Punjab Kings (PBKS) registered a seven-wicket victory over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. PBKS’s bowlers did a great job to restrict a strong CSK batting line-up to 162. In response, their batters led the charge with confidence. This is PBKS’s fourth win in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. 

PBKS won the toss and chose to field first, high on confidence after their recent heroics in Kolkata – where they recorded the highest successful run-chase in T20 history. CSK made a few changes to their side as Richard Gleeson was brought in. Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande didn’t feature for them. PBKS were unchanged. 

 CSK’s innings started well with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane putting up a good opening stand. Initially, they were watchful and took their time to settle in – finding the occasional boundaries. When Gaikwad hit one above the slips and towards third man in the second over, he got his 50th four of the TATA IPL 2024. 

CSK motored along well, rotating strike, but the real flourish in the powerplay came in its final over when Sam Curran came on to bowl. The last four balls of the powerplay were for fours – the first one being leg-byes. Rahane exhibited great class to hit it through mid-wicket and the off-side off the last three balls to get those fours. CSK ended the powerplay at 55 for no loss – a good start. 

Then came a phase where PBKS pulled things back, and it was courtesy of some good tight bowling by their spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar. In the next eight overs, PBKS did not concede a boundary and picked three wickets. CSK managed 45 runs in this phase. 

Brar started off with a five-run over in the seventh with Chahar backing him by conceding only four in the next. The ninth over proved game-changing for PBKS. Rahane (29 off 24 balls) tried to slog one to mid-wicket but only got the elevation and was caught in the deep. The big-hitting Shivam Dube walked in at No. 3 and off his first legal delivery, he was dismissed leg-before while trying to sweep.

Recap Harpreet Brar’s 2 wickets in the same over 🙌

He finishes his spell with these wickets for just 17 runs 👏

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In the very next over, Chahar spun one back into Ravindra Jadeja and trapped him leg-before for only two. That forced CSK to unveil Sameer Rizvi as the Impact Player in place of Rahane. At the half-way mark, they were 71 for three. 

The next few overs continued to be tough for CSK with PBKS holding on to good channels. Brar finished his tight spell at two for 17. Kagiso Rabada then followed it up with a good over in the 13th. The boundary drought for CSK ended when Harshal Patel started his spell with five-wides in the 15th over. The first boundary off the bat in nine overs came in the 16th when Rizvi edged one past the wicketkeeper for four. Rabada dismissed him next ball as he upper-cut one to third-man, where Harshal took a very good catch. 

CSK needed impetus at the end and got it from Gaikwad, who attacked Curran in the 17th over. The first ball was given a no-ball for height and carved through the off-side for four. The free-hit was smashed for a six over long-on. The last ball was smashed through the leg-side for a massive six.

Maximum 💪 💥

Consecutive fifties for captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and he now leads the Orange Cap race 👏

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Gaikwad got to another half-century in the tournament. Moeen Ali also chipped in with a four and a six off Arshdeep Singh before the left-armer returned to dismiss Gaikwad, bowled for 62. 

MS Dhoni walked in to the typical fanfare and had to contend with Chahar, who was brought in to bowl the 19th over. The leg-spinner kept it very tight, giving away only three runs and dismissing Moeen. Chahar ended his spell at two for 16. The last over saw Dhoni hit a four through the off-side and smash a huge six over cover. However, he was run-out off the last ball as he attempted a second run – the first time he has been dismissed this year. 

The artist performing his art 🎨 😎

Chepauk roars to MS Dhoni's fireworks 💥

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In pursuit of 163, PBKS looked in control from the beginning. It got tougher for CSK from the outset because Deepak Chahar walked off the field after bowling the first two balls of the innings owing to an injury. Prabhsimran Singh started off in an attacking fashion, hitting a six and four in his innings. Gleeson, who was making his Tata IPL debut, got the first breakthrough for CSK in the fourth over when Prabhsimran got a top-edge to mid-off. 

Then came the partnership that laid the foundation of a successful run-chase. Johnny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw added 64 in tandem, off only 37 balls. By taking the attack to the CSK bowling, they put themselves in the driver’s seat. The shots were free-flowing and aggressive. CSK tried rotating their bowlers so that the batters don’t settle in – but that didn’t stop Bairstow and Rossouw from picking at least a boundary every over. 

Rilee Rossouw was on song 🎶

He sets up the chase for #PBKS before departing for 43(23)

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The stand ultimately ended when Dube struck with his second ball and foxed Bairstow (46 off 30 balls) into playing an upper-cut into Dhoni’s gloves. Rossouw maintained the attacking approach even after that, finding two sixes as well. However, in the 12th over, he edged a full-toss off Shardul Thakur onto his stumps for 43. In 12 overs, PBKS were 113 for three and on target. 

Over the Ropes 🙌 💥

Shashank Singh taking #PBKS closer 👌

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Shashank Singh and Sam Curran came together and calmly knocked off the remaining runs. Curran remained unbeaten on 26 and Shashank finished on 25 not out. PBKS won with 13 balls to spare.