IPL 2024 CSK v PBKS Preview - Can unpredictable Kings continue their winning run versus CSK?

Key match stats

Pitch Stats – IPL records at the MA Chidambaram Stadium

MA Chidambaram Pitch Report 10 most recent IPL matches

Team form CSK vs PBKS
CSK: WWLLW
PBKS: LLLLW

Recent meetings: IPL 2023 - PBKS won by 4 wickets

Weather

General Forecast: Dry and Clear
Chance of dew: Moderate to High

Preview CSK vs PBKS

Chennai Super Kings roared back to life with an a-typical performance here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium against SRH last time out.

Bat first, get a par or above score on the board and then strangle the opposition during the chase has been the template for success on the MA Chidambaram pitch for decades. CSK were helped in no small part by their best powerplay bowling performance of the season against the Sunrisers. Tushar Deshpande, in particular, has struggled to get the early breakthrough in IPL 2024 but knocked over SRH's dangerous top order inside 4 overs.

As far as bowlers are concerned, CSK will say goodbye to their leading wicket taker in Mustafizur Rahman after this game. IPL 2024 has been the Sri Lankan's best season since he debuted in the tournament back in 2016 with 17 wickets from 16 matches.

For their part, PBKS come into this game off the back of their record run chase against KKR. While that win will no doubt have given the changing room a huge amount of confidence, they remain the most unpredictable side in this year's IPL.

The hopes of qualification for the playoffs for both these teams rest largely upon the back to back matches they now play against one another. On paper, you'd say that puts CSK, who also have matches against struggling GT and RCB sides to come, in a strong position.

However, PBKS pulled off another win out of nowhere the last time these 2 sides met at the MA Chidambaram. Sikander Raza was the hero as PBKS scored 3 off the last ball of to chase down CSK's score of 200, only the 4th time in IPL history that a score of 200+ has been successfully chased at the MA Chidambaram.

That also represented a 4th straight win for PBKS against CSK in the IPL. The men from Punjab may not be able to end their own playoff drought that looks highly likely to extend to a 10th season but they can certainly go a long way to derailing the plans of the sides above them.

The problem that PBKS have had this season is in setting a good score batting first. All 3 of their wins in IPL 2024 have come when they've chased. When batting first this season they've made totals of 176, 147 and 142. Their bowling attack has made a pretty good fist of defending all 3 scores but ultimately runs on the board will be necessary again tonight.

As far as chasing is concerned, I've left the chance of dew impacting the game here at MA Chidambaram as moderate to high. While the clear conditions and high humidity would generally lead to just a 'high' rating, there is the chance of breezier conditions over the next couple of days which is less conducive to the formation of dew on the outfield. No doubt the conditions at the toss as well as Punjab's record when chasing will play a major factor in the decision of either captain to bat or bowl first.

CSK PBKS head to head

PBKS bowling vs CSK batting

Any and all concerns over how the captaincy might impact Gaiwad's form this season now appear to have been allayed off the back of 2 magnificent knocks in CSK's last 2 matches.

Gaikwad head to head Rabada and Arshdeep Singh

However, PBKS will fancy that they have the bowlers to take Chennai's skipper and captain down early on in this fixture. Both Rabada and Arshdeep Singh have knocked him over twice each in the powerplay in recent seasons.

CSK were also boosted by a first IPL half-century for Daryl Mitchell in the game against SRH. Mitchell certainly looks far more at ease batting in top 3 rather than in the middle order where he struggled to get going when starting against spin.

Rahul Chahar IPL record at the MA Chidambaram

Another man who is looking to have a stronger finish to the IPL season than his start, is Punjab's Rahul Chahar. He was dropped after a disappointing first few games of the 2024 season and has suffered a lack of penetration since he joined the Kings a few years ago. However, he returned in the match against KKR with admirable figures of 1 for 33 in the midst of the carnage at Eden Gardens and he really enjoys bowling at the MA Chidambaram.

Equally impactful on the pitch here at Chepuk is Harshal Patel who is very much enjoying the move to Punjab Kings. He has taken 11 wickets in previous IPL matches at the MA Chidambaram at an average of 8 and economy of 5.5! With 14 wickets to his name already this season, Harshal is very much in the reckoning to reclaim the purple cap he won back in 2021.

Dhoni head to head Harshal Patel

Speaking of MA Chidambaram IPL Records, MS Dhoni is inching closer to becoming the all-time leading run scorer at this ground. Dhoni is 51 runs short of Suresh Raina's total of 1506 runs scored in the IPL here.

CSK bowling vs PBKS batting

PBKS are likely to be boosted by the return of their captain Shikhar Dhawan for this match who has a good record in IPL matches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Shikhar Dhawan T20 record MA Chidambaram Stadium

Punjab were certainly struggling to find a suitable replace for Shikhar at the top of the order in the 4 games he's missed to date. That is until Jonny Bairstow returned to form with a blistering century against KKR.

Anyone who has followed Bairstow's career will know that it's not the first time that he's been able to react when his place is under threat. A poor run of scores in the IPL had followed struggles in the Test series vs India and in the 50 over World Cup played here too. That lack of form that was threatening his place in England's T20 World Cup squad later this year. Some players it appears just need that addition of a bit of controversy to really get them fired up!

Pathirana death overs bowling record IPL 2024

Another crucial head to head in this match will come between CSK's death bowlers and Punjab's middle order hitters. Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma have been sensational for PBKS this season but will have their work cut out against a CSK attack that has plenty of effective options at the death. Chief amongst them continues to be Pathirana whose economy rate during the final 5 overs of games is exceptional.

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All stats used in this blog are from my own databases which are freely accessible below
IPL player head to head records
IPL player records by stadium
IPL stadium records.
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