IPL 2026: Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings 7th T20 Match Prediction - Who will win today's match between CSK vs PBKS IPL T20 match?

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) will be going against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on Friday, 3rd April. While the Punjab Kings look to continue their momentum and defeat Chennai at their own backyard, the hosts are looking to return to their winning ways. 

Chennai Super Kings

The five-time IPL champions had a disappointing outing when they suffered a humiliating 8-wicket defeat against the Rajasthan Royals in their season opener. The batters had a shambolic performance with their bat, leading to a batting collapse where CSK were bowled out for just 127 runs. Out of their key batters, no one stood up for the team except for Jamie Overton, the bowling all-rounder, who scored an unbeaten 43 off 36 deliveries to help the team cross the 100-run mark. In bowling, they hadn't had a great outing as well; their leading bowler, Matt Henry, went for 40-runs in his three overs. Anshul Kamboj was impressive with the ball, taking two wickets in his spell. With this game being played at their home, they will be looking to bounce back to gain early momentum for their tournament campaign. 

Punjab Kings

One of the underdog teams in this IPL edition played like an underdog when they somehow managed to defeat the Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets in their opening match. Punjab bowlers had a terrific outing on their day, restricting GT to just 162/6 in their 20 overs. Vijaykumar Vyshak grabbed three wickets in his over, Yuzvendra Chahal took two, and Marco Jansen was able to pluck one wicket to his name. In reply, the Punjab Kings were struggling in batting, but thanks to the resilient knock from Cooper Connolly, who played like a champion and sealed a thrilling victory for the team. The debutant made 72 off 44 deliveries to keep his side alive in the game and fetch the victory. With momentum on their back, the PBKS will be aiming to seal another victory when they clash against CSK in their next match.

CSK vs PBKS Match Details

CSK vs PBKS Pitch Report

The MA Chidambaram Stadium, traditionally known for aiding spinners, offers a slow surface that allows turn and grip, making it challenging for batters to score freely. Historically, teams batting second have enjoyed a slight edge here. The average first-innings score at Chepauk stands at 161. Spinners can make an impact in the middle and later stages, when hitting at the good length areas. The average first innings total is likely to be around 160-175. 

CSK vs PBKS Weather Report

The weather is expected to remain warm and hot throughout the match, with no rain predicted during the game. As this is an evening game, the surroundings might feel ideal for a cricket match, and fans will enjoy every bit of it. The wind speed is likely to be around 22 kmph, which can also assist the pace bowlers in the meantime. The temperatures are likely to hover around 28-32 °C.

CSK vs PBKS Head-to-Head Records

CSK vs PBKS Probable XI

• Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, Matt Henry, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer/Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Short, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed

        (Impact Players - Shreyas Gopal, Dwald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Sarfaraz Khan)

• Punjab Kings:  Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Cooper Connolly, Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett

       (Impact Players - Vijaykumar Vyshak, Praveen Dubey, Harnoor Singh, Harpreet Brar)

Players To Watch Out For in the CSK vs PBKS IPL Match

• Sanju Samson | CSK: This right-handed wicketkeeper batter played his debut for CSK against RR last time out, but he was sort of putting his mark in his opening match. He might have scored just 6 runs to his tally, but still, he has a long way to go, and a hunger to fetch big runs to his name. He has a stellar record in IPL, scoring 4780 runs in 178 matches with three centuries. He will be a player to watch out for. 

• Cooper Connolly | PBKS: This left-handed player played his first match for Punjab Kings in IPL, and he delivered for the team when they needed him the most. He would be a player to watch, as he was the leading run-scorer for the side in the last match and looked good. He remained unbeaten on 72 runs. He is also a handy part-time spinner who can pluck good wickets on his day. He would look to make an impact for the Titans with his aggressive batting style at the top of the order.

CSK vs PBKS Toss Prediction

Historical Toss-Winning Stats at the Venue

• In the 3 T20 matches played here, the toss-winning teams have opted to bowl on two occasions, while batting once.

Advantages of Batting First on This Pitch

• In the 126 T20 matches played at this venue, it has been recorded that the team batting first has registered victory in 66 games, while teams batting second have won 57 matches. 

CSK vs PBKS Today's Match Scenario

Scenario 1

• Toss Winner: CSK (opts to bat first)
• Power-Play Score: 45-55
• CSK Total: 180-190
• Match Winner: Chennai Super Kings

Scenario 2

• Toss Winner: PBKS (opts to bat first)
• Power-Play Score: 42-48
• PBKS Total: 180-190
• Match Winner: Punjab Kings

Who will win today's CSK vs PBKS IPL match?

Punjab might be playing away from home, but they will start this match as favourites to win. The real dominance has come from the Punjab Kings, who have impressively defeated this yellow team in the last few years. PBKS have been defeated four times in their last five head-to-head encounters. However, CSK have quality players who can deliver and win any match at any venue on their day. But considering their recent stats, PBKS seems to be the team to pick for a win here.