IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS , Match 7 – Top player battles to watch out for

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) play host to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 7 of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, on Friday, April 3. Both sides come into the game on the back of contrasting starts to the new season.

CSK suffered an opening game defeat at the hands of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati. The five-time champions had a day to forget as their batting collapsed to register a mere 127, which was largely down to the lower-order contribution by Jamie Overton. In reply, RR managed to chase down the total in less than 13 overs, thanks to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s quick-fire innings of 52 from 17 balls.

PBKS, meanwhile, have secured their first two points of the new season, securing a home win over the Gujarat Titans (GT). Last year’s finalists came out on top in a nervy end to the game while chasing 163. They fell to 118-6 in the 14.4 after losing the experienced Marcus Stoinis. Debutant Cooper Connolly saved the day following an unbeaten 72.

Fans can expect a fascinating contest between bat and ball when both sides meet at Chepauk on Friday evening. CSK have some strong and in-form batters in their ranks, while PBKS’ bowling features experienced T20 players like Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Here are 3 player battles for CSK vs PBKS, Match 7 of IPL 2026:

3. Shivam Duve vs Yuzvendra Chahal

Shivam Dube and Yuzvendra Chahal are some of the most experienced players in the IPL. The duo, however, has not faced one another many times. Dube has faced just 15 balls from Chahal in three innings, where he has scored 20 runs at a strike-rate of 133.33 without getting out.

With Dube handling the role of taking care of the middle overs, he will likely face Chahal, where he will try to disrupt his rhythm by attacking him from the get-go.

2. Shreyas Iyer vs Khaleel Ahmed

This is a match-up where the bowler currently has the upper hand against the batter. Khaleel Ahmed and Shreyas Iyer have faced each other on eight separate occasions, with the fast bowler dismissing the right-hander three times. This includes Khaleel bowling Iyer out last season in New Chandigarh.

Iyer, on the other hand, has scored 33 runs against the CSK bowler in 25 balls faced, striking at 132.

1. Sanju Samson vs Arshdeep Singh

A mouth-watering battle at the top of the order, it is inevitable that Sanju Samson will face off against Indian teammate Arshdeep Singh. The new CSK recruit has an excellent record against the left-armer, scoring 79 runs off 42 balls at a strike-rate of 188.09. 

Arshdeep, on the other hand, has dismissed the former RR captain just once. Should this match-up continue to benefit the batter, one can expect CSK to get off to a blistering start at Chepauk on Friday.