Punjab Kings produced a clinical batting performance to defeat Chennai Super Kings by five wickets, chasing down a formidable 210/5 with eight balls to spare in Match 7 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium on Friday.
Chasing 210, PBKS got off to a blistering start courtesy of impact substitute Priyansh Arya, who smashed 39 off just 11 balls, including four sixes and three boundaries. His explosive cameo immediately put CSK under pressure and set the tone for the chase.
🔙 to 🔙 victories ✌️@PunjabKingsIPL complete the chase in an authoritative fashion ❤️
A win by 5⃣ wickets in Chennai 🥳
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/riWrE2EZiF#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #CSKvPBKS pic.twitter.com/S9EEawsaZk
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 3, 2026
Prabhsimran Singh then anchored the innings with a steady 43 off 34 balls, while Cooper Connolly continued his impressive run with a fluent 36 off 22 deliveries. The duo ensured the required rate never spiralled out of control.
Captain Shreyas Iyer led from the front with a composed yet aggressive 50 off 29 balls, striking four boundaries and three sixes. His innings proved crucial in maintaining momentum during the middle overs when CSK attempted to fight back.
Despite picking up wickets at intervals, CSK’s bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs. Anshul Kamboj and Matt Henry picked up two wickets each but were expensive, as PBKS batters consistently found boundaries.
With the target within reach, Marcus Stoinis finished the job in style, smashing a boundary to seal the chase alongside Shashank Singh, completing a dominant performance from the visitors.
Earlier, CSK posted a strong 209/5 after being put in to bat, riding on a brilliant 73 off 43 balls from Ayush Mhatre. The youngster held the innings together after early setbacks, including the dismissal of Sanju Samson. His calculated strokeplay, particularly against pace, helped CSK recover and build a competitive total.
While skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad made 28 off 22 balls, it was Sarfaraz Khan’s explosive 32 off 12 and Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 45 off 27 that provided the late impetus, powering CSK past the 200-mark at Chepauk for the first time since April 2024.
For PBKS, Vijaykumar Vyshak was the standout bowler with two wickets, while Yuzvendra Chahal, Xavier Bartlett and Marco Jansen chipped in with one each.
In the end, despite posting a daunting total, CSK were outplayed by a fearless PBKS batting unit, as Punjab continued their winning momentum while the hosts were left searching for answers after failing to defend a 200-plus score at home.
CSK vs PBKS IPL 2026: Playing XIs
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed
Punjab Kings: Shreyas Iyer (c), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal