Punjab Kings Win by 5 Wickets Against Chennai Super Kings
CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings’ Chepauk nightmare continued on Friday as they slumped to their sixth consecutive home defeat at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. Super Kings breached the 200-run mark at home for the first time since April 2024, but it was not enough to save them from a five-wicket defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings.
After Cooper Connolly’s (36 off 22) dismissal, Punjab needed 83 off 48 balls. Shreyas walked in with purpose and got going straight away, smashing two sixes off leg-spinner Rahul Chahar. In Nehal Wadhera’s company, he brought the equation down to 33 off 24, and then to 24 off 18.
Earlier, Sanju Samson’s lean patch continued, as he fell for another single-digit score. But, it was a night powered by youth and late-innings flair for Chennai Super Kings. The young Ayush Mhatre produced a sparkling 73 off 43 deliveries, while Sarfaraz Khan injected late momentum with a stunning 32 off 12. Shivam Dube chipped in with a crucial 45 off 27, helping CSK breach the 200-run mark.
There was a brief spark when Samson danced down the track to hit Xavier Bartlett, but the moment was fleeting. He was dismissed the very next ball for 7, silencing the crowd on his Chepauk debut in yellow despite high expectations following his T20 World Cup heroics. The innings, however, found its heartbeat through Mhatre.
After a cautious start — zero off first four deliveries faced — he broke free in style, hammering Bartlett for three consecutive boundaries in one over to ignite the crowd. A powerful forehand swat off Vyshak Vijaykumar that sailed over long-on stood out as one of the shots of the night. CSK reached 57 for 1 in the powerplay and 101 for 1 at the halfway mark, with Mhatre in full flow.
Mhatre continued his assault, pulling Marco Jansen over deep square leg and wide long-on, before taking on Marcus Stoinis with back-to-back sixes. Mhatre and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad stitched together a fluent 96-run partnership off 55 balls for the second wicket before Gaikwad fell attempting to accelerate. Mhatre, dropped on 59 and 67, made the most of the reprieves before eventually falling to Vyshak for a well-made 73. Sarfaraz then took charge, launching a counterattack with consecutive boundaries off Arshdeep Singh and continuing the onslaught against Vyshak.
Live Updates
- 3 April 2026 11:20 PM IST
Punjab Kings on the Brink of Victory: 204/5 in 18.2 Overs
Chasing 209, Punjab Kings are 204/5 in 18.2 overs, needing just 6 runs from 10 balls to seal the win.
Shashank Singh is in red-hot form with 13 off 5 balls, including 2 fours at a strike rate of 260.00, while Marcus Stoinis has chipped in 5 off 2 balls with a four. The duo has added 18 runs from 7 balls to get Punjab Kings within touching distance.
CSK bowlers have been under pressure. Anshul Kamboj has conceded 37 runs in 3.2 overs with 2 wickets, while Matt Henry has given 54 in 4 overs and also taken 2 wickets.
The previous wicket saw Nehal Wadhera fall for 10 off 9 balls, caught by Noor Ahmad off Henry, at 186/5 in 17.1 overs.
- 3 April 2026 11:04 PM IST
Strategic Timeout: Punjab Kings 177/3 in 16 Overs
Chasing 209, Punjab Kings are 177/3 in 16 overs, with a current run rate of 11.06 and needing 33 runs from 24 balls.
Shreyas Iyer is in sensational form, striking 42 off 22 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 190.91. His partner Nehal Wadhera has contributed 10 off 8 balls, including a six, keeping the chase on track.
CSK bowlers are under pressure, with Matt Henry conceding 42 runs in 3 overs and Rahul Chahar giving 46 in 4 overs.
Punjab Kings need just 33 runs from 24 balls, with a required run rate of 8.25, putting them strongly in control.
- 3 April 2026 10:59 PM IST
Punjab Kings in Strong Position: 163/3 in 15 Overs
Chasing 209, Punjab Kings have raced to 163/3 in 15 overs, with a current run rate of 10.87 and needing 48 runs from 31 balls.
Shreyas Iyer is in sensational form, scoring 36 off 19 balls with 1 four and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 189.47, leading the charge. Nehal Wadhera has chipped in with 3 off 5 balls, supporting the chase.
The previous wicket saw Cooper Connolly fall for 36 off 22 balls, caught by Matt Henry off Anshul Kamboj. Since then, the current partnership has added 36 runs from 19 balls.
