Chennai Super Kings return to the iconic M. A. Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, April 3, for their first home fixture of IPL 2026. After a disappointing start against Rajasthan Royals, the five-time champions will be desperate to open their account, banking heavily on familiar Chepauk conditions.
However, the biggest setback remains the absence of MS Dhoni, who is expected to miss at least two weeks due to a calf strain. In his absence, Sanju Samson is likely to take over wicketkeeping duties and could open alongside skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Punjab Kings Carry Winning Momentum
Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, come into the contest high on confidence after a convincing win over Gujarat Titans.
Debutant Cooper Connolly impressed with an unbeaten half-century, while the bowling unit delivered a disciplined performance. PBKS will look to continue their strong start and extend their early-season momentum.
CSK vs PBKS Head-to-Head Record
The rivalry between the two sides has been evenly matched over the years. In 32 IPL meetings, both teams have won 16 matches each.
However, Punjab Kings have dominated recent encounters, winning four of the last five clashes against Chennai Super Kings.
Chepauk Pitch Report: Spin or Batting Paradise?
The Chepauk surface will host its first IPL 2026 game and traditionally favors spinners. However, recent trends—including matches during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup—suggest the pitch has become more batting-friendly.
Average first innings score: ~170
Surface: Mixed red and black soil
Behavior: True bounce with assistance for both batters and spinners
Chennai Weather Forecast
The weather in Chennai is expected to be warm and humid during match hours.
Temperature: 28°C to 32°C
Rain: No interruptions expected
Wind: ~22 kmph, could assist pacers early
CSK Predicted Playing XI
Ruturaj Gaikwad (C)
Sanju Samson (WK)
Ayush Mhatre
Matthew Short
Shivam Dube
Kartik Sharma
Jamie Overton
Noor Ahmad
Matt Henry
Anshul Kamboj
Khaleel Ahmed
Impact Player Options: Sarfaraz Khan, Prashant Veer
PBKS Predicted Playing XI
Prabhsimran Singh (WK)
Priyansh Arya
Cooper Connolly
Shreyas Iyer (C)
Nehal Wadhera
Marcus Stoinis
Shashank Singh
Marco Jansen
Xavier Bartlett
Vijaykumar Vyshak
Arshdeep Singh
Impact Player Options: Yuzvendra Chahal, Yash Thakur
