CSK vs PBKS, IPL 2024: Records and Stats at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Placed a rather comfortable third on the points table, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to play a third consecutive home game, hosting the eighth-placed Punjab Kings (PBKS), who are set to play their second consecutive away game. 

The visitors will be jubilant after pulling off the highest successful chase in T20 cricket and raring to go at it once again. While Sunil Narine and Phil Salt's fifties helped, all the other KKR batters managed to make a final push to 261. PBKS needed only four batters to take them home with Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh scoring quickfire fifties to supplement Jonny Bairstow's hundred and getting to the target with 8 balls to spare. 

CSK, reeling from consecutive losses to LSG, managed to stage a comeback at their "fortress" in the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai against SRH. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad made 98 and support from Daryl Mitchell's fifty and a cameo by Shivam Dube pushed CSK to 212. CSK's bowling led by Tushar Deshpande and his 4-fer then inflicted severe damage on SRH's dangerous batting lineup and ultimately won by a massive 78 runs. 

PBKS will be eager to add to their winning momentum and move up in the points table, while CSK will want to break the 10-point deadlock they are currently in with three other teams.

MA Chidambaram Stadium Pitch Report

Taking heed of CSK Head Coach Stephen Fleming's words, the curators at Chepauk presented a pitch that had something in it for the bowlers, and CSK's bowlers made full use of it. A similar pitch which will assist bowlers can be expected in this encounter as well.

IPL Stats & Records at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

As many as 48 matches out of 81 have been won batting first here, and the average first innings total at this stadium is 166. 

CSK vs PBKS Strategies & Match-ups

The pitch will have something for the bowlers, so both teams' bowling attacks should make use of it. The contest may not necessarily be as high-scoring, but both teams house significant threats in all departments. Batting first seems to be the safer strategy at this ground, especially with the pitch slowing down significantly in the second innings, something that even the presence of dew has not completely negated.

The important matchups for this contest are Sam Curran vs Daryll Mitchell, Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube vs Harpreet Brar, Deepak Chahar vs Jonny Bairstow, Ravindra Jadeja vs Prabhsimran Singh, Matheesha Pathirana vs Shashank Singh.

Player Battles to Watch Out For

Ruturaj Gaikwad versus Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh has been a little rough in IPL 2024, but his previous battles with the CSK skipper will bring him confidence. In just 23 balls, Singh has dismissed Gaikwad twice, while Gaikwad has only managed 20 runs at an average of 10 and a strike rate of 86.95.

Jonny Bairstow versus Ravindra Jadeja

Bairstow will be high on confidence after orchestrating the highest successful chase ever in T20s, but he will have to face Ravindra Jadeja before hoping for an encore of sorts. Jadeja has dismissed Bairstow once in 22 balls, while Bairstow has managed only 20 runs at an average of 20 and a strike rate of 90.91.

X-Factors for CSK vs PBKS

Chennai Super Kings

Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has found some form after demoting himself to No.3, but then promoting himself to opening again. He missed out very barely on the three-figure mark in the last match and will be eager to pick up right where he left off. 

Punjab Kings

Shashank Singh will be jubilant about contributing to another successful chase after a long time, and he will be a very key part of the PBKS lineup if they are not going to falter in the chase the way SRH did.