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CSK posted 209 for 5 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 3 and it looked like a total that would test any side chasing under lights at Chepauk.
Ayush Mhatre scored 73 off 43 balls and Sarfaraz Khan produced a stunning cameo of 32 off just 12 to give CSK a total worth defending. PBKS came out and made it look straightforward.
Priyansh Arya took 39 off 11 balls in the powerplay, Cooper Connolly and Shreyas Iyer anchored the middle and PBKS reached 210 for 5 in 18.4 overs to win by 5 wickets with 8 balls remaining. Last year's finalists have started IPL 2026 with a statement.
Ayush Mhatre and Sarfaraz Khan power CSK to 209 despite top order wobble
CSK lost Sanju Samson early for 7 off 7 caught behind off Xavier Bartlett in the second over and Ruturaj Gaikwad fell for 28 off 22 caught at mid-on off Chahal in the 11th over with the score at 110.
It was Ayush Mhatre who kept the innings together through the middle phase. The 18-year-old hit 73 off 43 balls with six fours and five sixes batting with an aggression and clarity that made the Chepauk crowd stand up repeatedly.
He fell in the 12th over for 73 with the score at 123 caught off Vyshak but the damage was already done. Shivam Dube then took over anchoring the death overs beautifully with an unbeaten 45 off 27 while Sarfaraz Khan produced one of the innings of the match off just 12 balls.
Sarfaraz smashed 32 with six fours and a six at a strike rate of 266 before Vyshak removed him in the 16th over. The final total of 209 was built on Mhatre's brilliance and Sarfaraz's explosion with Dube the calm hand through both.
Priyansh Arya explodes in the powerplay and sets up the chase vs CSK
Punjab Kings needed someone to neutralise the powerplay pressure of chasing 210 and Priyansh Arya did exactly that in the most brutal way possible.
Arya scored 39 off just 11 balls hitting three fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 354 before Matt Henry bowled him in the fifth over. By then the damage was done. PBKS reached 50 in 3.2 overs and were 61 for 1 at the end of the powerplay with Prabhsimran Singh settled at the other end.
Singh continued to build with Cooper Connolly who came in and added 36 off 22 balls at a strike rate of 163. Singh eventually fell for 43 off 34 run out in the ninth over but by then PBKS were cruising at 95 for 2 with the required rate comfortably in hand.
Shreyas Iyer's fifty seals the chase as PBKS cruise home
Shreyas Iyer walked in at number four and batted with the authority of a captain who knew exactly what his side needed. He scored 50 off 29 balls with four fours and three sixes dismissed caught off Kamboj in the 17th over with the score at 186 for 3 by which point the game was effectively over.
Nehal Wadhera fell off the very next ball for 10 but Shashank Singh 14 off 6 and Marcus Stoinis 9 off 3 made sure there was no wobble at the death. PBKS needed 24 off 22 when Iyer fell and got there with 8 balls to spare finishing on 210 for 5.
Matt Henry was CSK's best bowler with 2 for 54 but the total was never enough on a surface where the ball came onto the bat and Arya's opening assault had removed the pressure from the chase before it had a chance to build. PBKS have now won two from two in IPL 2026. CSK are yet to open their account.
