Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings, 7th Match, Indian Premier League 2026 - CommentaryCSK vs PBKS, 7th Match, Indian Premier League 2026 - Commentary

A flying start to the season for Punjab Kings. They look like a side on a mission, determined to go one step further after falling short last season - and early signs suggest they mean business. For Chennai Super Kings, it’s a familiar story. The batting showed signs of life this time, but they still ended up a few runs short, and the bowling lacked the penetration needed to defend a total above 200. Plenty to work on in the days ahead. That’s all from this game. Up next, the first double-header of the season - Delhi Capitals host Mumbai Indians, followed by Gujarat Titans taking on Rajasthan Royals. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe..

Priyansh Arya | Player of the Match (translated from Hindi): It has been like this since childhood, and whenever I feel that it will benefit the team, I play like that. There is a little bit of risk-taking involved. I have belief in myself that if I can hit the first ball, then I will hit it. (on playing at this level) There is a little bit because there are experienced bowlers. So it feels a bit of a difference. But I believe in my abilities as much as I believe in myself. It gives a good result. No, sir, I do proper practice. I do two sessions of batting in a day. Each session lasts for one and a half hours. Because I like batting very much. (on coming from a family of teachers) Sir, my family background is proper as they are all teachers. Even my sister is a teacher. So I also think that I would also have become a teacher. (what about now?) Now sir, there is no chance.

Shreyas Iyer | PBKS captain: "Well, obviously, there's a worry before getting onto the field, but the way we started today, I think that was an exceptional start for us. Priyansh and Prab doing the job at the start and then setting the bench for us going inside. And I personally feel that the way they've been batting over years now, it's phenomenal to see them giving us that start and it stabilizes the rhythm for us. (everyone chipped in) Yes, absolutely. And I'm glad that everyone is getting to bat in the first two games itself. That gives immense confidence for the team as well. So that, you know, whenever we are stuck in pressure situation, people are aware of how to handle them. (on what is the chat in the dressing room?) Well, it's not planned, honestly speaking, but we've just decided in the dressing room that whatever happens, we are going to play a brand of cricket which is to impress each other, not others outside. So, that gives us a certain sort of clarity as well when we approach the game. And it is basically challenging each other inside the dressing room, not outside. (on Priyansh) Absolutely. I mean, getting 39 out of 11 balls, that's the start we require, especially when you're chasing 208. I think it was a belter to bat on. But the way we started, it was 25 off 3 overs and then suddenly they started picking up from there. But it is important that we remain calm and also the over-rate is something that we should look up to right now. Because 5 fielders coming in the last 2 overs, you sort of know that there is only one line to bowl. So that's the only part we need to focus on at the moment. (on Chahal) Yes, I feel that we all know how Dube he is against spinners. And he had one more over left and there were many domestic players who are good players of spin. So I decided to go with the seamers at that point of time. And Yuzi we know how impressive he is over the years. And he's probably one of the best bowlers in the IPL so far. So whenever I'm in doubt, I go to him."

Cooper Connolly: "Yeah, it's still pretty early in the season, so yeah, just trying to put my best foot forward and help the team get some wins. And yeah, we'll keep moving. It's a long tournament, so yeah, we're stoked to start two and 0, but yeah, there's still 12 games to go. (on his role) Yeah, I think it's capitalise, sort of on the backend of the powerplay if I come in. But yeah, and then just try and control the innings as much as possible and just sort of stick to the way I play the game and yeah, go from there. (on playing in different franchisees) Not particularly. I think it obviously helps with a few of the Aussie boys around me and welcoming quite comfortably. But yeah, I've played a little bit of cricket with Australia A and yeah, it's been sort of a good to be around the group and understand sort of how everyone goes about it and try pick everyone's brains. But yeah, there's still a long time to go and I'm looking forward to picking everyone's brains. Hopefully I'll have the ball in the hand pretty soon. But yeah, looking forward to sort of getting out there and showcasing the skills with the ball. But yeah, it's unfortunate that I haven't been able to bowl at the moment. But yeah, looking forward to sort of getting back on the park and bowling."

