IPL 2022: CSK vs PBKS Preview – Battle of Kings

Chennai Super Kings will be locking horns with Punjab Kings in Match 11 of IPL 2022 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on April 3. Punjab won their season opener against RCB by five wickets in a high-scoring thriller and that is exactly what could put CSK in a spot of bother who lost their high-scoring encounter against the new entrants Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets.

This was Chennai’s second straight loss in IPL 2022 after they lost the curtain-raiser to KKR by six wickets. While batting does not seem to be much of an issue for the defending champions, it is the bowling that has let them down in the last two games. Barring Caribbean all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, no one has stood up for CSK with the ball in hand. The frontline spinners including skipper Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali have gone wicketless so far.

The four-time champions are missing the services of Deepak Chahar very badly who has the ability to provide vital breakthroughs with the new ball. The Agra cricketer sustained a right quadriceps injury during the home T20I series against the West Indies last month and will reportedly be making a comeback in mid-April.

Here is the Predicted XI of Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings

Chennai Super Kings

Bravo has been CSK’s most consistent bowler so far with four wickets from two matches. He had taken 3/20 from his four overs at an economy rate of five in the first game against the Kolkata Knight Riders despite CSK just defending 131.

Punjab Kings

PBKS would be heaving a sigh of relief of not having too many headaches since they have all the foreign players available with them. While the Punjab Kings seem to have their bowling line-up sorted to a certain extent, the Chennai Super Kings must seriously need to think about their strategies.