IPL 2024, PBKS vs CSK: Punjab Kings Win Toss, Opt To Field Against Chennai Super Kings; Check Playing XIs

Dharamsala: The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) find themselves in a rut as they head into this crucial encounter against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) today at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s men have slumped in recent matches, losing three out of their last four, with the most recent defeat coming at the hands of the very same PBKS team.

PBKS have emerged as a thorn in CSK’s side in recent seasons, currently enjoying a dominant five-match winning streak against the five-time IPL champions. This resurgence began with a historic chase of 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens, marking a turning point in their season.

At Chepauk, the spin duo of Rahul Chahar and Harpreet Brar effectively restricted CSK’s batting. Jonny Bairstow, fresh off a century against KKR, continued his fine form with a crucial 46, ably supported by Rilee Rossouw, as PBKS secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory.

With their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, PBKS must win all remaining games to stay in contention.

Despite trailing in the head-to-head record 14-15, Punjab has clawed its way back into contention with their recent dominance over CSK. They will be looking to level the score and potentially take the lead in this historical rivalry.

Dharamsala’s reputation as a high-scoring venue, particularly for teams batting first, suggests a challenging chase for both sides in the upcoming match.

Playing XIs

Chennai Super Kings: Ajinkya Rahane, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Richard Gleeson, Tushar Deshpande

CSK Impact Subs: Sameer Rizvi, Simarjeet Singh, Shaik Rasheed, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki

Punjab Kings: Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh

PBKS Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Tanay Thyagarajan, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Rishi Dhawan