CSK VS PBKS | Preview, Pitch Report, Probable XIs, Fantasy Tips & Prediction
Punjab are at the 6th position [iplt20.com]
This Sunday, the iconic M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will witness a clash of titans as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) take on the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in an eagerly awaited showdown. This marks the solitary encounter between the two teams this season, with each side having competed in eight games thus far.
The CSK have displayed their mettle with five magnificent triumphs, while the PBKS have emerged victorious four times. After facing disappointing losses in their previous games, both teams will be striving to seize the initiative and reignite their winning streaks.
Team Preview: Chennai Super Kings
CSK, under the leadership of the legendary MS Dhoni, has made a strong start to their IPL 2023 campaign, winning five out of eight matches with just three defeats. The team currently holds the fourth position on the table with a commendable net run rate of 0.376 and ten points to their name.
The batting department of the team has been a breath of fresh air, with the likes of Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Shivam Dube in scintillating form. Although the team has plenty of depth in their batting, all-rounders Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja have not been able to consistently perform with the bat.w
The bowling unit has also shown improvement, with Tushar Deshpande being the standout performer with 14 wickets to his name, albeit being a bit expensive. Matheesha Pathirana has been the go-to bowler for skipper Dhoni in the slog overs, while Akash Singh has primarily been used during the power play. The spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Maheesh Theekshana has been nothing short of brilliant.
Team Preview: Punjab Kings
The Punjab Kings' campaign in the ongoing season has been a mixed bag, with four wins and as many losses from eight matches played. The team is currently placed in the sixth position in the points table, having accumulated eight points with a net run rate of -0.510.
PBKS boasts a potent bowling attack with Arshdeep Singh and Rahul Chahar forming a formidable partnership, while the return of Kagiso Rabada from injury is expected to bolster their firepower. Furthermore, the emergence of Sam Curran as a reliable all-rounder has brought much-needed balance to the PBKS squad, owing to his consistent contributions across departments. For the game against CSK, Harpreet Brar will come in place of Gurnoor Singh Brar.
The bowling attack went for a plenty in the last match against LSG and will be low on confidence.
In terms of batting, the Punjab Kings' top-order, consisting of Shikhar Dhawan, Prabhsimran Singh, and Atharva Taide, have been the mainstay of their scoring. The young Taide has shown glimpses of his potential and is expected to bat at number three. However, the middle-order comprising Liam Livingstone, Sikandar Raza, and Sam Curran needs to step up and provide support to Jitesh Sharma and Shahrukh Khan.
Match Details
Date & Time: April 30, 2023, Sunday, 03:30 PM IST
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Live Streaming: Jio Cinema & Star Sports Network
Pitch report: The MA Chidambaram Stadium track is well-known for providing bowlers, especially spinners, with ample assistance. With the surface offering significant grip, the spinners are expected to play a crucial role in the game. However, if the batsmen display patience and spend adequate time at the crease, they can also notch up a substantial score. The impact of the dew factor on the game remains to be seen, adding an element of unpredictability to the proceedings.
Probable Playing XIs
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Akash Singh
Impact Players: Ambati Rayudu, Dwaine Pretorius, Subhranshu Senapati, Shaik Rasheed, Rajvardhan Hangargekar
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Atharva Taide, Sikandar Raza, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
Impact Players: Harpreet Brar, Mohit Rathee, Rishi Dhawan, Nathan Ellis, Shivam Singh
Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
Wicket-keepers: Jitesh Sharma, Devon Conway
Batters: Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Shivam Dube
All-rounders: Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja
Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh
Captain: Ravindra Jadeja
Vice-captain: Maheesh Theekshana
Prediction
Defeating CSK at their home won’t be an easy task for PBKS and especially after their previous defeat against SRH at home. The experienced spin bowling unit of the Yellow Army could prove to be vital in deciding the outcome of the game at the spin-friendly track of Chepauk Stadium.
 "Vaibhav Tripathi")
