Punjab Kings (PBKS) will lock horns with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 8 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 on April 16, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Punjab began their campaign with a narrow 4-run win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) while Chennai suffered a 7-wicket defeat to Delhi Capitals in their opening tie.
Team News
Punjab are unlikely to make any changes, despite their overseas pacers being thrashed all over the stadium by the Rajasthan batters, especially Sanju Samson. Their top order is well-settled, featuring KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Chris Gayle. Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan and Nicholas Pooran can finish the game – although the latter had a golden duck in the RR game. The only change that can be made by the Punjab team management is to bring Ravi Bishnoi in the playing XI, in place of M Ashwin.
Chennai, on the other hand, have once again plenty to worry about. Their batters performed together against Delhi, but the bowlers failed to deliver the needful. However, skipper MS Dhoni has seldom been keen on dropping cricketers after one ordinary result. So, while drastic changes are probably not on the cards, young Harishankar Reddy may make his debut tonight, replacing Deepak Chahar.
Fantasy tips
- Lokesh Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, Suresh Raina, Mayank Agarwal and Faf de Plessis are highly dependable batters.
- CSK trio Moeen Ali, Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja are some of the finest all-rounders around.
- Arshdeep Singh, Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Shami can be handy with the ball.
Probable XIs
Punjab Kings: KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Shahrukh Khan, Jhye Richardson, Murugan Ashwin/ Ravi Bishnoi, Riley Meredith, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar/Harishankar Reddy.
Fantasy XI
KL Rahul (c), Nicholas Pooran, Suresh Raina (vc), Mayank Agarwal, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur
