CSK vs PBKS HIGHLIGHTS, IPL 2024: Punjab thump Chennai for big win as spinners dominate at Chepauk

Everytime you come to Chennai and take two wins, always a special feeling. Same as last year, we lost a lot of our home games and won away, finding a similar pattern. We are in a position where we need to win all our games, we come up against the same opposition in a few days. I think when you come to Chennai, you now how hot it is and dew is going to settle in. Today we wanted to try something different by trying Rabada in the powerplay. We wanted to use our spinners later on, so took a punt on trying KG within the powerplay. Chahar came back and was the best bowler in the 260 game, and he's bowling with great confidence. He stepped up when I asked him to bowl against MSD in the 19th over. (On bowling Chahar in the 19th) The pace bowlers were going for a bit in the end, and I wanted to try something different. Asked Rilee what he reckoned and took that gamble with spin. In this game where everyone has been going for runs, you need to take such gambles. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. We come against the same opposition so we have one up on them. It is a new game, new conditions but this win will give us a lot of confidence. I think our bowlers were superb, the spinners and Jonny striking them well, even the way we paced that chase, it was brilliant. Need to build on that confidence.

In the last two overs of the Chennai Super Kings defence, MS Dhoni was more like a hockey goalkeeper. Both Mustafizur Rahman and Richard Gleeson were spitting cutters and slower balls that reached Dhoni on one bounce, sometimes even twice. The bounce on the outfield seemed a bit uneven as well, which made judging the ball difficult. So he blocked the balls with his pads, often upright, sometimes if he was unsure of the bounce, he crouched. Much to his chagrin, though, both erred with their lengths. The usually precise Rahman bowled four wides in his last over, spoiling an otherwise standout exhibition of guiles. Gleeson’s attempted slower ball slipped out of his palms, flew above the waist and dipped viciously onto Dhoni, whose pads though were well-positioned to block the ball from dribbling to the fence. His footwork was dexterous, and often he showed the full pads at the ball.

Got to give credit to the bowlers, 160 on this wicket was chaseable. The way Jonny played today, hopefully he takes this form forward and gives us the foundation to chase it down. The spin twins as we call them, there's another one who is sitting on the bench, he wants to come in. They did the job for us today. [on plans when he was out there with Bairstow] See the ball and hit the ball, nothing really spoken about as to how many we need, just keeping it simple. [on his dismissal] Unfortunate. It was one of those things, so focussed on hitting the ball and one of those things, I missed out. It's never over, till it's over, we have still got the belief in the changeroom, we will focus on our game and not on the others. Hopefully things work out.

Probably 50-60 runs short. The pitch wasn't great when we batted, it got better later on. With the impact rule as well, we were well short. I've practiced the tosses (during the practice sessions), it's not going well in the match, not sure what to do. To be truthful, I'm under pressure when I go to the middle (for the toss). We were also surprised that we won by a big margin in the last match considering the conditions (win by 78 runs against SRH). I think the last two games, the conditions and pitch was better, it allowed us to fight hard and get to 200+, today, it wasn't good enough to get to even 180. It's a real problem (on the player missing due to injuries and Chahal walking away in the first over), there are phases where you want wickets, but you have only two bowlers, the dew took the spinners out of the equation. It was tough, but there're four games left and we will try and come back to winning ways

Punjab Kings have now beaten Chennai Super Kings in five consecutive matches, only the second team after Mumbai Indians to achieve the feat.

Gleeson starts with a high full-toss which is deemed a no-ball. Curran misses out on the free hit as the ball keeps low across the turf. Length from Gleeson and Curran whacks it to the deep but Dube over-runs the ball and concedes FOUR runs. Three to win now. Gleeson to Curran, given! Curran attempts to shuffle across as Gleeson hits flush on the pads. Punjab review. Pitching outside leg and Curran survives.  A single to follow. Short ball, Shashank taps it to the on-side and reels in two. Punjab beat Chennai by seven wickets and 13 balls to spare!

Slower ball on length from the Fizz. Curran taps it to long-on for a single. A matter of three big hits now. Another off-cutter and Shashank fail to connect. He finds a single. Mustafizur slides one in wide of the crease and Curran misses out on a slog. Punjab review for a wide and earn it. Length ball from Mustafizur, Curran taps it down to long-off but does not take a single. A couple of wides to follow and Curran flicks the ball through square for one run.

Moeen returns. Curran flicks once across for a single. Short from Moeen. Shashank shuffles across and tonks it over cow corner for SIX! He drives a single down to long-on.

