IPL match preview: Chennai Super Kings v Punjab Kings

This will be a day match with no floodlights and no dew factor. This will probably make the decision at the toss a bit more balanced. Chennai have made a veritable fortress out of Chepauk, so Punjab will be hard pressed to win here.

Punjab will go into this match after a testing fixture against the Lucknow Super Giants. It will be a big plus for Punjab if they have their captain back for this important encounter. Shikhar Dhawan has been sidelined by injury for a few games.

Chennai will have lessons to take from their showdown with the Rajasthan Royals. Let's see if CSK get Ben Stokes and Deepak Chahar back into the XI against Punjab. Both have been nursing injuries.

Chennai could do with more big runs from Devon Conway at the top of the order. Importantly, unlike some other teams, CSK have not had an overreliance on just one or two batsmen to fire. The same could be the case here.

Punjab have won all of their last three meetings with the Super Kings. That stretch includes back-to-back successes in 2022.

Moeen Ali has emerged as one of the key all-rounders in the 2023 IPL. He hasn't necessarily scored plenty of runs and taken several wickets, but his bowling average is among the best this tournament and he's put in some important cameos with the bat.

Punjab have an outstanding seamer combination in Nathan Ellis and Arshdeep Singh. The Australian and Indian stars complement each other well. Both could do well in conducive Chepauk conditions.

The Super Kings are looking stronger than the Punjab Kings for the win here. They should remind one and all of their status as four-time IPL winners.