The 2024 Indian Premier League have created a lot of buzz in the cricket universe with plenty of mouth-watering matches up for grabs. For the second time in the season, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play straight matches against the same opposition. The Punjab Kings (PBKS) will firstly face CSK in the M. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on May 1.
Before the match, let us quickly go through the match predictions, tips, and top players for the ensuing clash. 
CSK vs PBKS: Head-to-Head Stats
The two sides have squared off 28 times in the IPL and CSK have won 15 times while PBKS have managed to win just 13 games. However, in their last five matches, PBKS have won four matches to CSK’s solo.
CSK vs PBKS: Pitch Report
The conditions at the Chepauk Stadium have been spin-friendly. The bowlers who can vary the pace effectively have been good at the venue. While it is also one of the rare venues that haven’t seen huge totals being recorded. The batters need to imply themselves against sharp spin and tackiness of the pitch.
Venue Stats (IPL 2024):
Matches: 81
Matches Won batting first: 48
Matches won batting second: 33
Average first innings total: 165
Highest runs chased: 201 by PBKS vs CSK in 2023.
CSK vs PBKS: Toss Predictions
The toss-winning skipper may choose to field first keeping in mind the dew. The ball grips for the spinners and it is not easy to bat outside the powerplay. The pacers tend to get more assistance during the first innings, provided dew plays a part.
CSK vs PBKS: Match Facts
Harshal Patel has bagged a fifer in Chepauk that constitutes for his eleven wickets in four games.
Shivam Dube has smacked 26 sixes in nine matches. He can certainly go past the 1.5 sixes mark.
Tushar Deshpande bagged a four-for in their last game against SRH at Chepauk.
CSK vs PBKS: Top Batters predictions
Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK): The Maharashtra batter has been in scintillating form with the bat. Having piled up 447 runs in the season so far, he is the second-highest run-getter of the season. He averages 63.86 with a strike rate of 149.50. Gaikwad smashed a century against LSG and followed it up by 98 against SRH in his recent couple of games.
Shashank Singh (PBKS): The ‘wrong’ pick in the auction turned out to be the right choice for the Kings as Shashank transcended his domestic experience into the IPL strata. He played a magnificent knock in their last game to assist the Kings in a heist against Kolkata Knight Riders. He has been excellent against both spinners and pacers and can be backed for a good score.
CSK vs PBKS: Top Bowler predictions
Matheesha Pathirana (CSK): The Sri Lankan pacer has been outstanding for the Super Kings. He bagged a four-for against Mumbai Indians, rattling the Hardik Pandya-led side earlier on. He has scalped 13 wickets from just six games, with a bowling average of 13. Pathirana is certainly bankable when it comes to claiming wickets.
Harshal Patel (PBKS): The running off-spinner has been among the top wicket-takers in the tournament despite leaking runs. He has managed to extract 14 wickets so far and has been varying his pace well. Harshal took a fifer against CSK at the Chepauk and will be confident about delivering here.
CSK vs PBKS: Winner Predictions
CSK is a difficult team to beat at their den. Although they have been topsy-turvy this season, the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led unit have maintained consistency when it comes to win rate at home. Henceforth, it is more likely that CSK will come on the top.
CSK vs PBKS Predictions:
While the CSK vs PBKS clash at the Chepauk seems to be an exciting one, it will also be interesting to see who comes out on the top. Going by the betting odds of Parimatch, it won’t be shocking to see the total runs in the match cross 365.5 (1.85) with Ruturaj Gaikwad continuing his impressive form and scoring over 33.5 (1.85). Given the early batting woes of PBKS in the season, and the challenge on slow tracks, PBKS may score below 87.5 (1.72) inside the first ten overs.
