IPL 2025 | Match 22: PBKS vs CSK | Preview and Predictions

Match 22 of the 2025 Indian Premier League season brings us a clash between the Punjab Kings and the Chennai Super Kings at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on April 8.

For the game, here are our preview and predictions.

Indian Premier League 2025 | Match 22: Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings | 19:30 IST, April 8

The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Super Kings are struggling both home and away. After starting strong against the Mumbai Indians, they have suffered three consecutive defeats. The fact that these defeats have arrived on pitches CSK have dominated in the past makes their form all the more frustrating.

The CSK top order hasn’t been a lock-in and has failed to get going. While Rachin Ravindra and Gaikwad have got some runs, the rest have simply not turned up. MS Dhoni’s form is a particular cause for concern. The former India captain last played international cricket almost six years ago. Age seems to be catching up with him now, as Dhoni looks woefully ineffective lower down the batting order, especially since CSK have struggled to close out games.

CSK’s bowling has been nothing special either. In the spin department, Noor Ahmad has performed well, but Indian veterans Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been expensive and struggled to get wickets regularly. On the pace side of things, Khaleel Ahmed has been among the wickets at the top but has had little to no support from the others. 

The Punjab Kings, on the other hand, come into this encounter on the back of their first defeat of the season. PBKS are being led by example by their new captain, Shreyas Iyer, with Prabhsimran Singh and Nehal Wadhera also impressing with the bat. There might not be plenty of experience at the top, though Iyer has been explosive coming in at No. 3 and has the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis slotted after him in the batting order.

With the ball, Arshdeep Singh has been PBKS’ lead wicket-taker, doing what he does best—getting early breakthroughs. The Kings’ strong pace attack also includes Marco Jansen and Lockie Ferguson, with veteran Yuzvendra Chahal being the lead spinner. Maxwell and Stoinis have been rolling their arms as well, though both have been a tad expensive, something the team will look to fix.

The Mullanpur ground has demonstrated that it has plenty of runs on offer while providing some purchase to the quicks with the new ball. Given their batting firepower and pace attack, the Punjab Kings are our favourites to take the win here.

Fantasy XI: Prabhsimran Singh, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Shreyas Iyer, Vijay Shankar, Nehal Wadhera, Glenn Maxwell, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Arshdeep Singh

Venue: Mullanpur, Mohali District, Punjab
Winners Prediction: Punjab Kings