Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have their backs against the walls but at this stage of the league, they have nothing to lose. CSK may look to try fresh talent or make drastic changes in their strategy in an attempt to rebuild for the future. But, Shreyas Iyer's Punjab Kings (PBKS) are desperate for two points as they are stuck in points table logjam.
CSK vs PBKS Toss Prediction:
The captain winning the toss is likely to opt to bowl first. However, with CSK's track record while chasing this season, Shreyas Iyer may be tempted to bat first and put runs on the board. In their previous clash, PBKS posted 219/6 and beat CSK by 18 runs.
CSK vs PBKS Top Performers:
CSK's prime headache has been their batting. Apart from young guns Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis, no batter has scored at a strike rate of 150 in the current squad. Shivam Dube is their leading run-scorer with 242 runs from nine innings. They are still looking for the perfect combination in the batting order. In the bowling attack, Noor Ahmad has been their leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets from nine games. He is followed by Khaleel Ahmed who has 12 wickets from nine games. So far, Matheesha Pathirana has disappointed them.
Form PBKS, their top-order is clicking at the right time. Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh have been in good form of late. Shreyas Iyer showed promise with a cameo in the previous game whereas Nehal Wadhera can take down spinners. They need more from their overseas recruits Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis who are likely to feature in the side.
Their bowling has been a hit and miss. Arshdeep Singh has been the top performer with 11 wickets from nine games. Yuzvendra Chahal has done well in a few games and may benefit from Chennai's spin-friendly conditions. For PBKS, Xavier Bartlett may seem a good option in Chennai.
CSK vs PBKS Win Probability:
CSK hold a slight edge over PBKS with 16 wins from 31 games. However, PBKS have been dominant of late with five wins from next six games.