- 3 April 2026 10:50 PM IST
Punjab Kings Lose Connolly but Keep Chase Alive: 137/3 in 12.5 Overs
Chasing 209, Punjab Kings are 137/3 in 12.5 overs, with a current run rate of 10.68 and needing 74 runs from 44 balls.
Shreyas Iyer is leading the innings with 13 off 9 balls, including a six at a strike rate of 144.44, while new batter Nehal Wadhera is yet to get going.
The big wicket of the over was athlete","Cooper Connolly","Australian cricketer"], who was caught by Matt Henry off Anshul Kamboj for 36 off 22 balls, ending a quick 10-run partnership.
CSK bowlers have kept some pressure. Rahul Chahar has given 26 runs in 2.5 overs, while Kamboj has picked up the crucial wicket of Connolly.
- 3 April 2026 10:41 PM IST
Punjab Kings Keep Up Strong Chase: 117/2 in 11 Overs
Chasing 209, Punjab Kings have reached 117/2 in 11 overs, with a current run rate of 10.64 and needing 93 runs from 54 balls.
Cooper Connolly continues to dominate, scoring 27 off 18 balls with 4 fours at a strike rate of 150.00. Shreyas Iyer has 3 off 4 balls, steadying the innings.
The last wicket was Prabhsimran Singh Noor Ahmad conceding 33 runs in 3 overs and Anshul Kamboj giving 12 in his over.
- 3 April 2026 10:37 PM IST
Punjab Kings Keep Chase Alive: 109/2 in 10.3 Overs
Chasing 209, Punjab Kings are 109/2 in 10.3 overs, with a current run rate of 10.38 and needing 102 runs from 58 balls.
Cooper Connolly is leading the charge with 20 off 15 balls, including 3 fours at a strike rate of 133.33. New batter Shreyas Iyer has started cautiously with 3 off 3 balls.
The last wicket saw Prabhsimran Singh run out by Sarfaraz Khan and Ruturaj Gaikwad for 43 off 34 balls, ending a strong opening stand. Since then, the current partnership has added 14 runs from 10 balls.
- 3 April 2026 10:32 PM IST
Punjab Kings Suffer Setback: 95/2 in 8.5 Overs
Chasing 209, Punjab Kings are now 95/2 in 8.5 overs, with the run rate easing slightly to 10.75.
Prabhsimran Singh, who was in fine form with 43 off 34 balls, was run out by Sarfaraz Khan and Ruturaj Gaikwad, ending a productive partnership.
Cooper Connolly remains at the crease with 9 off 8 balls, keeping the innings ticking. The current partnership has added 33 runs from 27 balls.
Chennai Super Kings bowlers have kept some control after the wicket. Noor Ahmad has given 19 runs in 1.5 overs, while Rahul Chahar has conceded 8 in his over.
- 3 April 2026 10:29 PM IST
Punjab Kings Keep Up Momentum: 92/1 in 8.2 Overs
Chasing 209, Punjab Kings have reached 92/1 in 8.2 overs, with a current run rate of 11.04.
Prabhsimran Singh is leading the charge with 41 off 32 balls, including 6 fours and 1 six at a strike rate of 128.12. His partner Cooper Connolly has contributed 8 off 7 balls, helping maintain the flow of runs.
The opening wicket fell earlier, with Priyansh Arya scoring a whirlwind 39 off 11 balls, bowled by Matt Henry. Since then, the partnership has added 31 runs from 24 balls.
- 3 April 2026 10:13 PM IST
Punjab Kings Steady After Early Wicket: 63/1 in 5.1 Overs
Chasing 209, Punjab Kings are 63/1 in 5.1 overs, with a current run rate of 12.19.
Prabhsimran Singh is holding the innings together with 20 off 19 balls, hitting 4 fours, while new batter Cooper Connolly is yet to score.
The last wicket saw the explosive Priyansh Arya fall for 39 off 11 balls, bowled by Matt Henry, ending a fiery opening stand of 61 from 26 balls.
- 3 April 2026 10:06 PM IST
Punjab Kings Lose Arya but Keep Momentum: 61/1 in 4.2 Overs
Chasing 209, Punjab Kings have moved to 61/1 in 4.2 overs, maintaining a strong CRR of 14.08.
Priyansh Arya, after a whirlwind innings of 39 off 11 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes, was dismissed by Matt Henry, ending the explosive opening partnership of 61 runs from 26 balls.
Prabhsimran Singh remains at the crease, contributing 19 off 15 balls at a strike rate of 126.67, keeping the chase well on track.
