KL Rahul saved his best for the last as his unbeaten 98 off 42 balls, which for a change was full on intent quotient, helping Punjab Kings crush Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in an inconsequential IPL encounter on Thursday.

Chasing 135 for victory, the Punjab team stormed to victory in 13 overs as the CSK skipper M S Dhoni could not find answers to stop Rahul's onslaught.

Skipper Rahul was on the attack from the word go, launching into the CSK bowlers. The stylish right-hander clobbered eight sixes to go with seven boundaries. He finished it in style with a big six off Shardul Thakur.

The Punjab skipper had been panned for his approach in some of the earlier matches where he dragged the game deep but Punjab Kings failed to finish on the winning side. Rahul's strike-rate had been panned often during this edition and finally the flair was back in his batting.

Alas, it came when the horse has bolted the door. Thakur picked three wickets for 28 runs in three to be CSK's best bowler on a day when the other bowlers including Deepak Chahar (1/48 from 4 overs), Josh Hazlewood (0 for 22 in 3 overs) and Dwayne Bravo (0/32 in 2 overs) looked clueless in the face of Rahul's stylish onslaught.

Rahul kept hitting boundaries and sixes at will even as the other batters didn't come up with any meaningful contribution. Anything on his legs was whipped between fine leg and mid-wicket with utter disdain.

The skipper and Mayank Agarwal (12) put on 46 in just 4.3 overs before he dominated another partnership with Shahrukh Khan (8) for the third wicket, adding 34 runs in four overs.

None of the CSK bowlers was able to stop a marauding Rahul as Punjab Kings went on the offensive in a bid to win quickly and boost their net run-rate. Despite the easy win, Punjab's NRR did not go past fourth-placed Kolkata Knight Riders with both teams on 12 with the latter set to play later in the night.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/whether-ill-be-playing-for-csk-ms-dhoni-hints-at-calling-it-quits-from-ipl-after-2021-season-418865">'Whether I'll be playing for CSK....' - MS Dhoni hints at calling it quits from IPL after 2021 season</a>

Earlier, Punjab Kings limited Chennai Super Kings to 134 for 6 despite Faf du Plessis' 76 off 55 balls.

The CSK score was largely due to the fighting half-century by veteran South African player du Plessis and the 26 runs in the last two overs. None of the other CSK players crossed 15-run mark.

For Punjab, leggie Ravi Bishnoi impressed in a spell of 4-0-25-1 which included the scalp of CSK captain M S Dhoni while Arshdeep Singh (2/35) and Chris Jordan (2/20) did a good job for Punjab.

Du Plessis waged a lone battle, ensuring that the Punjab bowlers did not run away with the game with a hard-working half-century.

The 18th over saw him hit two boundaries off Jordan's third over as CSK continued the attempt to cobble up a respectable score.

The South African hit two more sixes, one off Arshdeep and one off Mohammad Shami in the final over to give a much-needed push to the CSK innings towards the end. Ravindra Jadeja remained not out on 15 (17 balls, 1 six).

That only 30 runs came in the powerplay indicated the CSK batters' difficulty in getting Shami &amp; Co away. Coupled with the regular loss of wickets, the three-time champions crawled to 50 in the 10th over.

Shami, in particular, was hard to get away. His first spell of three was brilliant, as he conceded only six runs. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep continued to impress and got the wickets of the in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad (12, 14 balls, 1 four) and Moeen Ali (0).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-needs-to-gautam-gambhir-opines-on-ms-dhonis-struggles-has-a-word-of-advice-for-csk-skipper-418821">'He needs to...' - Gautam Gambhir opines on MS Dhoni's struggles, has a word of advice for CSK skipper</a>

Gaikwad hit one four before he top-edged an attempted pull of Arshdeep to give Shahrukh Khan on the leg-side an easy catch. Moeen, who was in good nick in the first phase in India, failed to trouble the scorers, edging one to Rahul to give Arshdeep his second scalp.

Robin Uthappa, who replaced Suresh Raina in the playing XI, failed to make an impression, falling for just 2. His attempted pull off Jordan saw Harpreet Brar take a very good catch at deep-square leg.

KL Rahul saved his best for the last as his unbeaten 98 off 42 balls, which for a change was full on intent quotient, helping Punjab Kings crush Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in an inconsequential IPL encounter on Thursday.

