🏏IPL 2023: Match 41 - CSK vs PBKS at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on 30/04/2023 at 3:30 PM IST 🏏
IPL Match number 999
Tag & Logo Credit: Sevenstreaks
CSK and Punjab Kings look to bounce back from heavy defeats
Only two points separate the teams, though they are in different halves of the points table
Can the Kings storm CSK's fortress?
Both Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings are coming off defeats in high-scoring contests. The Kings were hammered by Lucknow Super Giants in Mohali, while CSK were comprehensively beaten by Rajasthan Royals amid chants of "Dhoni, Dhoni" in Jaipur.
While CSK were on a three-match winning streak before that defeat, Punjab have not been able to string together two victories since their first two games. This is the first meeting between these sides this season, and CSK start favourites in their home fortress.
While Chepauk has been a high-scoring venue this season, MS Dhoni banks on his spinners for control, and the Kings haven't had a terrific record against spin since last season. Their batters have the lowest average (20.07) and strike rate (116.76) against spin. Their two most experienced batters, Shikhar Dhawan and Liam Livingstone, do not go hard against spin: they strike at around 123 against spinners in the IPL.
The Kings also have a pace-heavy attack, unlike CSK, which may not be best suited to Chepauk, and they will hope that their world-class attack of Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh and Sam Curran can rise above the conditions. Rahul Chahal, their lead spinner, has taken only two wickets this season, and their other spin-bowling options are Harpreet Brar, Sikandar Raza and Livingstone.
CSK are in the top half of the table and the Kings are in the bottom half, but only two points separate the sides after eight games.
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