Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings Pitch Report: The 7th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will be played on Friday, April 3, at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai, where the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take on the Punjab Kings (PBKS). Let's take a look at the pitch report for today's match.
Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings (CSK vs PBKS) Match Details:
- League: Indian Premier League 2026
- Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Date: April 3, 2026
- Start Time: 07:30 PM (IST) - 02:00 PM (GMT)
- Teams: Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings
CSK vs PBKS Match Previews
Chennai Super Kings suffered a defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals in their opening match of the season; they failed to post a substantial total on the scoreboard, while the Riyan Parag-led team chased down the target with remarkable ease. In this contest, Sanju Samson could not make a significant impact with the bat for CSK, while Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre also fell cheaply. Today, they will be hoping for a much-improved performance with the bat.
Punjab Kings delivered a stellar performance in their opening match against Gujarat Titans. In the first innings, they restricted GT's batsmen to a total of 162 runs and subsequently chased down the target with five balls and three wickets to spare. The Shreyas Iyer-led team will once again rely on their formidable attack to secure their second consecutive victory of the season.
CSK vs PBKS, MA Chidambaram Stadium Pitch Report
PBKS vs CSK Match Pitch Report: The pitch at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) is conducive to spinners; it is a slow and dry surface where the ball begins to grip after the Powerplay. In the IPL 2026 match between CSK and PBKS (Match 7), a low-scoring encounter is expected, with the average first-innings score projected to be around 164. Of the 91 IPL matches played here, teams batting first have won 51 times.
The Chepauk pitch remains flat for batting during the Powerplay but slows down between the 8th and 10th overs, offering turn and low bounce to the spinners. The boundaries are large, making it difficult to hit sixes. The impact of dew remains moderate, which could provide a slight advantage to the team chasing the target towards the end of the match.
Win the toss, bat first, and post a score of 165+; then, defend this total with the help of spinners like Jadeja or Chahal, who can capitalize on the abrasive nature of the pitch. While PBKS's fast bowlers may prove effective early on, CSK's spin advantage on their home ground is likely to be the decisive factor.
MA Chidambaram Stadium Records and Stats In IPL
| Total matches: | 91 | |
| Batting first won: | 51 | |
| Bowling first won: | 40 | |
| No Result: | 00 | |
| 1st inn avg score: | 164 | |
| 2nd inn avg score: | 145 | |
| Highest Total: | 246/5 | |
| Lowest Total: | 70/10 | |
| Highest Chased: | 201/6 |
CSK vs PBKS Match Playing 11
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Playing 11: Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain), Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed
Punjab Kings (PBKS) Playing 11: Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh
