Match Details
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) are set to face off in Match No. 7 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai, on Friday, April 3. This high-stakes encounter will take place at 7:30 PM IST. The match will be broadcasted on the Star Sports Network and can also be streamed live via the JioHotstar App and Website.
Recent Performance
In their opening match of the 19th season, CSK faced a setback against the Rajasthan Royals. Their new signing, Sanju Samson, struggled to make an impact, while Ayush Mhatre and all-rounder Shivam Dube also failed to deliver with the bat. The team management is hoping for improved performance from the players in this crucial match.
On the other hand, the Punjab Kings showcased their strength in their campaign opener against the Gujarat Titans. Their bowlers performed exceptionally well, restricting the rival team to a score of 162, and they completed the chase with three wickets remaining. Shreyas Iyer’s side will rely heavily on their bowlers to challenge the five-time champions in an away game.
Pitch Report
The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium is one of the most iconic venues in India and has hosted 91 matches in the IPL. Teams batting first have won 58 of these matches. The average first innings total is around 164. However, the pitches were recently relaid, making this the first IPL match in Chennai after the renovation. Teams will need to adjust their strategies after winning the toss in this edition of the tournament. The tracks generally favor spinners in Chennai.
Head-to-Head Record
The head-to-head record between CSK and PBKS stands at:
- Matches: 33
- CSK: 17
- PBKS: 15
- Tied: 1
Probable Playing XIs
Chennai Super Kings
Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed
Impact Player: Sarfaraz Khan/Prashant Veer
Punjab Kings
Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh
Impact Player: Yuzvendra Chahal/Yash Thakur
Probable Best Performers
Probable Best Batter: Sanju Samson
Despite his struggles in the previous IPL 2026 match, Sanju Samson is expected to be among the top performers against the Punjab Kings. He has been in sensational form and is anticipated to provide a strong start to the Chennai Super Kings. If the right-handed batter gets going, Chennai could secure a win at home.
Probable Best Bowler: Yuzvendra Chahal
With over 200 wickets in the IPL, Yuzvendra Chahal is one of the most formidable bowlers in the tournament. He took two wickets in his team’s previous contest against GT, and the veteran will enjoy bowling on a track that favors slow bowlers. Chahal is known for his variations, which could prove crucial in this match.
Who Will Win?
Punjab Kings are in good form and have a chance to win the contest against the Chennai Super Kings despite playing away. They possess better players compared to Chennai, who are struggling in the batting department and will be without injured MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis.
Squads
CSK
Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Zak Foulkes, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Sarfaraz Khan, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Aman Khan, Mukesh Choudhary, Spencer Johnson, Gurjapneet Singh, Matthew Short, Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Chahar.
PBKS
Shreyas Iyer (C), Prabhsimran Singh, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Nehal Wadhera, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Xavier Bartlett, Pravin Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Harnoor Singh, Yash Thakur, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Vishnu Vinod, Ben Dwarshuis, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Vishal Nishad.
