The Indian Premier League 2026 continues with an exciting match between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings. The match will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on April 3.
Both teams enter the game with different momentum. Chennai Super Kings are looking to recover after a difficult start to the season, while Punjab Kings come into this match with confidence after winning their opening game.
Fans will also be closely watching the toss, playing XI announcements, and live score updates throughout the evening.
CSK vs PBKS Match Details
| Match | CSK vs PBKS |
|---|---|
| Tournament | IPL 2026 |
| Date | April 3, 2026 |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Match Start Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Toss Time | 7:00 PM IST |
Players to Watch in Today’s Match
Chennai Super Kings had a tough start to IPL 2026. In their opening match at Guwahati, they were bowled out for just 127 runs against Rajasthan Royals. The pitch offered movement for the fast bowlers, which made batting difficult.
Rajasthan finished the chase comfortably, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scoring a very quick half-century from just 15 balls.
CSK were without Dewald Brevis and MS Dhoni in that match because of injuries. Brevis has started training again, but Dhoni is still unlikely to feature in today’s game.
There could also be a few changes in the CSK lineup. Sarfaraz Khan played as an impact substitute in the first match and could be included in the starting XI if the pitch offers spin assistance.
Another young player who might get a chance is Prashant Veer, who was bought by CSK for a significant amount during the auction.
Punjab Kings, on the other hand, started their campaign with a strong win over Gujarat Titans.
In that match, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal bowled well and controlled the middle overs. Cooper Connolly played an impressive innings of 72 runs from 44 balls and guided the team to victory after a small collapse during the chase.
PBKS have mostly kept the same squad from last season, so major changes in their lineup are not expected. However, if the pitch offers extra help for spin, they could include Harpreet Brar as an additional spinner.
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Predicted Playing XI for CSK vs PBKS
The toss will take place at 7:00 PM IST, after which the final playing XI will be confirmed.
Chennai Super Kings Predicted XI
| Player |
|---|
| Sanju Samson (wk) |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad (c) |
| Ayush Mhatre |
| Matt Short / Dewald Brevis |
| Shivam Dube |
| Kartik Sharma |
| Prashant Veer |
| Jamie Overton |
| Matt Henry |
| Khaleel Ahmed |
| Anshul Kamboj |
| Noor Ahmad |
Punjab Kings Predicted XI
| Player |
|---|
| Priyansh Arya |
| Prabhsimran Singh (wk) |
| Cooper Connolly |
| Shreyas Iyer (c) |
| Nehal Wadhera |
| Shashank Singh |
| Marcus Stoinis |
| Marco Jansen |
| Xavier Bartlett |
| Vijaykumar Vyshak |
| Arshdeep Singh |
| Yuzvendra Chahal |
Note: The final playing XI will be confirmed after the toss.
Where to Watch CSK vs PBKS Live
Fans can watch the match live through television and online streaming platforms.
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar app and website |
International viewers should check their local broadcasters for live telecast details in their region.
Pitch Conditions at Chepauk Stadium
The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is known for helping spin bowlers as the match progresses. Batters usually need to spend some time adjusting to the surface before playing attacking shots.
Spinners like Yuzvendra Chahal could benefit from these conditions, especially during the middle overs. Fast bowlers may also get some early movement with the new ball.
What to Expect From Today’s Match
Chennai Super Kings will be eager to bounce back after losing their first game of the season. Playing at their home ground may help them perform better, especially if their batting lineup improves.
Punjab Kings will try to continue their strong start. With players like Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer, and Yuzvendra Chahal in good form, PBKS have a balanced team capable of performing well in both batting and bowling.
Fans can expect a competitive match as both teams look to strengthen their position in the IPL 2026 standings.
Stay connected with CricketMAN2 for live score updates, toss results, final playing XI, match statistics, and post-match analysis from the CSK vs PBKS IPL 2026 match.
