Results in brief: PBKS (210 for 5 in 18.4 overs) beat CSK (209 for 5 in 20 overs) by 5 wickets in Match #7 of IPL 2026 in Chennai on Friday. KKR vs SRH, IPL 2026: MAIN | SCORECARD
Punjab Kings made the chase 210 which looked like another day at the office. Almost. A brief wobble in the final stretch aside, there was no sign of them ever feeling the heat as they cruised to a five-wicket win with 8 balls to spare against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, April 3.
Priyansh Arya, who has only just taken off this season, offered a glimpse of what he is capable of. His stay lasted just 11 balls but he was loaded with boundaries all over the park that set the tone for the chase. At the other end, Prabhsimran Singh showed flashes of his best form as he held the innings together.
Matt Henry gave CSK a brief moment of respite, removing Arya just as he was threatening to take the game away. Cooper Connolly looked to build on his outing against the Gujarat Titans. He took his time settling in, but the mix-up led to Prabhsimran’s dismissal.
If there were any doubts afterwards, Shreyas Iyer was quick to put them to rest. With no sign of the injury he picked up in the previous game, he anchored the chase with a level half-century. His command against spin was outstanding, especially two sixes off Rahul Chahar, but he was equally confident against pace and never allowed the pressure to build.
Iyer, who was hit on the hand in the previous game, showed no hesitation and that will be a big boost for Punjab going forward.
The only time Punjab looked under any real pressure came when Iyer and Nehal Wadhera broke successive deliveries. But their batting depth, the envy of most teams, ensured there was no real panic. With Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh leaving to finish the job and Marco Jansen still to come, the chase never really got out of hand.
Is Chepauk no longer a fortress?
For Chennai, losing at home is fast becoming a worrying trend. It was their sixth defeat in a row at Chepauk. Their last win at the ground came on 23 March 2025 when they defeated Rajasthan Royals last season.
Ayush Mhatre stole the limelight with 73 off 43 balls filled with boundaries while Shivam Dube provided the finishing touches.
In their previous outing, it was the batsmen who faltered. This time the bowlers failed to deliver. Ruturaj Gaikwad will find himself under increasing pressure as the results go against them and CSK will need their key players to step up quickly before the season slips away.
Sarfaraz Khan, meanwhile, was one of the few bright spots. Consistent in his contributions and sharp in his decision-making, he has provided valuable cameos and looks like someone the franchise can rely on long-term.
ČSK is now piling up questions on both fronts. Bat and ball are failing in various games and the margin for error is shrinking and Chepauk no longer feels like the safety net it used to be.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
03 Apr 2026 23:52 IST
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