Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 5 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team will play their first home match of the tournament at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, April 3.
CSK lost their opening match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati. MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis missed the previous match due to their respective injuries. Meanwhile, PBKS recorded a victory against Gujarat Titans (GT) in a match that went to the final over during the run chase.
IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Match Details
Match: Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings, 7th Match
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Date: April 3, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM LOCAL
Venue: M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Live Broadcast: Star Sports Network
IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Pitch & Weather Report
The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium pitch helps spin bowlers. Chennai lost five of their six home matches during the 2025 season. The average first innings score was 164 runs last year.
Chennai weather feels very warm and humid during the evening. The temperature will stay around 28 degrees Celsius evening. Heavy dew might arrive later, making the cricket ball very difficult for spin bowlers to grip properly.
IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Head-to-Head Record
Punjab Kings have a strong recent record against Chennai Super Kings. In their last five IPL meetings, PBKS have won four matches, while CSK have managed just one victory.
Overall, both teams are evenly matched, with 16 wins each in 32 encounters. However, Punjab Kings hold the edge in recent performances against Chennai Super Kings.
IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Probable Playing XI & Impact Players
Chennai Super Kings Playing XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed.
Impact Player: Sarfaraz Khan
Punjab Kings Playing XI: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Impact Player: Harpreet Brar
IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Form And Fitness Update
Punjab Kings defeated Gujarat Titans in their opening match, with Cooper Connolly delivering a brilliant performance. Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings suffered a heavy defeat against Rajasthan Royals, managing only 127 runs.
Dewald Brevis remains injured with a side strain, which weakens CSK’s middle-order batting. MS Dhoni is also unavailable for selection due to a calf injury. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have no injury concerns in their camp.
IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Toss Prediction
Winning the toss remains crucial during night matches in Chennai. In all four IPL 2026 games played so far, the winning captain has chosen to bowl first. With the dew factor, Ruturaj Gaikwad or Shreyas Iyer will likely opt to bowl first and chase.
IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Score Prediction
If Punjab Kings bat first, they could post a total close to 180 runs. If Chennai Super Kings bat first, their struggling batting unit might reach around 160 runs against Yuzvendra Chahal. The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium pitch generally restricts very high scores due to assistance for spin bowling.
IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Key Players To Watch
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Noor Ahmad
Punjab Kings: Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh
IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Best Batsman Prediction
Who will score the most runs for Chennai Super Kings? Sanju Samson or Ruturaj Gaikwad
Who will score the most runs for Punjab Kings? Cooper Connolly or Shreyas Iyer
IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Best Bowler Prediction
Who will take the most wickets for Chennai Super Kings? Noor Ahmad or Khaleel Ahmed
Who will take the most wickets for Punjab Kings? Yuzvendra Chahal or Arshdeep Singh
IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Match Prediction: Who Will Win Match 7?
Punjab Kings will enter the contest as favourites with strong form and a balanced squad. Chennai Super Kings will look vulnerable after their heavy defeat and ongoing injury concerns. PBKS are likely to defeat CSK in the match.
IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Winning Probability
Punjab Kings have around a 60 percent chance of winning due to better momentum and spin strength. Chennai Super Kings have a 40 percent chance, as they are struggling with batting form and missing key players like Dewald Brevis.
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