In an attempt to strengthen their qualification chances for the IPL 2025 playoffs, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) face the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 30 (Wednesday). The tournament started with two back-to-back wins for PBKS but then they lost two of their next three games. Now, they stand fifth on the IPL points table, with their last match getting washed out due to persistent rain.
PBKS batting-order: Shreyas Iyer needs to fire
The two uncapped talents, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, have been phenomenal for PBKS. In fact, their opening partnership tally stands at 360 runs (average of 40.00), which is the best by any pair for PBKS so far. Hence, Shreyas Iyer’s recent slump in form hasn’t cost PBKS that much.
Iyer, who started the tournament with a bang, has seen on a slight nosedive in his form, having scored just 139 runs in his seven matches. That 139 includes an innings of 82 runs that he scored against SRH. Otherwise, five of these innings saw him get out on single-digit scores. Iyer would love to do well in Chennai, where he averages above 30 in the IPL.
The Glenn Maxwell dilemma
The rest of the middle order should also remain the same, featuring Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh and Josh Inglis. However, the biggest question mark would be on Glenn Maxwell’s place. Ricky Ponting loves having Maxwell on his side, like most of the Australian players but the former RCB all-rounder has been absolutely poor so far.
The fact that Marco Jansen has scored more runs than Maxwell is a worrying sign. The 4.80 crore player has managed just 48 runs at an average of 8.00 and even at a strike rate of below 98 across six innings. He was dropped in favour of Marcus Stoinis, who’s also having a horrible form.
The question is will Ponting and Iyer back Maxwell once again? The answer could be yes, considering he provides superb value as an off-spinner. With multiple lefties in the CSK team, Maxwell could be a dark horse with his bowling. Also against CSK, Maxwell enjoys a strike rate of 188.61 after making 361 runs in 15 matches. Apart from him, PBKS also played Azmatullah Omarzai in the last game to elongate their batting order. He’s likely to continue, considering he will be the third-choice pace-bowling option.
Yuzvendra Chahal as Impact Player?
Although there are just four specialist bowlers on paper, all four are genuine match-winners in their own right. The two left-arm pacers, Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen, have been the backbone of PBKS’ bowling. They have taken 19 wickets combined at a bowling strike rate of 18.05. Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal’s matchups against Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis would be exciting to watch.
Given the match will be played at Chepauk, PBKS are likely to continue with Harpreet Brar as another spin-bowling option. The left-arm orthodox spinner has so far bowled just six overs but has taken three wickets at a bowling strike rate of 12.0.
PBKS Predicted Playing XI vs CSK
| S. No | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Prabhsimran Singh |
| 2 | Priyansh Arya |
| 3 | Shreyas Iyer |
| 4 | Josh Inglis |
| 5 | Nehal Wadhera |
| 6 | Glenn Maxwell |
| 7 | Shashank Singh |
| 8 | Azmatullah Omarzai |
| 9 | Marco Jansen |
| 10 | Arshdeep Singh |
| 11 | Harpreet Brar |
| Impact Player | Yuzvendra Chahal |
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