IPL 2026: Can CSK bounce back against PBKS at home?
What's the story
The seventh match of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) will see Chennai Super Kings host Punjab Kings on April 3. The clash is set to be held at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This will be CSK's first home game in IPL 2026. The Yellow Army lost their season opener against Rajasthan Royals, while PBKS was impressive in their first match against Gujarat Titans.
Venue details
Pitch report and weather details
The MA Chidambaram Stadium, also known as the Chepauk Stadium, is known to aid spinners throughout the match. Notably, the two-paced nature of the wickets here has produced several low-scoring thrillers. The average first innings score at this venue has been around 164. Teams batting first have won nearly 57% of the matches so far. The match, starting 7:30pm IST, will likely have cloudy and humid conditions.
CSK lineup
CSK hope for an improved batting performance
In their season opener, CSK failed to post a competitive total against Rajasthan Royals. They lost by eight wickets after scoring 127. Sanju Samson had a terrible CSK debut, while the entire batting order perished. The team will likely be without Dewald Brevis against PBKS too. Probable XI: Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, and Khaleel Ahmed. Impact player: Sarfaraz Khan.
PBKS lineup
Will PBKS maintain momentum?
Unlike CSK, the Kings had a stellar start to their season. They restricted Gujarat Titans to 162 runs before chasing down the target with three wickets and five balls remaining. Although PBKS also faltered, debutant Cooper Connolly's half-century saw them through. Probable XI: Prabhsimran Singh (wicket-keeper), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Impact player: Priyansh Arya.
Information
A look at head-to-head record
CSK and PBKS have faced each other 32 times in the IPL, with the head-to-head record being neck-to-neck (16-16). At MA Chidambaram Stadium, the Kings have a 5-4 win-loss record over CSK in the league. Notably, PBKS won both their encounters against CSK last season.
Performers
Who are the star performers?
All eyes will be on Connolly, who recorded the fifth-highest score in IPL debut innings (72* off 44 balls). Vijaykumar Vyshak and Yuzvendra Chahal will once again pose a threat to the middle order. On the other hand, Sanju Samson would want to forget his early dismissal against RR. The Chepauk wicket would suit his batting style. Shivam Dube would also look to go big against spinners.