Chennai Super Kings v Punjab Kings IPL Tips: Back real deal Punjab to dominate

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Friday 3 April,15:00
TV: Sky Sports

Chennai Super Kings v Punjab Kings IPL team news

Chennai Super Kings suffered a horrible defeat by Rajasthan in their opening match. They were rolled for just 127 and were beaten inside 13 overs. There were mitigating circumstances, however.

There had been rain and the pitch had sweated under the covers, providing ideal bowling conditions. Had Chennai bowled first, the result, or at least manner of performance, could well have been different.

Khaleel Ahmed wasn't involved versus Royals but a bat-first Chennai team will almost sub him in for the chase. 

Possible XI: Samson, Gaikwad, Mhatre (sub Khaleel), Short, kartik Sharma, Dube, J Overton, Noor, Henry, Kamboj

Punjab Capitals topped the ladder last season and made it all the way to the final before losing to RCB. They looked every inch a top team when beating a strong Gujarat Titans by three wickets in their first outing.

After restricting GT to 162, confidence was high that they had finally solved bowling issues to be more of an all-round performer. But a tricky pitch in the chase suggests we await confirmation on flatter wickets.

Despite the relatively small chase they showed no hint of reducing aggression with the bat, smashing 14 sixes. The length of their batting is ridiculous with Xavier Bartlett at No 9. Yuz Chahal subs in with the ball. 

Possible XI: Arya (sub Chahal), Prab Singh, Connolly, Shreyas, Wadhera, Shahshank, Stoinis, Jansen, Bartlett, Vyshak, Arshdeep

Chennai Super Kings v Punjab Kings IPL pitch report

We're not entirely sure what to expect of the Chennai wicket. Historically it has been one for the slow bowlers with spin and bite. Chennai built a legacy in this tournament by honing squads to the surface. But recently it has looked flatter, which may have something to do with new drainage systems. In the T20 World Cup it looked like a belter.

In early IPL skimishes in a season it has held up well before wear and tear makes it much trickier later on. It is not unreasonable, then, to reckon batting could still be easy. Punjab are the more reliable batting unit, though and if they bat first playing big totals on the Betfair Exchange 20 over line is a bet. Look to get bets matched around the early 180s.

Chennai Super Kings v Punjab Kings match prediction

Punjab are the correct favourites at 1.845/6 even if we suspect CSK are not quite as bad as Royals made out. The hosts are no better than 2.1411/10.

The visitors should get the win and it could transpire that this year they are the real deal. The best way to bet them is to go all-in on their strengths, which is hitting.

Sportsbook offer 3/14.00 that they win the game with most fours and sixes. In terms of individual batter metrics, they comfortably outhit Chennai. Only Sanju Samson may worry them.

Chennai Super Kings v Punjab Kings IPL player bets

The three players to follow on win rates are Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prab Singh and Arshdeep Singh. Gaikwad is 12/53.40 for top CSK bat with Prab 10/34.33 for Punjab. Arshdeep is 11/43.75. those are short odds so the window to bet him before he slips out of the win zone is not huge.

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