Mustafizur sends in a couple of cutters to keep Shashank tied down to the crease. He is rolling on all of his variations and Shashank fails to pick the gaps. Maiden from the Fizz!

High in the air and Mitchell puts in a stunning dive running backwards from mid-off but fails to latch onto the ball! Shashank is foxed by a slower-delivery from Shardul. Mitchell nearly caught a blinder there. He probably should have left it for Ruturaj running in from long-on. Shardul overpitches and Curran gets a thick edge to trickle past Dhoni for FOUR! No ball as Shardul oversteps and Curran steers the free hit over backward point for FOUR.

Gleeson replaces Jadeja

He starts with a wide down leg. Gleeson varies his pace adeptly. Curran and Shashank rotate strike with singles. Gleeson strays to the pads and Curran chips it to deep mid-wicket for two runs.

Shardul returns.

Slower-bouncer outside off and Rossouw brings out the upper-cut over point for SIX! A wide to follow as Shardul tosses in another slower bumper. A single to follow. Shardul overpitches and Shashank nonchalantly pushes it past the bowler for a FOUR. A single to follow. Shardul to Rossouw, OUT! He misses a full-toss! A gentle dipper from Shardul and Rossouw gets an inside-edge off the bat onto the stumps. He is fuming but CSK have a wicket nevertheless.

Rilee Rossouw b Thakur 43 (23b 5x4 2x6) 

Jadeja finds his lines and skims through a quiet over. Just the three runs from it as Shashank and Rossouw tread along watchfully.

Shivam Dube into the attack for the first time this season!

Dube to Bairstow, OUT! A wicket second ball. Short ball from Dube and Bairstow attempts to parry it over Dhoni but fails to get the desired power on it. Shashank Singh is in at 4. He's off the mark with a single. Short ball and Rossouw swivels to pull it over square-leg for SIX! Slower-ball on length and Rossouw cuts it through cover for FOUR.

Jonny Bairstow c Dhoni b Dube 46 (30b 7x4 1x6)

Jadeja continues. Rossouw flicks a length ball to the deep for a single. Jadeja drops short outside off and Bairstow leans back for another fierce cut through point for FOUR.

Moeen Ali replaces Shardul

A couple of dots and Rossouw clips the ball through mid-wicket for a single. Bairstow attempts a sweep but gets an inside-edge onto the pads. In the slot this time and Bairstow smokes it over long-on for SIX! Another fuller ball outside off and Bairstow swipes it across the line with a one-handed swat and a misfield in the deep concedes a FOUR.

Ravindra Jadeja into the attack

Length ball angling in, Bairstow cuts it behind point for a single. Rossouw works a ball fine for one run. Jadeja wafts another one in and Bairstow slashes it through point for FOUR. Short from Jadeja and Bairstow hammers it across the line for another FOUR.

Loosener from Shardul outside off and Bairstow smites it through cover for FOUR. A couple of singles and Shardul tosses in the slower ball. Bairstow heaves it wide off mid-on for another FOUR. 

Mustafizur overpitches and Bairstow chips and charges with a push to mid-off for one run. Mustafizur cramps up Rossouw wit a ball that slides in. Another delivery tails in but Rossouw scythes it over mid-wicket for FOUR. A wide to follow. Short and wide, Rossouw slaps it over point for FOUR. 

Gleeson to Prabhsimran, OUT! In the air and Ruturaj pouches a catch at mid-off. Another gentle nip-backer from Gleeson and Prabhsimran swings across the line to offer a leading edge. Rilee Rossouw is in at 3. In the slot from Gleeson and Rossouw pumps the ball down the ground for FOUR. Short ball on to the hips and Rossouw pulls it behind square for another FOUR. A single to follow.

Prabhsimran Singh c Gaikwad b Gleeson 13 (10b 1x4 1x6) 

He keeps it full and straight as the batters reel in a couple of brisk singles. Beaten! A corker from Mustafizur as he sends in the leg-cutter that scuttles past Prabhsimran's bat. Loud appeal as Fizz skids one onto Prabhsimran's pad. Umpire Virender Sharma is unmoved but Ruturaj reviews. There's a clear deflection off the bat and CSK lose a review.

