CSK host Punjab Kings at Chepauk with both sides desperate for different reasons
CSK were bowled out for 127 on the opening night of their season. Their top order folded in the powerplay, Ravindra Jadeja, wearing Rajasthan Royals colours for the first time in 17 years, sent Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube packing in the same over, and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi turned the chase into a highlight reel. Guwahati was a rough start. Friday at Chepauk needs to be better.
CSK's batting order under the microscope
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson opened together for the first time in yellow against Rajasthan Royals, but neither got going. Samson, traded from Rajasthan in exchange for Jadeja and Sam Curran, will be keen to make a mark at his new home ground. The middle order of Shivam Dube, Sarfaraz Khan and Jamie Overton, who top-scored with 43 off 36 in the first match, needs to find more consistency.
MS Dhoni's absence looms large. The former captain has been ruled out with a calf strain and, while he was spotted in the nets on Thursday, CSK management are taking a cautious approach to his recovery. Gaikwad remained non-committal about a timeline when asked.
Punjab Kings bring momentum and firepower
Punjab chased down 163 against Gujarat Titans with five balls to spare in their opener, thanks largely to Connolly's unbeaten 72 off 44 balls on debut. Shreyas Iyer picked up a wrist injury during that match when a shot from Connolly struck his hand, but assistant coach Brad Haddin confirmed there was no fracture and Iyer is expected to play.
The PBKS bowling attack is formidable. Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh and Xavier Bartlett give them serious pace options, while Yuzvendra Chahal adds a spin threat that could be effective on the Chepauk surface. Vijaykumar Vyshak took three wickets in the win over Gujarat.
Head-to-head favours nobody
The two sides are locked at 16 wins apiece from 32 meetings. Punjab actually have the better recent record, winning four of the last five encounters including both matches in IPL 2025. At Chepauk specifically, PBKS hold a 5-4 advantage from nine games.
CSK will be banking on home conditions and a Chepauk crowd that tends to lift the team, especially under lights. The pitch typically offers something for spinners as the match wears on, which could bring Noor Ahmad into the game for CSK.
Weather and conditions
Chennai is forecast to be partly cloudy and humid on Friday evening, with temperatures around 29 degrees Celsius. Rain is unlikely to be a factor. The surface at Chepauk has traditionally been slower than most IPL venues, rewarding patient batting and spin bowling in the second innings.
First ball is at 7:30 PM IST.
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