·Digital: Jio Hotstar
CSK vs PBKS: Weather Report
The weather forecast for Friday evening in Chennai shows humid conditions with a humidity index of 49 percent. The temperature is expected to be at 30°C, with a moderate wind speed of 11 km/h.
CSK vs PBKS: Last Five Results
Chennai Super Kings: L, W, L, W, L
Punjab Kings: W, L, W, L, W
Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings: Predicted XIs:
CSK: S. Samson (wk), R. Gaikwad (c), M. Short, A. Mhatre, S. Dube, K. Sharma, J. Overton, N. Ahmad, M. Henry, A. Kamboj, K. Ahmed
PBKS: P. Singh (wk), P. Arya, S. Iyer (c), C. Connolly, N. Wadhera, S. Singh, M. Stoinis, X. Bartlett, M. Jansen, A. Singh, Y. Chahal
CSK vs PBKS: Players to Watch out for
Punjab Kings: Cooper Connolly already showed that he has a mature head on his shoulders. He has yet to bowl, but he is a complete package for T20 cricket.
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson was the biggest addition to CSK this season, and he will be the one to watch out for. He can set a brilliant platform for CSK to post a big total.
CSK vs PBKS Today’s Match Prediction: CSK will have a massive edge playing at home. They know these conditions and can plan better. Having home support is another big aspect for them. CSK have a great record at home, and they will fancy their chances. But their batting and bowling looked rusty in the first game. They are struggling with injuries.
So, they will have to find contributions from the available players. On the other hand, PBKS are in good form. They did an excellent job with the ball, and their bowlers will excel on this wicket. With the bat, they struggle in the middle order, but their in-form top order is performing well and can kill the game. Hence, PBKS are expected to win this game in Chennai.
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