The IPL 2025 season is gathering pace, and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) are set to host the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in match number 22 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, on April 8. This marks PBKS’ second home game of the season, and after a stinging defeat to the Rajasthan Royals, they’ll be desperate to bounce back in front of their home fans.
PBKS began the season brightly but were brought crashing back to earth in their last game. Chasing 198, they fell short by 50 runs despite a valiant 62 from Nehal Wadhera. Shreyas Iyer’s side showed promise in patches — particularly through Glenn Maxwell’s aggression — but the middle-order lacked composure under pressure.
With two wins from three games, Punjab remain in the upper half of the table, but another defeat could derail their early momentum. Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, are struggling. The five-time champions have lost three in a row and find themselves languishing in the bottom half of the table. Their latest defeat — a 25-run loss to Delhi Capitals — highlighted deeper issues.
The batting order, which once boasted resilience, now looks fragile during chases. CSK haven’t won a game while chasing this season, and their inability to finish strong is proving costly. As both teams eye a much-needed victory, a few crucial match-ups could define the outcome of this clash:
#1 Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Arshdeep Singh
CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has been one of the few bright spots for his side, but he’ll be tested by Arshdeep Singh early in the innings. Arshdeep has had the upper hand in their past battles, dismissing Gaikwad three times in just 35 deliveries in IPL contests. The left-arm seamer’s ability to swing the new ball and bowl effective yorkers at the death could be decisive if he gets Gaikwad early.
#2 Glenn Maxwell vs Ravindra Jadeja
This contest has all the makings of a game-changer. Maxwell has taken an aggressive approach this season, but Jadeja has historically been a thorn in his side. In 16 T20s, Jadeja has dismissed Maxwell seven times — six of those in the IPL alone. Maxwell may hold a strike rate of 155+ against the left-armer, but Jadeja’s control and experience in the middle overs could prove vital in stemming Punjab’s momentum.
#3 Shreyas Iyer vs Khaleel Ahmed
Punjab’s skipper Shreyas Iyer needs to lead by example again, especially after a quiet outing against Rajasthan. But he’ll face a stern test in Khaleel Ahmed, who has been quietly effective for CSK despite the team’s overall struggles. Khaleel has bagged 8 wickets in 4 games and has dismissed Iyer twice in IPL head-to-heads. If Iyer can weather the early storm and anchor the innings, PBKS will be well-positioned to dictate terms.
