PBKS have a great advantage of CSK as they have won 4 out of their 5 previous encounters. They extended that winning streak in IPL 2024 by winning their first encounter against revered champions of 2023 in Chennai. Right from the toss, PBKS had rub of the green going their way and dry conditions helped their spinners to grip and spin the ball better in first innings. As a result, they chased down 162 without taking pressure and won by 7 wickets.
Earlier, Sam Curran won the toss and invited CSK to bat first. Ruturaj Gaikwad, once again lost the toss and advantage, too. With above 200 score, CSK once defended and lost at the same ground against different oppositions. They needed another solid effort. Openers Ajinkya Rahane(29) and Ruturaj Gaikwad did well in the powerplay by putting 51/0. But post powerplay, spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar did not let CSK big hitters come to the party.
They both ended up with exceptional and sensational figures of 2/17 and 2/16. They tightened the things so much that CSK did not hit boundaries between 7-15 overs. Ruturaj Gaikwad completed his fifty and scored 62 runs from 48 balls but he did not find much support at the other end. Sameer Rizvi used up 23 balls for meagre 21. MS Dhoni got out for the first time and that too run out in this season after 14 from 11 balls.
CSK only managed 162/7 in their 20 overs. But they have faced set backs in Matheesha Pathirana being rested for the game due to injury and Deepak Chahar walking off after bowling 2 balls. Such depleted attack did not have strength to challenge Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw. Richard Gleeson and Mustafizur Rahman did trouble them but Shardul Thakur looked completely out of form. He gave runs away at a rate 13.00 runs per over in a low scoring game.
Even Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali proved inefficient with a wet ball. Jonny Bairstow(46), Rilee Rossouw(43), Shashank Singh(25) and Sam Curran(26) took PBKS past the finish line with 163/3 in 17.5 overs. CSK have lost 5 matches and won 5 matches keeping their playoffs chances in balance. PBKS with 4th win kept themselves in the race. Both the teams will meet again at Dharmsala.
