IPL 2021, PBKS vs CSK Live Score: The match will be held in Mumbai.IPL 2021, PBKS vs CSK Live Cricket Match Score Online Updates: Punjab Kings (PBKS) will take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in an IPL 2021 encounter at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday. The IPL 2021 match between Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings will be broadcast on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD and the live streaming will be available on Hotstar.
KL Rahul-led PBKS started their campaign on a winning note as they defeated Rajasthan Royals by four runs, while the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings failed to defend a big total against Delhi Capitals in their opener. To add to CSK’s headaches, the Yellow Army won’t have the services of either of their overseas pacemen, namely Jason Behrendorff and Lungi Ngidi. On the other hand, PBKS will rely on their big-hitting top-order.
After a Shahrukh pull shot for a four against Thakur, the boundaries have dried up for Punjab. Shahrukh (47*) and Shami (4*) rotate the strike atleast but it's just four runs from Bravo's over. Into the final over now. Do or die moment. PBKS: 100/7 (19 overs)
A four against Thakur, and now a four against Bravo! Shahrukh (39*) seems like a one-man army for Punjab as he tries to get his team to a decent total. As he rages on, batsmen around him continue to fall. Ashwin (6) is the latest one to go as his shot lands in the safe hands of du Plessis. Shami comes on next at number nine. Can Punjab atleast make it past 120? PBKS: 87/7 (17 overs)
All eyes on Shahrukh now and he delivers! He takes on Moeen and slams home a six into the second-tier. PBKS coach Anil Kumble must have loved that! Shahrukh (27*) keeps the run-counter going on with Ashwin (4*). Can they cross 140? PBKS: 73/6 (15 overs)
Dhoni brings on Moeen to further wreak havoc on Punjab. The batsmen deal in singles in his first over but Richardson (15) falls victim to him in the first ball of his second over. A short ball and bowled! Murugan Ashwin comes on next. PBKS: 57/6 (12.1 overs)
Punjab are in trouble now and both the batsmen know it. Shahrukh takes some responsibility and succeeds in upping the ante with a huge maximum facing Jadeja. Both him and Richardson punish Thakur with boundaries in the next over. PBKS: 45/5 (9 overs)
That's the commentator's curse! It's Hooda's time to leave the pitch as Chahar scalps his fourth wicket of the night! The batsman chips a dolly of a catch to mid-off and departs after a short-lived 10. Du Plessis took the catch. PBKS: 26/5 (6.2 overs)
Hooda knows that all responsibility is on his shoulders now as he is partnered by rookie Shahrukh Khan. He braves Thakur and smacks a confident boundary through the covers. Seven runs and that's the end of the powerplay. PBKS: 26/4 (6 overs)
And another one! Right from the start, it's been going completely off the script. CSK's bowling, especially Chahar, has been excellent. Gayle's uncontrolled drive falls straight into the hands of the fielder. Second wicket for Chahar, second fielding effort by Jadeja. Pooran comes on and he is dismissed on his second ball! A short ball and then a catch by Thakur. PBKS: 19/4 (5 overs)
CSK are in paradise! Just when things were going really well for Punjab, after Gayle's two boundaries, they suffer a calamity. A start-stop affair between the wickets and Rahul (5) is run out! A brilliant fielding effort from Ravindra Jadeja. PBKS: 15/2 (2.5 overs)
BOWLED HIM! Chahar provides the perfect start for CSK. He bowls a brilliant outswinger and beats Mayank all ends up to hit the top of off. The batsman walks back on a duck. Gayle comes on and he survives a scare, catch dropped! PBKS: 2/1 (1 over)
KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal come out to open the first innings as Deepak Chahar takes the ball to start the proceedings.
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): KL Rahul (w/c), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Shahrukh Khan, Jhye Richardson, Murugan Ashwin, Riley Meredith, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar
Chennai Super Kings have won the toss and have opted to field. "We will bowl first. We will get hit off good deliveries but it is important to assess as a bowler. Looks a bit tacky and a bit more grass. Bit of dew settles down a bit and in the second innings as well, the first few overs are really crucial. We are playing the same team," says CSK skipper MS Dhoni after the toss.
Punjab Kings had a narrow escape against RR the other despite posting a mammoth 221 for 6 on the board. Opening the batting, KL Rahul played a captain’s knock of 91 off just 50 balls. He was ably supported by big-hitting Chris Gayle (40 off 28) and Deepak Hooda (64 off 28). For Punjab Kings and Rahul, batting is not at all area of concern as they showed with their performance in the opener, but just like CSK, the bowling unit remains a major worry despite spending big money at the auction.
Chennai outfit’s bowling unit looked completely out of sorts and clueless against the DC opening duo of Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw, who were ominous from the word go and stitched a 138-run stand to take the game away from CSK. The likes of Deepak Chahar, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Jadeja and Moeen Ali all went for big runs and looked rusty. And come Friday, the onus would be on master tactician Dhoni to inspire his teammates to lift their performance and give Punjab a run for their money.
Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the IPL 2021 contest between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings. While the KL Rahul-led team will be looking to make it two in two, MS Dhoni's side will hope to open their points account. Stay tuned for more!