PBKS kept their playoff hopes alive with a complete team effort in a crucial 7-wicket win over CSK at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday, May 1. Punjab spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar were instrumental in the win, taking two wickets each. The duo strangled the CSK batting line-up, dismissing 4 batters and conceding just 33 runs in 8 overs. Their tight bowling restricted CSK's scoring and allowed PBKS to pick up the crucial away win they needed to stay in the play-offs.
Punjab Kings have dominated Chennai Super Kings in recent seasons, defeating them in five consecutive IPL matches. Mumbai Indians were the only other team to achieve such a winning streak against CSK. Between 2018 and 2019, MI won five consecutive matches against the MS Dhoni-led CSK. Punjab's current winning streak began on 7 October 2021, underlining their dominance over the Chennai-based franchise.
After winning the toss, Punjab put CSK in to bat. The home side got off to a good start with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane putting on 55 runs in the powerplay. But PBKS bowlers hit back as Harpreet Brar took two quick wickets, dismissing Rahane and then trapping Shivam Dube lbw for a golden duck. Rahul Chahar continued the revival by removing Ravindra Jadeja to leave CSK in trouble after their promising start.
In the second innings, CSK bowler Richard Gleeson dismissed Prabhsimran Singh in the 4th over to give the PBKS batting unit a scare. It was then Rilee Rossouw and Jonny Bairstow who steadied the ship for the visitors. The duo put on a solid partnership of 64 runs off 37 balls to put the Punjab side in a dominant position in the chase. In-form opener Shashank Singh played a patient knock of 25 while stand-in captain Sam Curran's 26 off 20 balls steered PBKS to victory.
Coming off the back of a historic 262-run chase against KKR, PBKS maintained their momentum and kept their play-off hopes alive.