In the 999th match of the Indian Premier League, Chennai Super Kings will take on Punjab Kings at the M A Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. Ahead of the clash, both teams have faced defeat in their last match. MS Dhoni’s CSK were thrashed by Rajasthan Royals in their recent encounter.
The Super Kings’ 32-run loss against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur halted their three-match winning streak and dropped the four-time champion from first to fourth in the points table. However, CSK will fancy its chances against Shikhar Dhawan’s team at home as it looks to get back on track.
On the other hand, Punjab Kings will look to forget their last encounter against Lucknow Super Giants. In the game, Shikhar Dhawan and company failed to stop the run flow as LSG hammered the second-highest total of the league’s history. Bowling has been a strength for the Kings this season, but the team’s pacers struggled against the Super Giants.
The visitor will not have an easy time in Chepauk, and Dhawan will need his spinners to step up, which they have failed to do this season. Leg-spinner Rahul Chahar has struggled this year, taking only two wickets, and will need to find his form, immediately. It will also be interesting to see if the team storms an extra spinner instead of a fast bowler, or if the team relies on Sikandar Raza and Liam Livingstone to carry the load alongside Chahar.
CSK vs PBKS: Pitch Report
Unlike other Indian grounds, Chepauk is known for its spin-friendly track. However, in the ongoing season, it has turned down every expectation and has emerged as a batting paradise. It has helped pacers occasionally as spinners had more help.
Overall, it is one of those grounds where after spending some time, a batter can bat on his will. Dew will play a crucial role and after winning the toss, teams will be keen to bowl first. Notably, there is a 40% rain prediction and it could affect the game.
CSK vs PBKS: Head-to-head records
In the history of the Indian Premier League, Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings have met 27 times. CSK leads the outing with 15 wins, while Punjab has managed to clinch 12. However, in their last five encounters, PBKS had the upper hand as they have defeated CSK thrice since 2021. In the ongoing tournament, both sides are coming from a disheartening defeat and will be looking to make a comeback.
Total Matches: 27
CSK won: 15
PBKS won: 12
CSK vs PBKS: Players to watch out for:
#Devon Conway: Devon Conway, an efficient Kiwi opener, is currently ranked third on the IPL 2023 Orange Cap list. So far, the 31-year-old has scored 322 runs at a strike rate of 137.02 in eight matches. He has four half-centuries in his past five outings and will undoubtedly be a guy to watch in the forthcoming match.
#Arshdeep Singh: Arshdeep Singh, the elite pacer, gave up many runs in the recent game. Though, he had a bad day he has clinched 14 wickets from eight games in the ongoing season. Arshdeep might be a handy weapon for the Shikhar Dhawan-led team against CSK hitters who are in excellent form.
#Ruturaj Gaikwad: After starting the season with two back-to-back half-centuries Ruturaj has failed to convert quick starts into big scores. CSK will expect him to bat deep in the middle as the team needs him in the end. He has scored 317 runs in eight innings and will look to improve his numbers.
#Shikhar Dhawan: PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan who missed three games due to an injury made a comeback against LSG in the last game. In the high-pressure run chase, he failed to capitalise on the opportunity but will be keen to dominate with the bat. He has scored 234 runs in five games at an average of 78 in the ongoing tournament.
#Ravindra Jadeja: Star India allrounder Ravindra Jadeja is having a great time with the bowl in the ongoing tournament. He has clinched 11 wickets in eight games and will be keen to improve his tally. Notably, RHB-heavy Punjab batting will be on his radar and it will be interesting to see how they dominate him.
