Last Updated on 2 weeks by Charbel Coorey

PBKS vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 38 | PBKS vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Wankhede Pitch Report

Two teams in need of a win. Punjab Kings, after a promising start with a new-look team, have hit the kind of wall they have hit many times over the years. Chennai Super Kings, courtesy of brilliant finishing by Dwaine Pretorius and the great MS Dhoni, sit just two points behind Punjab and need to win to keep some pace with the top four.

Punjab’s horrible 115 all-out against Delhi last week has resulted in their net run rate falling to -0.562. Such a poor net run rate makes wins all the more important, but this will require a change in fortunes for a team that has struggled for consistency all season. However, one of their three wins was a comfortable win over CSK, and a repeat will be just what PBKS needs.

For CSK, there is sense of new life in recent matches. They have won two of their past three games, which easily could have been three had it not been for Gujarat’s miracle win. Another win today will increase belief further ahead of a push for an unlikely playoffs spot in the second half of the season.

Possible Playing 11

Earlier in IPL 2022, New Zealand and Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Jimmy Neesham pinpoined Punjab Kings as a team to watch out for. Mayank Agarwal’s team have done little to match the hype since.

They could look to bring Bhanuka Rajapaksa back for the struggling Jonny Bairstow.

Punjab Kings: 1. Mayank Agarwal (c), 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Jonny Bairstow/Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 4. Liam Livingstone, 5. Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6. Shahrukh Khan, 7. Nathan Ellis/Odean Smith, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Rahul Chahar, 10. Vaibhav Arora, 11. Arshdeep Singh

CSK dropped Moeen Ali in the last match. Given that the overseas players performed pretty well, it is likely that Moeen will have to wait his time again.

Chennai Super Kings: 1. Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2. Robin Uthappa, 3. Ambati Rayudu, 4. Shivam Dube, 5. MS Dhoni (wk), 6. Ravindra Jadeja (c), 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Mitchell Santner, 9. Dwaine Pretorius, 10. Maheesh Theekshana, 11. Mukesh Choudhary

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Punjab Kings:

• Liam Livingstone blew CSK away earlier this season with a 32-ball 60 and 2/25. Livingstone is particularly brilliant in the middle overs – he has struck 151 runs at a strike rate of 171.59 in this phase.
• CSK is Shikhar Dhawan’s favourite opponent in terms of runs. His 941 runs is the most he has against any franchise, scored at an average of 40.91 and strike rate of 129.26.
• Bravo dismissed Dhawan in the previous meeting, but the left-hander has a good record against him: 112 off 73, three dismissals (avg. 37.3, SR 153.4).
• Mayank Agarwal, on the other hand, averages just 16.13 in 15 innings against CSK. He fares better at the Wankhede, with 297 runs in 10 innings on this ground at an average of 29.70 and strike rate of 144.88.
• Kagiso Rabada has taken six wickets in as many matches vs CSK. He has some good head-to-head records against CSK’s key players. Rabada has dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad once in 14 balls (19 runs), Dube twice 19 balls (23 runs), Rayudu once in 23 balls (21 runs), Jadeja twice in 15 balls (27 runs) and Dhoni once in 21 balls (10 runs).
• Also, Rabada has taken 11 wickets in seven matches at the Wankhede at a strike rate of 14.73.
• Rahul Chahar, who is PBKS’ leading wicket-taker this season (10), took 3/25 against CSK earlier this season. Overall vs CSK, he concedes just 5.80 runs per over, with nine wickets in as many matches.
• Arshdeep Singh has dismissed Gaikwad twice in 19 deliveries in the IPL. This battle will be key given Gaikwad’s struggle against left-arm seam.

Chennai Super Kings:

• Ruturaj Gaikwad is averaging just 15 and has one 50+ score in IPL 2022. His struggle against left-arm seam will be in the spotlight today; he has been dismissed eight times in 93 balls by this bowling type in the IPL.
• Shivam Dube is CSK’s leading run-scorer in IPL 2022 (239) thanks to some key adjustments in his batting. He is averaging 39.83 and is striking at 161.48, which includes a 30-ball 57 vs PBKS earlier in IPL 2022. Against spin, he strikes at 141.17 with just the one dismissal (96 runs).
• Ambati Rayudu has struck two 40+ scores in his last two matches. He is one of three players to have 1,000 runs at the Wankhede, although he would want to improve on his average of 20.41 on this ground at 24.69 vs Punjab.
• MS Dhoni has smashed 560 runs for CSK against PBKS at an average of 50.91 and strike rate of 146.98. However, he strikes at less than 50 vs Rabada and has scored just 17 off 30 vs Chahar (two dismissals). So, how well he can take down the other bowlers will be interesting to see should he get the chance.
• Dwayne Bravo is CSK’s leading wicket-taker this season (12). Also, he enjoys bowling at the Wankhede, where he has taken 24 wickets in 17 IPL matches at a strike rate of 15.
• Against PBKS, Bravo has taken 16 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 22.94 and economy rate of 8.34.
• Dwaine Pretorius has been impressive this season (four wickets, 30 runs off 18 balls, one catch). Also, he has some good numbers against Livingstone, with figures of 2/13 in 15 deliveries.
• Maheesh Theekshana has taken seven wickets in four matches this season at an economy of 7.68. Mukesh Choudhary was player of the match last game vs MI after ripping through their top order (3/19).

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 27, CSK 16, PBKS 11.
• PBKS (180/8) beat CSK (126) easily in their previous meeting in IPL 2022. Dhawan and Livingstone smashed a 95-run partnership of 52 balls.
• Shikhar Dhawan strikes at 113.1 against offspin in the IPL (avg. 38). Agarwal, on the other hand, strikes at 163.9 with an average of 25.2. So, expect Dhawan to drop anchor early while Agarwal looks to take on Maheesh Theekshana.
• Jitesh Sharma has struck 10 fours and seven sixes in 74 deliveries in IPL 2022. Three of those sixes came in 17 balls vs CSK earlier in IPL 2022.
• Ravindra Jadeja has struck just 92 runs this season, which includes a duck against PBKS. Also, he has just the five wickets to date, three of which came in a single game against RCB.
• Punjab Kings are the highest-scoring team in the powerplay this season (9.52), but have lost the most wickets in the middle overs (29) and third-most at the death (16). Eyes will be on the likes of Dwayne Bravo and Dwaine Pretorius.

Wankhede Pitch Report and Weather

The team batting first has won the past four games at the Wankhede. The average first innings score in these four matches is 186, including Lucknow’s 168 that was way too much for the struggling Mumbai Indians.

Another clear and warm evening is forecast, with dew likely. It will be interesting to see what the toss-winning captain chooses to do.

PBKS vs CSK Dream11 Prediction 25 April 2022

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Jitesh Sharma
• Batsmen: Shikhar Dhawan, Robin Uthappa, Shivam Dube
• All-rounders: Liam Livingstone
• Bowlers: Dwayne Bravo, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada

Match Prediction

CSK are playing with more confidence and look good for a win, particularly if they can get powerplay wickets.