Richard Gleeson into the attack

Width outside off and Bairstow fails to connect his cut. Sharper this time and he beats the bat again as Bairstow attempts a hard slog through the off-side. Close! He slants another ball in and the ball nips back in to hit the back pad.Beaten again! Four dots as Bairstow simply plays the length as Gleeson shapes another one away. Incoming fuller ball and Bairstow pushes it to mid-on for another dot. Full and wide, Bairstow finally connects as he smears it through extra cover for FOUR.

When does hero worship turn into disrespect for lesser mortals? When does turning down runs, that to in the final over with a specialist batsman and bonafide six-hitter at the other end, becomes an issue for the team's fans? Not in Chennai on Wednesday. It's no secret that the home crowd's chief motivation for coming through the turnstiles at Chepauk was having an audience with their beloved Thala. MS Dhoni came out with a little more than two overs left, and managed to score 14 off 11 balls before getting run out off the final ball of the innings, the first time he has been dismissed this season. He hit a four and a    six but didn't manage to do much else. But what wasn't a good look was Dhoni hitting a ball to long-off  and Daryl Mitchell running two runs by himself without any addition to the score as Dhoni didn't budge from his position. The Kiwi is known to find the stands himself. Maybe, Dhoni thought Arshdeep Singh's left-arm angle would be dificult for Mitchell. Or he just remembered the first rule of mass media: Give the public what they want!

Deepak Chahar to open the attack

A hint of shape for Chahar as he beats Prabhsimran's blade first up. Short and wide, Prabhsimran slams the ball through cover for FOUR this time. Chahar runs in and stops midway through his run-up. He does not look in good shape there and he walks back gingerly off the field after speaking to Ruturaj. Shardul Thakur steps in to complete the over. Short ball and Prabhsimran smacks it over square-leg for SIX! A single to follow. Shardul slides one in straight and Bairstow works it through square for a single.

Prabhsimran Singh and Jonny Bairstow open for Punjab in a tricky chase.

The pitch is holding a bit, especially when there was no dew. The speed at which I bowl, I was backing myself to turn it at pace and make it difficult to hit me. I backed myself and knew if I bowled my best ball, they won’t be able to hit. (On plans to Dhoni) I didn’t want to bowl it fuller to him, he hits it well if you push it fuller. I think we conceded about 8-10 runs more than what we started with, but this is still a good target to chase down. We need to play good cricketing shots. I think this, and my performance in the 2019 final are amongst my best spells in the IPL. Both came at the same venue.

Arshdeep to bowl the final over. MS on strike. He starts with a wide outside off. Low full toss and Dhoni smashes it through extra cover for FOUR. Arshdeep rushes another full-toss across the turf and Dhoni fails to connect. Another wide! Low full toss again and Dhoni slices it to deep cover. Mitchell scrambles for a run but Dhoni sends him back from the striker's! Arshdeep follows up with a well-directed bouncer and Dhoni attempts a hook but misses. Arshdeep misses another yorker and Dhoni pumps it over wide long-on for SIX! Thick outside-edge over short-third and Dhoni tries hard for the second but is run-out - first dismissal this season for Dhoni!

MS Dhoni run out (Patel/JM Sharma) 14 (11b 1x4 1x6)

Rahul Chahar to bowl the 19th. Interesting.

Chahar starts with a wide down leg as Dhoni attempts a paddle. He follows up with a brisk single to cover. Chahar to Moeen, OUT! Hits the timber. A huge swipe across the line but Chahar skids it through to hit the stumps. Daryl Mitchell is in at 8. Wide delivery on length and Mitchell taps it to the deep for one run. Dhoni retains strike with a single.

Moeen Ali b Chahar 15 (9b 1x4 1x6) 

As many as 871 sixes were struck in 48 games this season (that is 18 sixes a game), where batsmen have ravenously sought to clear the fence, and made little fuss about it. Yet, a match comes reversing the trend, as this one. For 16.1 overs on a relatively sluggish surface, CSK’s batsmen fretted, fumed and fidgeted to thud the ball beyond the ropes. Finally, a waist-high no-ball, upon review, granted the opportunity for Ruturaj Gaikwad to have a risk-less go of the ensuing free-hit. And so he did, clumping the ball into the stands. One six brought more, like state-run buses (of most states), and Gaikwad wrapped up the over with another maximum. Two balls later, Jonny Bairstow helped his England colleague Moeen Ali with another six, when the ball leapt out of his hands past the ropes.