KL Rahul saved his best for the last as his unbeaten 98 off 42 balls, which for a change was full on intent quotient, helping Punjab Kings crush Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in an inconsequential IPL encounter on Thursday. Chasing 135 for victory, the Punjab team stormed to victory in 13 overs as the CSK skipper M S Dhoni could not find answers to stop Rahul's onslaught. Skipper Rahul was on the attack from the word go, launching into the CSK bowlers. The stylish right-hander clobbered eight sixes to go with seven boundaries. He finished it in style with a big six off Shardul Thakur. The Punjab skipper had been panned for his approach in some of the earlier matches where he dragged the game deep but Punjab Kings failed to finish on the winning side. Rahul's strike-rate had been panned often during this edition and finally the flair was back in his batting. Alas, it came when the horse has bolted the door. Thakur picked three wickets for 28 runs in three to be CSK's best bowler on a day when the other bowlers including Deepak Chahar (1/48 from 4 overs), Josh Hazlewood (0 for 22 in 3 overs) and Dwayne Bravo (0/32 in 2 overs) looked clueless in the face of Rahul's stylish onslaught. Rahul kept hitting boundaries and sixes at will even as the other batters didn't come up with any meaningful contribution. Anything on his legs was whipped between fine leg and mid-wicket with utter disdain. The skipper and Mayank Agarwal (12) put on 46 in just 4.3 overs before he dominated another partnership with Shahrukh Khan (8) for the third wicket, adding 34 runs in four overs. None of the CSK bowlers was able to stop a marauding Rahul as Punjab Kings went on the offensive in a bid to win quickly and boost their net run-rate. Despite the easy win, Punjab's NRR did not go past fourth-placed Kolkata Knight Riders with both teams on 12 with the latter set to play later in the night. ALSO READ | 'Whether I'll be playing for CSK....' - MS Dhoni hints at calling it quits from IPL after 2021 season Earlier, Punjab Kings limited Chennai Super Kings to 134 for 6 despite Faf du Plessis' 76 off 55 balls. The CSK score was largely due to the fighting half-century by veteran South African player du Plessis and the 26 runs in the last two overs. None of the other CSK players crossed 15-run mark. For Punjab, leggie Ravi Bishnoi impressed in a spell of 4-0-25-1 which included the scalp of CSK captain M S Dhoni while Arshdeep Singh (2/35) and Chris Jordan (2/20) did a good job for Punjab. Du Plessis waged a lone battle, ensuring that the Punjab bowlers did not run away with the game with a hard-working half-century. The 18th over saw him hit two boundaries off Jordan's third over as CSK continued the attempt to cobble up a respectable score. The South African hit two more sixes, one off Arshdeep and one off Mohammad Shami in the final over to give a much-needed push to the CSK innings towards the end. Ravindra Jadeja remained not out on 15 (17 balls, 1 six). That only 30 runs came in the powerplay indicated the CSK batters' difficulty in getting Shami & Co away. Coupled with the regular loss of wickets, the three-time champions crawled to 50 in the 10th over. Shami, in particular, was hard to get away. His first spell of three was brilliant, as he conceded only six runs. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep continued to impress and got the wickets of the in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad (12, 14 balls, 1 four) and Moeen Ali (0). ALSO READ | 'He needs to...' - Gautam Gambhir opines on MS Dhoni's struggles, has a word of advice for CSK skipper Gaikwad hit one four before he top-edged an attempted pull of Arshdeep to give Shahrukh Khan on the leg-side an easy catch. Moeen, who was in good nick in the first phase in India, failed to trouble the scorers, edging one to Rahul to give Arshdeep his second scalp. Robin Uthappa, who replaced Suresh Raina in the playing XI, failed to make an impression, falling for just 2. His attempted pull off Jordan saw Harpreet Brar take a very good catch at deep-square leg.