Ruturaj Gaikwad | CSK captain: "I felt it was a really good score, to be honest. Wicket was, yes, it was better for fast bowlers, but I felt it was slightly gripping for spinners, not coming on to the bat nicely. Slower balls was gripping as well. So I think, you know, for this ground, especially with, you know, big boundaries, I felt it was a really good score. (on Rahul as impact sub) Yes, we felt we had three seamers in going in, and obviously we have two good wristspinners bowling in tandem, especially in the middle after the powerplay. We felt that, you know, it will help. But I think, you know, slight off day for both of them, so I think that is what cost us. (on the bowling) Well, I think, you know, a mixture of both. Sometimes we executed really well. Sometimes we just didn't execute at the right time, I would say. Just when the over was going really well, we conceded that six or a boundary either way. So I think the pressure didn't really build. I think there was a point where it went to 11 an over and then maybe couple of good overs from there. It would have climbed to 12 and 13. That's how you gain momentum. So I think we just didn't got that momentum in the middle. It's definitely a tough one, but as I said, a lot of positives. You know, the batting came out really well. Ayush batted brilliantly. You know, to have him, have him that confidence going ahead in the season and definitely Shivam batted really well. So yeah, batting-wise, we had good confidence. You know, bowling, yes, definitely a lot to improve. (on his batting) I'm feeling good. You know, it is just about adapting to a role, whatever is needed for the team. Today I felt, you know, maybe just stick around a little bit since the wicket was gripping a little bit. So I thought, you know, the set batter Ayush was going really well. So I thought just hang in there a bit and then after that you can cash in. But unfortunately got out on the wrong time."

Uncapped players winning multiple POTM awards vs CSK – two each by
Abhishek Sharma
Priyansh Arya

Priyansh Arya (39 off 11) is the second instance of a player winning POTM in IPL having faced 11 or fewer deliveries, having not bowled and not effected a fielding dismissal. The other to do so was Glenn Phillips (25 off seven balls for SRH vs RR in Jaipur in 2023).

Most successful 200+ chases in T20 cricket
9 Punjab Kings
7 Australia

Highest successful chases by Punjab Kings (IPL)
262 vs KKR Kolkata 2025
210 vs CSK Chennai 2026 *
206 vs CSK Abu Dhabi 2014
206 vs SRH Hyderabad 2014
206 vs RCB Navi Mumbai 2022

Most consecutive wins vs CSK at Chepauk (IPL)
5 Mumbai Indians (2012-19)
4 Punjab Kings (2023-26*)

Teams with a positive win-loss record vs CSK in IPL (10+ games)
Mumbai Indians (21-18)
Punjab Kings (17-16)

Sixth instance of CSK scoring 200+ against PBKS in IPL – joint most alongside an opponent alongside RCB; they have ended up losing four of the five previous instances with the only win coming in their inaugural match back in 2008.
Fifth time CSK have lost to PBKS after scoring 200+ - the most by a team against an
opponent in T20s surpassing West Indies’ four instances against Australia.

23:24 Local Time, 17:54 GMT: A beautifully paced chase from Punjab Kings - controlled, calculated, and never really letting the game slip into pressure territory. Despite losing five wickets, they always had one batter taking charge while the other played the anchor. Priyansh Arya set the tone early, going berserk in the powerplay to give the Kings a flying start. Once he fell, Prabhsimran Singh took over, keeping the boundaries flowing. The baton then passed seamlessly - Cooper Connolly kept things ticking before skipper Shreyas Iyer led the charge with a well-made 50. The top four all crossed 35, and crucially, did so at healthy strike rates. Iyer couldn’t finish it off, and for a brief moment, Chennai Super Kings sensed an opening when he and Nehal Wadhera fell off successive deliveries. But Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis shut the door quickly, completing the chase with 8 balls to spare. At the break, it did feel like CSK were 10-15 runs short - and that’s exactly how it’s played out. Back-to-back wins for Punjab Kings to start their campaign, while it’s consecutive defeats for Chennai Super Kings. Post-match stuff coming up..