Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be itching to get their first win of Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) as they take on Punjab Kings in their second game of the tournament. The five-time champions’ bad luck and form from the previous season continued as they were handed a 8-wicket thrashing by Rajasthan Royals in their tournament opener. Such was the nature of the defeat that Ruturaj Gaikwad and co. are already at the bottom of the points table with a net run-rate of over -4.
PBKS, on the other hand, managed to clinch a three wicket win in their IPL 2026 opener against GT. Thanks to Cooper Connolly’s mature knock, Iyer and co. were able to add the first points to their name. Come Friday, PBKS will be taking on CSK in the latter’s home ground.
PL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Match Details
| Feature | Details |
| Match | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings, Match 7 |
| Date | Friday, April 3, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM IST) |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk), Chennai |
| Captains | Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) vs Shreyas Iyer (PBKS) |
| Live Telecast | Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar App and Website |
CSK vs PBKS: Head-to-Head Record
Historically, CSK has held the upper hand, but Punjab Kings have a surprisingly resilient record against the 5-time champions in recent years.
- Total Matches Played: 32
- CSK Won: 16
- PBKS Won: 16
CSK vs PBKS: Pitch Report
The MA Chidambaram Stadium remains a surface that favors spinners but has seen better batting conditions in recent years. The pitch is expected to be dry, offering turn as the game progresses. However, with the lights on, the ball might come onto the bat better in the second innings.
- Average 1st Innings Score: 170-180
- Toss Factor: Dew is almost a certainty in Chennai during April. Teams winning the toss will likely choose to bowl first to avoid handling a wet ball in the latter half of the game.
CSK vs PBKS: Predicted Playing XIs
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj
- Impact Player: Sarfaraz Khan / Matt Henry
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak/Harpreet Brar
- Impact Player: Yuzvendra Chahal
CSK vs PBKS Match Prediction: Who will win?
While Punjab Kings have the explosive power to unsettle any bowling lineup, Chennai Super Kings start as favorites (55% win probability) due to their familiarity with home conditions.
Given CSK’s clinical execution at “Fortress Chepauk” and the tactical stability under Ruturaj Gaikwad, the hosts are expected to edge out a victory.
Prediction: Chennai Super Kings to win Match 7.
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