Today is a big day for IPL fans! Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are hosting Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 7 of IPL 2026 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in Chennai. The toss took place at 7 PM IST, with the match starting at 7:30 PM IST.
Toss Result: PBKS Won It!
Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings won the toss and opted to bowl first at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. It was a smart choice, to be honest. Dew in the evening makes it easier to bat in the second innings, and PBKS clearly wanted to take advantage of that.
Playing XI
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh(w), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Notable Absentees: MS Dhoni is out with a calf injury and Dewald Brevis has a side strain two big losses for CSK.
Pitch Conditions: What to Expect?
Chepauk used to be known for favouring spinners, but since the outfield was redone last year, it has changed a lot. It had one of the flattest tracks in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which clearly helped batters. This IPL match is likely to have similar conditions.
So it’s basically a pitch for batters now! Expect big shots and high scores.
The weather should stay clear and dry. Temperatures will be between 27°C and 32°C, and the humidity will be around 55%. This means that dew could be a factor later in the game. That’s why PBKS chose to bowl first. It’s much easier to bat in the second inning when there is dew on the ground.
Team Form: Who Looks Better?
CSK is coming in with a bad memory. In their first game, they lost to the Rajasthan Royals by 8 wickets, scoring only 127 runs. They need to win badly in front of the Chepauk crowd today, which is their first home game.
PBKS, on the other hand, are very sure of themselves. Punjab Kings started their IPL 2026 season off right with a strong 3-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in New Chandigarh. Their win was thanks in part to 22-year-old Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly, who made an impressive debut by hitting 72 runs off 44 balls without getting out.
Head-to-Head
CSK and PBKS have played 32 IPL matches against each other with both teams winning exactly 16 times each. It’s the most perfectly balanced rivalry in IPL history! But recently, PBKS have become a nightmare for CSK, winning 6 of their last 7 meetings, including three consecutive victories at Chepauk.
Who Can Win Today?
CSK have the home crowd behind them and a much-improved pitch to bat on. But PBKS have the form, the momentum, and now the toss advantage too. It’s going to be a proper nail-biter tonight at Chepauk don’t miss it!
Where to Watch: The match will be telecast on the Star Sports network and live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India.
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