'Playing not to impress': Shreyas Iyer after CSK vs PBKS IPL match
Punjab Kings beat CSK by five wickets, chasing 210 with ease, led by Shreyas Iyer’s half-century. CSK posted 209/5, powered by Ayush Mhatre’s 73. PBKS got a flying start through Priyansh Arya and stayed composed.
Iyer said the team aims to “impress each other,” highlighting strong starts and teamwork behind their top-of-the-table run.
NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings continued their strong start in IPL 2026 with a five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings, thanks to a captain’s knock from Shreyas Iyer and a solid team effort. Chasing a big target of 210, PBKS stayed calm under pressure and got over the line with eight balls to spare, handing CSK their second straight loss. CSK had earlier posted 209/5 after being put in to bat.
Young Ayush Mhatre led the charge with an impressive 73, while Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube added quick runs towards the end to push the total past 200. A key partnership between Mhatre and Ruturaj Gaikwad helped build the innings, though PBKS pulled things back with timely wickets. In reply, Punjab got off to a flying start with Priyansh Arya smashing 39 off just 11 balls.
Prabhsimran Singh and Cooper Connolly chipped in with useful contributions, keeping the chase on track. When pressure built, skipper Shreyas Iyer stepped up, scoring a composed half-century and controlling the game with smart shot selection. Later, Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis finished the job comfortably.