Wetin dey happen for Chepauk today? The matter no be small o. Sanju Samson, the man wey dem dey expect to dey fire for Chennai Super Kings, don fail again. Na him second match for CSK, and him just score 7 runs before Xavier Bartlett catch am behind. The fans wey dey expect fireworks from the World Cup hero don dey shake head.
Samson wey dem trade for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran last year, don only manage 14 runs for two matches. The man wey be Player of the Tournament for T20 World Cup 2026, don dey struggle to find form for yellow jersey. For him first home game for CSK, him start small with one boundary, but na so him edge one to Prabhsimran Singh for second ball wey Bartlett bowl.
But as Sanju dey go back to pavilion, one young boy don show say him get liver. Ayush Mhatre, just 18 years, don carry the team for back. The boy don score 73 runs from 43 balls, with sixes and boundaries dey fly everywhere. Him don become the youngest player to score half-century for Chepauk. Him and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad put 96 runs together before Chahal catch Gaikwad for 28.
The match wey start 7:30pm for MA Chidambaram Stadium don dey hot. PBKS win toss and choose to bowl first. Shreyas Iyer wey get arm injury don still dey play as captain. The pitch report say na batter paradise, and Mhatre don prove am true.
For powerplay, CSK score 49 runs with one wicket down. Mhatre don already show say him no dey fear. Him hit Vyshak Vijaykumar for six over midwicket. The boy dey play like veteran, timing the ball well instead of just dey power am.
Marco Jansen try to contain am but Mhatre pull two sixes from him over. The young boy dey read the game well – when Bartlett bowl bouncer, him pull am for boundary through square leg. When Arshdeep Singh try yorker, him still find gap.
But Punjab Kings no dey sleep. Yuzvendra Chahal wey get good record against CSK don already remove Gaikwad. The captain try to sweep but pick out Nehal Wadhera at deep square leg. Then Vyshak come remove Mhatre after the boy edge one to short third.
Now Shivam Dube and Sarfaraz Khan dey middle. CSK dey 130/4 after 14 overs. The game dey balanced. Punjab bowlers dey fight back after Mhatre onslaught. Marco Jansen just remove Kartik Sharma lbw, though dem need review to confirm am.
For team news, CSK make one change – Prashant Veer replace Matthew Short. MS Dhoni dey miss match again with calf strain, though him dey bat for nets yesterday. Dewald Brevis fitness still dey uncertain after side strain.
PBKS full squad dey with Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Shreyas Iyer participation dey in doubt after arm blow against GT, but him don play today.
The head-to-head record show CSK lead 16-15 with one tie, but since 2021, Punjab don win seven of eight encounters. Today game fit change that story.
Sanju Samson record for Chepauk no too good – average of 11.80 for five games here. But fans from Kerala still dey support yellow today. Last time him play here, him score 24 from 15 balls with one six down the ground.
As the game dey enter final overs, all eyes dey on Dube and Sarfaraz. Can dem push CSK to big total? Or Punjab bowlers go contain dem? The Chepauk crowd dey whistle, the tension dey rise. IPL 2026 don start with drama, and today match no be exception.
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