Batbricks7

TUESDAY :May 1, 2024, 7:30 PM

Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

  HEAD TO HEAD
Total              :  28
CSK Won      :  15
PBKS Won    :  13

                        the second time this season, Chennai Super Kings will have back-to-back games against the same opposition, facing Punjab Kings first at home and then away three days later. The first leg of that comes on the back of their comprehensive win against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the same venue a couple of nights ago. That they have won four out of their five home games so far builds up an imposing challenge for the Punjab Kings. They, however, would be high on confidence after a record chase that reversed a four-match losing streak.                         

• The pitch used is set to be a fresh one, but it could be on the drier side as compared to the one used for the Sunrisers Hyderabad game. Dew is expected to play a part as well as it has in the games in Chennai so far.

Chennai Super Kings

There is a case for tinkering with their opening combination with Ajinkya Rahane's failures so far in the season. On the other hand, the match-up between the likes of Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, who have powered PBKS' lower order, against Matheesha Pathirana could be a crucial phase of play.

Injuries/unavailability: There hasn't been any concern reported in the CSK camp.

Probable XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana, Mustafizur Rahman [Impact sub: Shardul Thakur/Sameer Rizvi]

Punjab Kings

Both Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada have dismissed Shivam Dube twice each, which allows for a good match-up straightaway. The duo also have a good match-up against Ruturaj Gaikwad and PBKS will be pressed to spread their resources wisely across the innings. Ruturaj has been dismissed four times against left-arm pace this season which could allow some leeway for PBKS bringing Arshdeep more into the equation early on.

Injuries/unavailability: A decision on Shikhar Dhawan is set to be taken on the day of the game while Sikandar Raza has left the squad for national duty.

Probable XI: Prabhsimran Singh/Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma, Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Haarshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh [Impact sub: Rahul Chahar]

Harshal Patel has 11 wickets in four games in Chepauk including a five-wicket haul