IPL 2021: KL Rahul's blistering 98* takes PBKS to big win vs CSK, remain alive in playoffs race

Punjab Kings have signed Australian pacer Nathan Ellis after two of their star Aussie pacers Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith were ruled out of the UAE leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ms-dhoni-announces-return-of-ipl-2021-in-a-never-before-seen-avatar-407355" hreflang="en">Watch: MS Dhoni announces return of IPL 2021 in a never-before-seen avatar</a>

Ellis attracted a lot of IPL franchises after he became the first male player to secure a T20 hat-trick on his debut against Bangladesh this month.&nbsp;

Punjab Kings took to Twitter to confirm the signing on Friday. “We were not aware of the fitness status of Jhye and Riley until yesterday,” the PBKS team’s CEO Satish Menon was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz.

“We have signed Ellis as a replacement player. We will announce the second replacement in a day or two,” the franchise CEO added.

“We are in talks with a few players. Anil (Kumble, the head coach) will finalise one soon.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that IPL 2021 will resume on September 19.&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians will resume the season that will be played in the United Arab Emirates, with the first match being played in Dubai.&nbsp;

Dubai will host the first qualifier on October 10, whereas, the eliminator and second qualifier will be played in Sharjah on October 11 and 13 respectively.

Dubai will host 13 IPL matches, while Sharjah and Abu Dhabi will host 10 and 8 matches respectively.&nbsp;

Punjab Kings have signed Australian pacer Nathan Ellis after two of their star Aussie pacers Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith were ruled out of the UAE leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.

Punjab Kings have signed Australian pacer Nathan Ellis after two of their star Aussie pacers Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith were ruled out of the UAE leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. ALSO READ: Watch: MS Dhoni announces return of IPL 2021 in a never-before-seen avatar Ellis attracted a lot of IPL franchises after he became the first male player to secure a T20 hat-trick on his debut against Bangladesh this month. Punjab Kings took to Twitter to confirm the signing on Friday. “We were not aware of the fitness status of Jhye and Riley until yesterday,” the PBKS team’s CEO Satish Menon was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz. “We have signed Ellis as a replacement player. We will announce the second replacement in a day or two,” the franchise CEO added. “We are in talks with a few players. Anil (Kumble, the head coach) will finalise one soon.” The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that IPL 2021 will resume on September 19. Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians will resume the season that will be played in the United Arab Emirates, with the first match being played in Dubai. Dubai will host the first qualifier on October 10, whereas, the eliminator and second qualifier will be played in Sharjah on October 11 and 13 respectively. Dubai will host 13 IPL matches, while Sharjah and Abu Dhabi will host 10 and 8 matches respectively.

IPL 2021: Punjab Kings sign Nathan Ellis, as Richardson and Meredith ruled out of UAE leg

All the members of the Punjab Kings franchise have reached home safely following the postponement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. <o:p></o:p>

While the Indian domestic players from the Punjab Kings squad have reached their respective homes, a few overseas players are quarantining outside India before they head back to their respective countries.<o:p></o:p>

“Following the suspension of the IPL 2021, all PBKS team members have reached home safely while a few are quarantining outside India before they head back to their respective countries,” the club said in a statement on Twitter.<o:p></o:p>

“We would like to thank BCCI, other IPL franchises and our airline partner GoAir for their cooperation,” it added.<o:p></o:p>

PBKS further urged its fans to “wear masks, follow social distancing norms and hygiene protocols” in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.<o:p></o:p>

“We are in it together. Stay safe!”

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rajasthan-royals-pacer-chetan-sakariyas-father-passes-away-after-contracting-covid-19-383857" hreflang="en">Rajasthan Royals pacer Chetan Sakariya's father passes away after contracting COVID-19</a>

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Update ➡️ Sadda Squad’s back 🏠 safely!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayHomeStaySafe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayHomeStaySafe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaddaPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaddaPunjab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabKings</a> <a href="https://t.co/w1DmHWaLK9">pic.twitter.com/w1DmHWaLK9</a>
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/PunjabKingsIPL/status/1391071330410323968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The IPL 2021 was postponed indefinitely on May 4 following multiple COVID-19 cases across teams in the bio-secure bubble. While logistics could have been a major issue given that many countries have banned incoming flights from India due to the second wave of coronavirus. However, the franchises and the logistical team have done flawlessly sent their players back to their bases.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/360-degree-is-the-perfect-name-virender-sehwag-lauds-ab-de-villiers-383852" hreflang="en">'360 degree is the perfect name': Virender Sehwag lauds AB de Villiers</a>

<o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, India is witnessing a devastating second wave of COVID-19 and the country is reporting more than 400,000 new cases with 4000-plus deaths. <o:p></o:p>

Many from the cricket fraternity have come forward to do their bit in the fight against the dreaded virus. From Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant to Pat Cummins among many others, players didn’t shy away from donating at a time when India is fighting its worst battle against coronavirus. <o:p></o:p>

All the members of the Punjab Kings franchise have reached home safely following the postponement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. While the Indian domestic players from the Punjab Kings squad have reached their respective homes, a few overseas players are quarantining outside India before they head back to their respective countries.

