Are Punjab Kings on the rise?
The match of PBKS vs CSK was great to watch. The Chennai Super Kings were left reeling at the Chepauk as Punjab Kings made it back-to-back wins with an easy seven-wicket victory, maintaining their outside chance of making the play-offs.
They are also the second side to defeat CSK five times in a row, sharing the honor with the Mumbai Indians.
It was a far cry from this IPL season’s six-game sweep, or even PBKS’ stunning victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders, which lifted them out of a three-game losing streak. This time, the Kings’ spinners stole the show as they held CSK to 162 for 7.
Rahul Chahar and Harpreet Brar sucked the life out of the batting, taking two wickets each and going boundary-less in their four overs.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 62 held together a patchwork 20-over performance, earning him the orange hat. But he probably would have given up the half-century or the cap, or both, in exchange for winning the toss.
Given how dew would affect the second innings on a hot evening in Chennai, Sam Curran was bound to win the toss and bowl. While this did occur, the game’s location was determined early in the chase.
CSK were hindered early in their defence when Deepak Charar limped off after delivering the first two deliveries of the session, leaving them with one bowler short.
Though Richard Gleeson made his IPL debut by dismissing Prabhsimran Singh, Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Roussouw scored 64 off 37 deliveries, putting them ahead of the pace.
Both could, and perhaps should, have followed their team home. Bairstow fell trying to ramp over MS Dhoni, handing Shivam Dube his first IPL wicket since 2020 with only his second ball of 2024, while Rossouw was bowled by Shardul Thakur’s low full toss, which could have gone the distance.
However, their blitzes, both as a team and when Rossouw continued till the conclusion of the 12th over, reduced the ask to a manageable 50 from 58.
Sam Curran removes the sting
Just as things were becoming tense, with 37 runs needed from as many deliveries, the Punjab Kings captain hits two fours at the conclusion of the 14th over to calm the away team.
The first is a controlled dab beyond the keeper, and he quickly notifies the umpire to check for a no ball because there is an extra man in the circle. Shardul Thakur has overstepped anyway! The free hit is scythed high and into the open space in wide deep third.
Curran captained admirably in the first innings and appears likely to cap it off with a valuable not out to send his team home.
Shivam Dube took his first wicket since 2020
And not a bad one to pocket! Bairstow appeared to be picking up where he left off following his match-winning 108* against KKR. But he went for 46, sending Shivam Dube’s second ball of the season straight to MS Dhoni.
Dube’s last IPL wicket came in 2020, and he’s only bowling because Deepak Chahar is injured. Rossouw knocks him for six over square leg, followed by a four through cover to finish with 14 from the over. But Dube has given CSK an outside chance here, especially because the ball is now being changed after one ball of the 11th over…