Slower-bumper from Arshdeep and the umpire signals it a wide. In the slot and Moeen pumps it to long-off. Poor effort from Bairstow and he tips the ball over the fence for SIX! Arshdeep responds with a firm yorker. Overpitched this time and Moeen smites it down the ground for another FOUR. Another wide from Arshdeep as he sprays the ball outside the tram line on the off-side. A single follows. Arshdeep to Ruturaj, OUT! Cleaned him up. He makes room, a tad too much, as Arshdeep nails another yorker. In walks MS Dhoni at 7. He drive a low full-toss to the deep for a single.

Ruturaj Gaikwad b Arshdeep Singh 62 (48b 5x4 2x6)

Curran returns

A huge no ball over the waist from Curran and Gaikwad taps it fine for FOUR. PBKS review the free hit. The decision is upheld. In the slot from Curran and Ruturaj smokes it over long-on for SIX - the first of the innings! He follows up with a single. Moeen responds with another. Length ball and Ruturaj belts it over mid-wicket SIX!

This season has been restorative for Harshal Patel. The key was he began to use his slower blower judiciously and at the same time rediscovered his mastery of length, the polestar of his success in the past editions. But his first ball against Chennai Super Kings was a throwback to his scattergun days. He simply missed the direction and the moment it left his palms, everyone knew its destination, the fence-cushion, to the left of the fine-leg fielder. It started on leg-stump, then swung away further, and the further, missing Ruturaj Gaikwad’s wishful leg-glance, slid past the wide-line and the lunging wicket-keeper and sped to the fence for five wides. So wide a delivery that even if Gaikwad were  left-handed it would have been adjudged a wide. Harshal smiled sheepishly. His captain Sam Curran threw a stink eye.

Rabada drops short and Rizvi gets an edge to trickle down to third for FOUR. Rabada to Rizvi, OUT! Aerial this time and Rizvi falls. Another shot ball outside off and Rizvi attempts to cheekily parry it over the fence but Harshal slides in and completes a fine catch. Moeen Ali is in at 6. A couple of singles to follow.

Sameer Rizvi c Patel b Rabada 21 (23b 1x4)

Harshal into the attack

He starts with a sloppy wide down leg for Five wides. Rizvi continues to mistime his slogs. A string of singles to follow.

Rabada into the attack

Rabada's finding some extra bounce off the deck, rushing Rizvi into the pull. The batters continue to tread on ones and twos. Rabada nails the yorker and Gaikwad can only dig it out of the turf back to the bowler.

The big hits are not coming off. Rizvi attempts a rash pull off a short ball from Brar but fails to clear mid-wicket. Ruturaj continues to build on with singles. Only four from the over.

Three dots and Chahar drops the ball short, allowing Ruturaj and Rizvi to reel in a couple of singles. Rizvi leans to the backfoot and flicks another short ball to deep mid-wicket. Quick throw from the deep and Rizvi's in trouble while running two, just about making the crease as Jitesh breaks the stumps. Another five-run over.

CSK are tottering at the moment. Brar continues the spin attack as Rizvi picks the gaps for a couple of twos. Only five runs come from another clinical over.

Chahar to Jadeja, Given! Another one to the pad and Jadeja looks to be in trouble. Gaikwad hops in to enforce a review. OUT! Three reds! A fine loopy delivery drifts in sharply and Jadeja plays all around it. Impact Player Sameer Rizvi walks in. He's off the mark the single.

Ravindra Jadeja lbw b Chahar 2 (4b)

Brar to Rahane, OUT! Straight to the deep. The pressure was on and Rahane goes for the slog-sweep but mistimes it straight to Roussouw in the deep. Shivam Dube enters at 3. Brar to Dube, given! Dube has an almight swing at a loopy delivery but misses it altogether. CSK review after the umpire raises his finger.Three reds and Dube falls for a golden duck!

Ajinkya Rahane c Rossouw b Harpreet Brar 29 (24b 5x4); Shivam Dube lbw b Harpreet Brar 0 (1b)

Rahul Chahar replaces Curran

Fuller delivery outside off, Gaikwad attempts to tap it past point, no run. Shorter this time and Gaikwad rocks back to drive through cover for a single. Rahane taps a fuller ball down the ground for a single. The pressure is creeping up on CSK as the spinners have wound the openers down here. Another four-run over.

Rahul Chahar replaces Curran

Fuller delivery outside off, Gaikwad attempts to tap it past point, no run. Shorter this time and Gaikwad rocks back to drive through cover for a single.

Harpreet Brar into the attack

Ruturaj drives a loopy delivery to cover for a single. The dew is settling in firmly as the batters nudge about the gaps for singles. Brar maintains a tight line. Five from the over before the timeout.

