CSK Looks for Revenge in Second Consecutive Matchup with PBKS

In their previous encounter just three days ago, PBKS displayed dominance, trouncing CSK by seven wickets at Chepauk, a venue considered impregnable for the hosts.

CSK finds themselves in a precarious position after two losses in their last three home games, languishing at fifth place on the points table with 10 points. With only four games remaining to secure their spot in the knockout stage, they desperately seek to reverse their fortunes with a change in venue.

Their recent defeat stemmed from an inability to accelerate in the middle overs against the spin duo of Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar, resulting in a below-par total of 162-7. The batting unit, overly reliant on skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and powerhouse Shivam Dube, faltered when one of them failed, exposing the inconsistency of the supporting cast.

While Gaikwad showcased resilience with his fifth fifty-plus score of the season, the failure of veteran Ajinkya Rahane to capitalize on starts and the struggles of Ravindra Jadeja and Sameer Rizvi against spin underscored CSK’s batting woes.

Injuries further compounded CSK’s challenges, with pacers like Deepak Chahar succumbing to fitness concerns. The absence of frontline bowlers like Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande exacerbated their woes, aggravated by the dew factor that neutralized their spinners and facilitated PBKS’s comfortable victory.

As they prepare for the rematch, CSK contemplates lineup changes, possibly reintroducing Mukesh Choudhary to bolster their bowling attack.

Meanwhile, PBKS rides the momentum of consecutive victories, reigniting their playoffs aspirations. Their recent triumph over CSK marked their fifth consecutive win against the defending champions, instilling confidence in their ability to replicate success.

PBKS epitomizes unpredictability, showcasing prowess in away fixtures against Gujarat and Chennai but faltering in home encounters against Rajasthan, Hyderabad, and Gujarat. With their resurgence, they climbed to seventh place on the points table with 8 points, aiming to sustain their upward trajectory.

Key players like Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, and Prabhsimran Singh hold the key to PBKS’s fortunes, complemented by a formidable bowling lineup featuring Kagiso Rabada, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Sam Curran.

As they gear up for the showdown, PBKS acknowledges the significance of consistency, particularly from their spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar, to replicate their previous success against CSK.

Interestingly, Dharamsala witnessed its maiden IPL encounter between CSK and Punjab in 2010, setting the stage for another enthralling contest. With its conducive conditions for high-scoring matches and the lingering influence of dew, the venue promises an exhilarating spectacle for cricket enthusiasts.

Teams:

CSK:

Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Aravelly Avanish, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, RS Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nishant Sindhu, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Shardul Thakur, Maheesh Theekshana, Sameer Rizvi.

PBKS:

Shikhar Dhawan, Matthew Short, Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Sikandar Raza, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Bhatia, Vidwath Kaverappa, Shivam Singh, Harshal Patel, Chris Woakes, Ashutosh Sharma, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Shashank Singh, Tanay Thyagarajan, Prince Choudhary, Rilee Rossouw.

Match starts: 7.30 PM.