🏏 Crucial Battle for Survival in IPL 2025
As the Indian Premier League 2025 nears its business end, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a high-stakes showdown at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Wednesday. With Mahendra Singh Dhoni leading what could be his final campaign, CSK are on the brink of elimination. A loss here would officially knock them out of the playoff race.
🟡 CSK’s Dwindling Playoff Hopes
Five-time champions CSK have had a disappointing season. While they showed glimpses of brilliance early on, inconsistency and key player injuries have led to a dramatic slump. The team management may now shift focus toward grooming young talent for the 2026 season, making room for future stars in the XI.
🔴 PBKS Looking to Capitalize
Led by Shreyas Iyer, Punjab Kings have had a rollercoaster campaign. While they’ve won some tough matches, they’ve also faltered in seemingly easy contests. A rain-affected game against KKR denied them a probable win, adding to their mid-table woes. A victory over CSK could boost their playoff hopes significantly.
🧢 Predicted Playing XI – Chennai Super Kings
Chennai could introduce a few young faces while retaining some of their senior core. Here’s the likely playing XI:
Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, Deepak Hooda, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (w/c), Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana
Impact Player: Anshul Kamboj or R. Ashwin
🔥 Predicted Playing XI – Punjab Kings
Punjab may stick to their previous combination that has shown promise in recent games:
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis (w), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Azmatullah Omarzai/Xavier Bartlett, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Impact Player: Harpreet Brar
💼 Full Squad Overview
Chennai Super Kings Squad:
Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, Deepak Hooda, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (w/c), Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana, Anshul Kamboj, R. Ashwin, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Jamie Overton, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, Shreyas Gopal, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Andre Siddarth C, Vansh Bedi
Punjab Kings Squad:
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis (w), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, Musheer Khan, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Suryansh Shedge, Praveen Dubey, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Yash Thakur, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, Harnoor Singh, Pyla Avinash
🧠 What to Watch Out For
- Dhoni’s tactics at Chepauk: Will he go down fighting or experiment with future talent?
- PBKS batting vs CSK spinners: The Chennai surface might assist Noor Ahmad and Ravindra Jadeja.
- Middle-order battles: With both sides prone to collapses, whoever holds their nerves will have the edge.
📅 Match Details
Match: CSK vs PBKS, IPL 2025
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Date: Wednesday
Time: 7:30 PM IST(live score cricket ipl)