Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be looking for a crucial win against Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday (May 1). Both the teams are facing each other in the 49th match of the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024).
CSK come into this game after a brilliant win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last outing. The Chennai-based team had their backs against the wall after suffering two straight losses against Lucknow Super Giants. The second loss also ended their unbeaten streak at home this season.
However, the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team bounced back in style by registering a 78-run win over the Hyderabad-based team. Riding on captain Gaikwad’s brilliant 98-run knock, CSK posted 212/3 before their bowlers put up a stunning effort to bowl out SRH for just 134 runs.
CSK will try to make the most of the momentum and win the match against PBKS as well. However, they will have to do it without two of their best players this season – Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande. Both players were unavailable for the match against PBKS, Gaikwad revealed at the toss.
Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande are not available:
Gaikwad revealed that Pathirana was suffering from a problem while Deshpande was not feeling well. Pathirana had left the field in the last match against SRH after feeling some discomfort while he was running. Before that, he had bowled two overs and picked up the crucial wickets of Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen.
Deshpande, on the other hand, starred in the ball against SRH, picking up 4 wickets for just 27 runs. They have been replaced by Shardul Thakur and Richard Gleeson in the CSK XI. While Thakur has played four games this season, Gleeson will make his debut.
“We would have fielded first but we weren’t exactly sure. It’s always difficult to defend here in heavy dew but the fact that we won by 78 runs shows a lot about the team but we will be missing Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande today,” Gaikwad said.
“We will have to come early and get a good result. Every match is important. Pathirana has a little problem, Deshpande is not well, so we have Shardul and Richard Gleeson makes his debut,” he added.
Meanwhile, PBKS won the toss and opted to play CSK first.