LIVEIPL 2026 Live: CSK build strong platform at 125/3 despite Mhatre’s departure after fluent 73 against PBKS, check more updates

CSK 125 for 3

Chennai Super Kings continued their strong start, reaching 125/3 in 13 overs after being put in to bat. Ayush Mhatre led the charge with a fluent 73 off 43 balls, anchoring the innings with aggressive stroke play. Ruturaj Gaikwad contributed 28, while wickets at intervals slowed momentum slightly. Punjab Kings picked up breakthroughs through Chahal and Vyshak, but CSK maintained a healthy run rate, setting up a strong finish in the final overs.

Punjab comes back in the game, Mhatre departs

After getting two back-to-back lifelines, the PBKS bowlers finally found a way to depart Mhatre. Vyshak bowls the ball wide, and the young prodigy is trapped on that.

CSK benefit from extras as Chahal oversteps, free hit keeps pressure on PBKS

Shivam Dube could only toe-end a low full toss towards long-on before Yuzvendra Chahal lost control of his lengths. A wide down the leg side ensured the free hit stayed, and matters worsened as Chahal overstepped on the next delivery. Ayush Mhatre calmly pushed the full ball to long-off for a single, with CSK capitalising on the extras to keep the scoreboard ticking and pressure on Punjab Kings.

Mhatre got another lifeline

Mhatre gets another lifeline. Tossed up full outside off, he charges down the track and goes for a big hit, but slices it badly. Shashank sprints in from deep cover, slides forward, but fails to hold on. His momentum carries him through, and the chance goes begging, Mhatre survives once more.

Chahal trapped CSK Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad

The highest wicket-taker of IPL has the last laugh; against CSK captain, CSK batters failed to capitalise on Yuzi Chahal. He bowled a flighted delivery with more speed on the leg side to Ruturaj Gaikwad. He swept the ball, and it landed safely into the hands of Wadhera.

Vyshak drops Ayush Mhatre's catch

Ayush Mhatre, who has changed the tempo of CSK's batting, got another life on the crease. Tried to sweep the ball, but the ball popped up and went onto the fine leg region, where Vyshak dropped the catch of the boy from Mumbai.

Fifty comes up for Ayush Mhatre

The young prodigy has unleashed his beast mode. After giving a steady start to CSK in the powerplay, he went big and completed his 50 with a six. The U-19 World Cup-winning captain has hammered 4 fours and five sixes till now. He has reached 59 of 32, and CSK is standing on 94 runs, losing one valuable wicket of Sanju Samson.

Chennai Super Kings marked off steadily

Chennai Super Kings made a steady start after being put in to bat, reaching 57/1 at the end of six overs. Ayush Mhatre provided early momentum with a brisk 29, while Ruturaj Gaikwad looked solid at the crease. Sanju Samson fell early, giving the Punjab Kings their first breakthrough through Xavier Bartlett. With a current run rate of 9.5, CSK have built a decent platform, setting up an important middle phase.

Ayush Mhatre set the stage on fire

Mhatre, the former India U-19 captain, has set the stage ablaze with his pure classical but big shots. He has hammered 23 runs in just 14 balls, in which his shot made the ball travel four times and that one six against Vijay Kumar Vyshak already shows his immense power and ability.

An eventful start for CSK

Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad came to open the innings steadily, but the partnership failed to stand more than two overs as Sanju Samson lost his wicket to Xavier Bartlett after failing to middle Bartlett's offside delivery. Samson falls short, making 7 runs. Ayush Mhatre and Ruturaj Gaikwad are running the scoreboard. CSK 39 for/1

Chennai Super Kings batting-first XI

Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmed, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel AhmedCSK bench: Jamie Overton, Rahul Chahar, Matthew Short, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Gurjapneet Singh

Punjab Kings bowling-first XI

Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (capt), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra ChahalPBKS bench: Suryansh Shedge, Priyansh Arya, Vishnu Vinod, Pravin Dubey, Hemant Brar

No Dewald Bravis in CSK, goes with two overseas players

Dewald Bravis is not ready to play a match, and he has been left out of the squad. On the other hand, Prashant Veer, the young boy from Uttar Pradesh, is set to make his debut. He has replaced Matthew Short

CSK lost the toss, PBKS opted to bowl first

Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bowl first, putting Chennai Super Kings into bat at Chepauk. With conditions expected to favour stroke play early on, PBKS will look to exploit any initial movement before the pitch settles. CSK, meanwhile, have an opportunity to set the tone with the bat and post a strong total at home, aiming to bounce back after their previous setback in the tournament.

Pitch report

The square boundaries are evenly balanced at 66m and 67m, with 78m straight down the ground. According to Michael Clarke, the surface looks like a batting paradise. Despite a light covering of grass, the pitch is firm and hard underneath. He doesn’t anticipate much assistance for spinners and expects the conditions to favour a high-scoring contest.

Match Preview

Chennai Super Kings return to Chepauk seeking a strong comeback after a heavy defeat, with their batting and execution under scrutiny. Punjab Kings, meanwhile, arrive with momentum and confidence, powered by Cooper Connolly’s early impact. CSK will rely on spin-friendly home conditions to regain control, while PBKS aim to maintain their rhythm with aggressive intent. The clash sets up a key battle between a side chasing redemption and another building consistency.