CSK to host PBKS, Yellow Army chasing first win:Both teams level in head-to-head record; Punjab beat Chennai twice in 2025

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play host to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for match number 7 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The fixture will be played at the historic MA Chidambaram Stadium on 3 April from 7:30 PM IST onwards. In their campaign openers, PBKS secured a victory against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Mullanpur, but CSK suffered a heavy defeat to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati. Chennai Super Kings come into this fixture after losing against RR in their campaign opener. In MS Dhoni’s absence, batting first, CSK scored 127 runs in 20 overs. In response, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored a blistering 15-ball half-century to help Rajasthan beat Chennai by 8 wickets. On the other hand, Punjab Kings chased down 163 runs despite their middle-order struggle. Cooper Connolly scored an unbeaten 72-run knock to guide Punjab to their 3-wicket victory. CSK vs PBKS: Match details Match info: Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings, Match 7 Date and Time: 03 April, 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7 PM) Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Where to watch: JioHotstar, Star Sports network and Bhaskar English app CSK vs PBKS head-to-head record Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) have had an evenly balanced rivalry in the IPL, facing each other 32 times. Both teams have won 16 matches each, making it one of the most competitive head-to-head records in the league. Struggling batting lineup, high expectations from Sanju Samson In the absence of MS Dhoni, CSK’s batting line-up struggled a lot as their top order didn’t fire in the powerplay, and the middle-order collapsed against RR in the campaign opener. Batting first, CSK scored 127 runs in 20 overs as Jamie Overton (43 runs) led the team to a respectable total. However, fans have high expectations from Sanju Samson as an opener. Meanwhile, while defending the score, Anshul Kamboj took 2 wickets, conceding 27 runs in his 3 overs. Debutant Cooper Connolly shines, middle-order collapse could prove costly In the last match of PBKS, debutant Cooper Conolly shone with a blistering maiden IPL half-century. He had scored an unbeaten 72 runs, but wickets kept falling from the other end. Connolly didn’t get enough support from his teammate, eventually Punjab did get over the line. While chasing 163 runs, their middle-order collapsed, and a repeat of the same could be calamitous. In the first innings, Vyshak Vijaykumar bagged three wickets, conceded 28 runs in his 3 overs with an economy of 9.33 for Punjab. MA Chidambaram pitch report The Chepauk Stadium in Chennai is traditionally known for assisting bowlers, especially spinners. The dry and hard pitch often offers low bounce, making it tough for batters. However, in T20 matches, the surface can play more balanced, with moderate scores possible depending on the type of soil used. Last year, during the IPL, the pitch also got a little slower. The team winning the toss should elect to bowl first. Chennai weather report On Friday, the weather is expected to be hot and slightly humid, with temperatures around 33°C. There are 0% chances of rain, so conditions should remain mostly dry. Humidity levels at 60% may make it feel a bit warmer than usual, while the winds will be blowing at 19 km/h in Chennai.