In this post, we will enjoy an exciting clash between PBKS and CSK in IPL 2024 at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala. As IPL 2024 enters the last stretch of the league stage, Punjab Kings will move to their second home ground this season at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala where they will host the Chennai Super Kings.
Punjab Kings are eighth on the points table with four wins from 10 matches, while CSK are fifth with 10 points from 10 matches. While neither team is decidedly out of the playoffs race yet, things aren’t so rosy for either franchise. Both teams will need some other results to go their way aside from winning their matches to qualify for the playoffs.
The last match that both these teams played was the reverse fixture in Chennai where PBKS hardly broke a sweat while picking up a much-needed win. Only skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad showed any batting prowess for CSK as they put up a below-par 162/7. Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar spun an excellent web around the batters and Brar even took home the Player of the Match award. Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw made very light work of the chase and PBKS experienced hardly any discomfort in winning the match.
While CSK will want revenge, this win will bolster their playoff chances heavily. CSK are currently on 10 points and will go to 12, the same amount as SRH and LSG if they win this match. CSK’s NRR is already better than those of SRH and LSG, so a win for CSK will see them climb up to third on the points table.
HPCA Stadium Pitch Report:
Dharamshala is normally known as a non-batting friendly surface, and it is highly likely that will be the case once again. The ball will see movement in the early overs, and continue that way for the rest of the innings. The IPL though, paints a more batting-friendly image of this stadium as will be seen later.
IPL Stats & Records at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala
Without any no results, five matches out of 11 have been won batting second here, and three of the targets were of 175 or more. The sample size is small, but the average first innings total is a very high 180.
Matches Won Batting First – 6
Matches Won Batting Second – 5
Matches Won Winning Toss – 6
Matches Won Losing Toss – 5
Matches With No Result – 0
Highest Team Total – 232/2
Lowest Team Total – 116
Highest Total Successfully Chased – 193
Average First Innings Score – 180
PBKS vs CSK Strategies & Match-ups:
While the statistics point towards a high-scoring stadium, the matches are sporadic to make a fully definitive pattern. A high innings total can be expected here, the powerplay phase where the ball swings will be key to the chances of both sides. The important matchups for this match are Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube vs Harpreet Brar, Shivam Dube vs Rahul Chahar, Ajinkya Rahane vs Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow vs Matheesha Patirana.
Player Battles to Watch Out For:
Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Sam Curran:
This skipper battle will be a very crucial one in the powerplay. Gaikwad has scored 29 runs in 16 balls against Curran at a strike rate of 181.25 and has not been dismissed yet.
Jonny Bairstow vs Ravindra Jadeja:
Bairstow launched rather harshly into Jadeja the last time this player met. Previously the head-to-head record was 20 runs in 22 balls with one dismissal. While the number of dismissals has not changed, Bairstow has now scored 36 runs in 31 balls against Jadeja at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 116.12.
X-Factors for PBKS vs CSK:
Punjab Kings:
Jonny Bairstow has now had two good performances in a row and will be bolstered to cash in on his form to deliver a much-needed win.
Chennai Super Kings:
Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad is holding the Orange Cap at the time of writing and is the most consistent CSK batter this season. With three recent fifties under his belt now, he will want to avenge the slight his team was dished out at the hands of Sam Curran and Co.