In the 53rd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) season, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) will be locking horns with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) scheduled to be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on 5 May, 2024. Incidentally, both these teams have witnessed quite contrasting results unfold in their previous outings. The Punjab Kings registered a comprehensive 7-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings in their previous encounter. However, it will be really important for both these teams to bring out their best game forward in the PBKS vs CSK IPL 2024 match starting on Sunday. 

After having conceded as many as four back-to-back losses, the Punjab Kings have made an exceptional comeback recently in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League 2024 season. The Punjab Kings first chased down a record total of 262 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders with a total of eight balls to spare and then registered a phenomenal victory over Chennai Super Kings in their own fortress at Chepauk. Punjab's stand-in captain Sam Curran has done a wonderful job in the last couple of games while leading the team in the absence of regular skipper Shikhar Dhawan and thus, PBKS are very much alive in the race to IPL 2024 playoffs. Punjab Kings are currently slotted at the seventh spot with a total of 4 wins and 6 losses so far in the ongoing T20 tournament. They will be hoping to extend this winning momentum in this crucial phase of the competition. 

On the other hand, things have definitely fallen aback for the Chennai Super Kings during the last few games in this IPL 2024 season. The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team have witnessed as many as three losses during their last five matches which included two consecutive defeats against Lucknow Super Giants. The five-time IPL winners are currently placed at the fifth position on the IPL 2024 points table with 5 wins and as many losses. If Chennai Super Kings do not win this game against Punjab Kings, it will be really difficult for them to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs. 

PBKS vs CSK IPL 2024: Dharamsala Pitch Report

This will be the opening game of this Indian Premier League 2024 season at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala and that too an afternoon encounter. The pitch will have some assistance for both the pacers and spinners to a great extent. However, it is very much likely to be a high-scoring game as seen during the previous IPL season. After winning the toss, electing to bowl first will surely be an ideal decision on this surface. 

Predicted Punjab Kings Playing XI

Punjab Kings' bowling coach Sunil Joshi confirmed on Saturday that their regular captain Shikhar Dhawan is undergoing rehab at this moment and will not be available for the reverse fixture against Chennai Super Kings. However, he is expected to return for their last two games of the group stage. With things going really well for them, the Punjab Kings are expected to retain the same line-up in this game against CSK. Rilee Rossouw batted really well in Chennai and thus, he will retain his spot ahead of Liam Livingstone. 

PBKS Playing 11

1. Jonny Bairstow
2. Prabhsimran Singh
3. Rilee Rossouw
4. Shashank Singh
5. Jitesh Sharma
6. Ashtosh Sharma
7. Sam Curran
8. Harpreet Brar
9. Kagiso Rabada
10. Harshal Patel
11. Arshdeep Singh

Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran(c), Rilee Rossouw, Jitesh Sharma(w), Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Rishi Dhawan, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Shivam Singh, Prince Choudhary, Vishwanath Singh, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Tanay Thyagarajan, Liam Livingstone, Sikandar Raza, Chris Woakes, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Shikhar Dhawan.

Predicted Chennai Super Kings Playing XI

There were a lot of injury concerns for the Chennai Super Kings during the last game against Punjab Kings at home as the duo of Tushar Deshpande and Matheesha Pathirana were not available while Deepak Chahar got injured after bowling just two deliveries. Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has also returned home and will not be available for the rest of the season. The trio of Deshpande, Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana will be available for this game against Punjab Kings on Sunday. 

CSK Playing 11

1. Ruturaj Gaikwad
2. Ajinkya Rahane
3. Daryl Mitchell
4. Moeen Ali
5. Shivam Dube
6. Ravindra Jadeja
7. MS Dhoni
8. Shardul Thakur
9. Tushar Deshpande
10. Matheesha Pathirana
11. Richard Gleeson

Ajinkya Rahane, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Daryl Mitchell, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana, Sameer Rizvi, Shardul Thakur, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Prashant Solanki, Mukesh Choudhary, Simarjeet Singh, RS Hangargekar, Maheesh Theekshana, Nishant Sindhu, Aravelly Avanish, Richard Gleeson.