IPL 2024: PBKS outclass CSK for 5th straight time, keep playoffs hopes alive

PBKS kept their playoff hopes alive with a comprehensive 7-wicket win against CSK at the Chepauk and extended their winning streak against the five-time IPL Champions. Punjab have now got 5 straight wins against Chennai as they carried on the momentum from their historic chase against KKR last time around.

CSK were put into bat by PBKS and it seemed like they had the ideal start in the powerplay overs. Ruturaj and Ajinkya Rahane would put on 55 runs in the first 6 overs and it seemed we could be in for a big total. However, the PBKS bowlers would bounce back with Harpreet Brar getting two wickets in one over. He first dismissed Rahane, before trapping Shivam Dube for a first-ball duck. Rahul Chahar joined the party with the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja as CSK were in all sorts of trouble.

CSK vs PBKS: Highlights

Chennai were forced to bring in Sameer Rizvi as the Impact sub but he had minimal impact with the bat as runs started to dry up. Ruturaj once again led from the front with a 48-ball 62 and some blows from Dhoni in the end would get CSK to 162 runs.

The PBKS run-chase would get the perfect start as CSK would find themselves a bowler short as Deepak Chahar had to go off the field with an injury. Richard Gleeson, who was making his debut, would get Prabhsimran early before a 64-run stand from Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw got PBKS well and truly on the way.

Wickets of Bairstow and Rossouw would be a little too late in the end as PBKS would secure the win with 13 balls to spare as Shashank Singh and Sam Curran got them home.

Ruturaj shines as T20 World Cup-bound stars fail

Ruturaj had a lot of expectations put on his shoulder when he had taken the CSK captaincy and his form with the bat was a worry at the beginning. However, the last three games have seen the CSK captain lead from the front and score a hundred and two fifties, while the others haven't really been up to the mark.

The T20 World Cup-bound Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja had a night to forget as they failed with the bat to put Chennai in all sorts of pressure. While Dube got one wicket, Jadeja ended with figures of none for 22 in 3.

The decision not to have Ruturaj even as a reserve for the T20 World Cup was slammed by many given his form and it seems like the CSK skipper is proving that is the case. He would go past Kohli to take up the Orange Cap with 509 runs in 10 matches.

PBKS batting coming together at the right time

PBKS seemed to all but out of contention for a playoff spot a couple of weeks ago. Their batting was in tatters with Shikhar Dhawan out with an injury and it seemed like Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma were holding things together.

The win over KKR saw Jonny Bairstow come into form. The England batter, who was dropped after a string of poor performances, hit a fine hundred and continued his form with 46. Rilee Rossouw, who was a big-money buy, seems to be providing stability at No.3.

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Shashank was calm and composed at Chepauk on Wednesday as he was calculated with his attack and took the aerial route when needed. These will be positive signs for Punjab as they have four more matches left with the next in Dharamsala against CSK again on May 5.

If they can win the remaining matches, which will see them face RCB, RR and SRH, there is a chance they can make the playoffs.