Chennai Super Kings, who didn't have a great start to their 2021 IPL campaign, have had a wood over Punjab Kings in their last five encounters.
Chennai Super Kings didn't have a great start to their campaign in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after losing to Delhi Capitals in their first game, while their Friday's opponents Punjab Kings won a thriller against the Rajasthan Royals in their opening game of the tournament.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led CSK have enjoyed a little dominance over the Punjab Kings in their last five encounters, winning three of them and all three wins came in the recent encounters. However, given the conditions and the firepower in their armoury the Kings will be more confident than the Super Kings.
Head-to-head: 23 games, CSK - 14, PBKS - 9
The Chennai Super Kings and the Punjab Kings have faced each other 23 times in the 11 seasons (CSK were suspended for the 2016, 2017 seasons) of the IPL since 2008 and the MS Dhoni-led side have won 14, while the Punjab side has won 9 of the 23 encounters.
The Super Kings won both games in the last year's IPL against the Punjab side. While Faf du Plessis and Shane Watson's unbeaten opening partnership helped them chase down 179 runs in the first encounter. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad's 62*-run knock following Lungi Nigidi's three-wicket haul helped the Super Kings chase down 154 runs in the reverse fixture by nine wickets.
Suresh Raina leads the most runs list
Chennai Super Kings batsman Suresh Raina is the leading run-scorer in the CSK vs PBKS clashes with 711 runs. He is followed by the CSK skipper MS Dhoni with 525 runs and opening batsman Faf du Plessis is in the third place with 481 runs.
Ravichandran Ashwin is the leading wicket-taker
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has played for both Chennai Super Kings and the Punjab Kings is the leading wicket-taker in the CSK vs PBKS games with 18 scalps. All-rounder Dwayne Bravo is on the second spot with 14 wickets.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "PBKS vs CSK head-to-head")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}