Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings, 38th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: Indian Premier League 2022 Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Date & Time: Apr 25, 07:30 PM LOCAL

CSK just have 2 wins in 7 games. © BCCI

PBKS BEAT CSK BY 11 RUNS!27 runs were needed from the last over. It was always going to be tough and eventually, there were too many left for even MSD to get. Ravindra Jadeja's scratchy innings didn't help CSK's cause. They still had a chance as long as Rayudu was around, who had got his eye in, but once he fell a crucial dots and quiet overs meant CSK slipped to another loss - their sixth in 8 games.

The start that CSK got wasn't ideal, losing 3 wickets in 7 overs as PBKS stayed in the game. CSK were only revived by Rayudy's 78 off 39. Arshdeep was outstanding in his four overs, even conceding just the 5 and 8 runs in the 17th and 19th overs leaving too much for CSK in the final over. Dhoni hit a six off the first ball of the last over, but fell soon after, ending CSK's hopes. They finished with 176/6 in the end. How crucial were those 11 wides they bowled? They've lost also by 11 runs...

Punjab have snapped back after two wins in a row. They climb to sixth spot. CSK, meanwhile remain in 9th position.

Rabada gets Rayudu.PBKS tighten noose!It's getting tougher with every passing ball for CSK. Rayudu is knocked over after a superb knock in just 39 balls. He was breathing hope into this chase. CSK need 35 in 13 balls. MSD is in the middle!

50 for Rayudu! Off just 28 balls.He's keeping CSK in the chase with a fighting knock.

Ruturaj falls for 30!He mistimes an overpitched delivery that Mayank pouches at deep mid-off. CSK lose their fourth wicket.

And a wicket for R Dhawan

Rishi Dhawan is now among the wickets. He has been out of IPL for so long. The wicket should give him the boost. Dube tried to drive but could only get an edge onto the stumps. As expected, R Dhawan is ecstatic.

Early trouble

Now Arshdeep has removed Santner. The all-rounder walked across the stumps but ended up losing his leg-stump. CSK in early trouble. Meanwhile, Rishi Dhawan is using a headgear while bowling!

OUT!! Uthappa falls early.Big blow for CSK who lose their opener early. Sandeep Sharma picks up another wicket in the powerplay. Uthappa pulls a short ball and doesn't time it. A mishit and Rishi Dhawan takes the catch.

1 0

Most runs in IPL:

V Kohli 6402

S Dhawan 6000*

R Sharma 5764

D Warner 5663

S Raina 5528

A stat for you all:Rishi Dhawan's last appearance in an IPL match was on 21 May 2016.

TOSS:Unchanged CSK opt to bowl; PBKS made 3. Rajapaksa, Sandeep and Rishi Dhawan come in

Teams:

Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja(c), MS Dhoni(w), Mitchell Santner, Dwaine Pretorius, Dwayne Bravo, Mukesh Choudhary, Maheesh Theekshana

Punjab Kings: Mayank Agarwal(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Rishi Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Sandeep Sharma, Arshdeep Singh

Pitch report:Batting wicket with a likely score of 170-180, reckons Graeme Swann. Something in for the spinners, but KL Rahul got a century on this wicket yesterday. Same wicket will be used today.

Build up:Three wins in 7 outings vs two wins in 7 games - those are the two teams taking on each other in the 38th match of the IPL. Punjab Kings started strong but they've slipped ever since, losing their last two games coming into this clash. CSK, meanwhile, pulled off a heist with MS Dhoni's last-ball four against Mumbai Indians to pick up only their second win. Both teams find themselves in a precarious situation and need to pick up wins, but that's secondary. They need to find some consistency.

CSK's Mukesh Choudhary bowled well the other day, giving them wickets in the powerplay. That said, they've upped their PP game a bit in the last few games. The batting hasn't come together and had it not been for an MSD special the other night, CSK would still be stuck on just 2 points. Punjab need runs from their middle order. The bowlers have done well, but have not been supported enough by the batsmen.

The teams are up against each other at the Wankhede where dew has not majorly impacted the outcomes of matches. Yet, the captains that win the toss, opt to bowl and prefer to chase with a target in sight.

We'll have more on the toss, teams, pitch etc in a bit.