Length from Curran and Rahane clips it behind square for a single. Ruturaj charges forward and nudges the ball to mid-on for a run. Slower-ball onto the pads and Rahane gets it to lob past Jitesh for FOUR leg byes. Short from Curran and Rahane hooks it over square-leg for SIX. Vintage Rahane! Curran goes a touch fuller and he flays the ball through cover for FOUR. Loosener outside off and Rahane taps it through point for FOUR more!

Width outside off and Rahane slashes the ball over backward point for FOUR. A single to follow. Slower ball on length and Ruturaj waits on it and cuts it firmly through point for another FOUR. Arshdeep comes around this time. Another slower-ball and Ruturaj turns it past short third for FOUR!

Sam Curran into the attack

Curran twirls one in and Gaikwad flicks it off the pads through mid-wicket for two runs. Currran cramps up Rahane as he attempts to drive the ball down the ground. Just three from the over, sluggish start on a red-soil pitch for CSK.

Full outside off from Rabada. Rahane squirts it through the off-side but fails to beat point. Rabada slants one in and Rahane gets a leg-bye to exchange strike. Beaten. Rabada springs one up from the turf outside the off-stump and Gaikwad has a feel for the ball but misses. Rabada overpiches and Gaikwad slices the ball down to third for a FOUR.

Arshdeep Singh from the opposite end

Arshdeep rushes one diagonally across the turf and beats Gaikwad's outside edge. Fuller this time and Gaikwad punches the ball crisply through cover for FOUR. A single to follow as Gaikwad drives one to mid-off. Hint of width and Rahane slices it to deep point for a single. Fraction short this time and Gaikwad plays a nimble upper-cut over first slip for FOUR.

Kagiso Rabada opens the attack

Rabada extracts some firm bounce first-up and puts Rahane in a spot of bother. Tight lines here by the Proteas pacer. Rahane and Gaikwad reel in four singles.

Ajinkya Rahane and Ruturaj Gaikwad walk out to a sea of yellow at Chepauk.

Punjab Kings XI: Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran(c), Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma(w), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh.

Chennai Super Kings XI: Ajinkya Rahane, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Daryl Mitchell, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Richard Gleeson, Mustafizur Rahman.

TOSS: Punjab Kings win toss, opt to bowl

Ruturaj Gaikwad - We would have fielded first, but we weren't exactly sure. Always tough defending here with a lot of dew, but the fact that we won by 78 runs shows a lot about the team, but we'll be missing out Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande today. We'll have to get there early and make a good score. Every game is important. Pathirana has a slight niggle, Deshpande isn't well, so we've Shardul and Richard Gleeson makes his debut.

Sam Curran - We'll bowl first. Looks like a good surface, new wicket and we're excited after that last match. An amazing stadium and an amazing crowd, we'll have to start well and take early wickets. We'll take the confidence from that chase of 261. It's just about fight and determination, they're a good team, but we need to be brave. Same team for us. 

Ruturaj and Curran out in the middle.

It waas nice to go to Kolkata and get some runs, chasing down 260 was special, but tonight we are in a new day, new venue and against a new team. It was a big boost to chase down that score and that'll give us confidence going into today's game. We need to stay level as a player, things are not going to go your way always, you'll have to take risks, you'll fail at times, but you need to understand that you have the skills to turn it around and it's all about staying true to yourself. As a team, we've seen everyone beating everyone, we'll need to remain level, don't get too excited when you win, don't feel low when you lose. Shashank has been amazing this season, very good against pace and spin and has shown a lot of composure in the middle order. Ashutosh is a young guy, he has that exuberance of youth, not many would even think about trying and sweeping someone like Bumrah.

Matthew Hayden and Danny Morrison analyse: 63m and 70m square boundaries while the straight boundary is at 77m. We're playing on a red soil surface today, it's a new pitch today. It has a lot of grass and it's very hard. Last season, the turn was more at this venue compared to this season. There will be a bit of pace and carry, it'll be a high scoring game. Dew will be a big factor and the toss will matter, but the ball might seam around in the second innings.

Our reporter Venkata Krishna from Chennai: We are going to have a shorter boundary on one side at Chepauk today. A fresh pitch for this fixture.

Matches played: 28, CSK won: 15, PBKS won: 13, No result: 0

A few hours after he was snubbed from a spot in the India’s T20 World Cup squad, Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul entered the fray for the top-run getters in the ongoing Indian Premier League season. Full Table