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Mullanpur, April 8, 2025 — The IPL 2025 clash between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) began with PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer winning the toss and electing to bat first at the Mullanpur Cricket Stadium. Notably, Iyer brushed off concerns around dew, suggesting it wouldn’t heavily impact their defence in the evening.
The bigger talking point, however, was Ruturaj Gaikwad continuing to bat at No.3 for CSK despite back-to-back losses and his own visible discomfort away from the opening slot.
Gaikwad Remains at No.3 Despite Fleming’s Concerns
In the post-match interview after CSK’s defeat to Delhi Capitals (DC) at Chepauk last week, head coach Stephen Fleming hinted at revisiting Gaikwad’s batting position, acknowledging the team was still looking to find balance.
“We are trying to find that bridge between the top and middle. Ruturaj has the game, but we are evaluating,” Fleming had said.
However, Gaikwad confirmed at the toss today that he would continue to bat at No.3, with Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway opening the innings.
Playing XIs: PBKS vs CSK Unchanged
Both teams fielded the same lineups from their previous encounters, signaling continuity over change despite CSK’s form concerns.
✅ PBKS Bat-First XI:
- Prabhsimran Singh (wk)
- Priyansh Arya
- Shreyas Iyer (capt)
- Nehal Wadhera
- Shashank Singh
- Glenn Maxwell
- Marcus Stoinis
- Marco Jansen
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Arshdeep Singh
- Lockie Ferguson
Impact Players: Suryansh Shedge, Yash Thakur, Praveen Dubey, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vyshak Vijaykumar
✅ CSK Bowl-First XI:
- Rachin Ravindra
- Devon Conway
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt)
- Vijay Shankar
- Ravindra Jadeja
- MS Dhoni (wk)
- R Ashwin
- Noor Ahmad
- Mukesh Choudhary
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Matheesha Pathirana
Impact Players: Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj
CSK’s Slide: Three Straight Losses and Constant Churn
With today’s unchanged XI, CSK have now used 17 different players in just six matches this season—a clear indication of their ongoing search for the right combination.
Their last three defeats:
- vs RR (Guwahati)
- vs DC (Chepauk)
- vs RCB (Bengaluru)
None of those games yielded clarity on their batting order or bowling structure. The experiment of playing Gaikwad at No.3, aimed at filling the vacuum left by Ambati Rayudu’s retirement, has produced two half-centuries but also slowed early momentum in several games.
PBKS’s Record at Mullanpur: A Worrying Stat
Despite electing to bat first, Punjab Kings have won just 1 of 6 matches at the Mullanpur venue since it debuted as a host stadium this season. Their only victory here came in the opening game against Delhi Capitals.
- PBKS at Mullanpur: 1 win, 5 losses
- Avg first innings score: 160–170
- Chasing success rate: 83% (5 of 6 matches won by chasing sides)
This makes Iyer’s decision to bat first a bold move, potentially based on assessing pitch dryness and psychological advantage.
Key Match-Ups to Watch
- Mukesh Choudhary vs Shreyas Iyer: The left-arm seamer conceded 50+ in his last outing; a potential target for Iyer early on.
- Chahal vs Conway: Chahal’s record against left-handers in the middle overs could see him introduced early.
- Pathirana vs Maxwell & Stoinis: CSK’s death bowling ace will be crucial against two of PBKS’s most explosive hitters.
What to Expect: PBKS vs CSK Game Dynamics
- Pitch condition: Described by both captains as dry, likely to assist spinners in the middle overs.
- Dew Factor: Iyer’s decision to bat suggests dew might not play a major role.
- CSK’s Strategy: With Gaikwad at No.3 and Jadeja floating, CSK will rely heavily on Dhoni and the finishers if early wickets fall.
A Must-Win Battle for CSK, Statement Opportunity for PBKS
As the PBKS vs CSK match unfolds at Mullanpur, the focus will firmly be on whether CSK can reverse their fortunes or if PBKS finally breaks their home hoodoo. For Ruturaj Gaikwad, tonight could be pivotal in determining whether his experiment at No.3 continues—or forces another shuffle in the yellow camp.
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