Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings registered an impressive five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2026 clash at Chepauk, chasing down a big target of 210 with confidence. Despite CSK putting up a strong total, PBKS handled the pressure better and sealed their second straight victory of the season.After being put in to bat, CSK built their innings around a solid partnership between Ayush Mhatre and Ruturaj Gaikwad. The duo added 96 runs for the second wicket, giving the team a strong platform.
Mhatre was the standout performer, scoring a fluent 73 off 43 balls with a mix of boundaries and sixes.In the later stages, Sarfaraz Khan played a quick cameo, smashing 32 off just 12 balls, while Shivam Dube remained unbeaten on 45, finishing the innings strongly. Their efforts pushed CSK to a competitive total of 209/5 in 20 overs, which looked challenging on the surface.In reply, PBKS came out attacking and maintained a steady run rate throughout the chase. Young opener Priyansh Arya provided a quick start, while others chipped in to keep the scoreboard moving. Captain Shreyas Iyer played a key role, scoring a composed 50 off 29 balls and guiding the innings.Even when wickets fell at intervals, PBKS didn’t panic and continued to play positive cricket. Contributions from the middle order ensured the chase stayed on track, and they eventually reached 210/5 in 18.4 overs.While CSK impressed with the bat, their bowlers struggled to contain runs. PBKS, on the other hand, executed their chase smartly and deservedly came out on top.