All the members of the Punjab Kings franchise have reached home safely following the postponement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. While the Indian domestic players from the Punjab Kings squad have reached their respective homes, a few overseas players are quarantining outside India before they head back to their respective countries. “Following the suspension of the IPL 2021, all PBKS team members have reached home safely while a few are quarantining outside India before they head back to their respective countries,” the club said in a statement on Twitter. “We would like to thank BCCI, other IPL franchises and our airline partner GoAir for their cooperation,” it added. PBKS further urged its fans to “wear masks, follow social distancing norms and hygiene protocols” in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are in it together. Stay safe!” ALSO READ: Rajasthan Royals pacer Chetan Sakariya's father passes away after contracting COVID-19 Update ➡️ Sadda Squad’s back 🏠 safely!#StayHomeStaySafe #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/w1DmHWaLK9 — Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 8, 2021 × The IPL 2021 was postponed indefinitely on May 4 following multiple COVID-19 cases across teams in the bio-secure bubble. While logistics could have been a major issue given that many countries have banned incoming flights from India due to the second wave of coronavirus. However, the franchises and the logistical team have done flawlessly sent their players back to their bases. ALSO READ: '360 degree is the perfect name': Virender Sehwag lauds AB de Villiers Meanwhile, India is witnessing a devastating second wave of COVID-19 and the country is reporting more than 400,000 new cases with 4000-plus deaths. Many from the cricket fraternity have come forward to do their bit in the fight against the dreaded virus. From Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant to Pat Cummins among many others, players didn’t shy away from donating at a time when India is fighting its worst battle against coronavirus.

Punjab Kings team members reach home safely after IPL 2021 postponement: Franchise

KL Rahul's struggling Punjab Kings will be taking on Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore in match 26 of the Indian Premier League on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Virat and Co. are having a splendid IPL season after winning five of their last six matches.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2021-punjab-kings-to-cross-swords-with-the-royal-challengers-bangalore-381561" hreflang="en">IPL 2021: Punjab Kings to cross swords with the Royal Challengers Bangalore</a>

However, Punjab Kings are&nbsp;struggling this season. Despite starting their campaign, they faced three consecutive losses that brought back their memories of last season. With a win against Mumbai Indians, they were back in the tournament but a loss against KKR demoted them to the sixth position in the points table with just two wins in six matches.

<h2>STATS</h2>

The Punjab Kings lead the head-to-head record against the Royal Challengers Bangalore by 14-12. The two teams ran into each other twice in the United Arab Emirates a year ago, with Punjab Kings arising victorious on both occasions.

<h2>PITCH&nbsp;REPORT:</h2>

While bowlers are likely to get assistance from the surface, there are chances that batsmen might read the conditions better and post more runs on the board. A total close to 160 could be challenging for the chasing team.

<h2>WEATHER PREDICTION:</h2>

The weather in Ahmedabad is expected to be extremely hot with temperatures hovering around 42 degrees Celsius. While there are no chances of rain interruptions in the match, heavy dew could play a major role in determining the winner of the match.&nbsp;

KL Rahul's struggling Punjab Kings will be taking on Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore in match 26 of the Indian Premier League on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

KL Rahul's struggling Punjab Kings will be taking on Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore in match 26 of the Indian Premier League on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Virat and Co. are having a splendid IPL season after winning five of their last six matches. ALSO READ: IPL 2021: Punjab Kings to cross swords with the Royal Challengers Bangalore However, Punjab Kings are struggling this season. Despite starting their campaign, they faced three consecutive losses that brought back their memories of last season. With a win against Mumbai Indians, they were back in the tournament but a loss against KKR demoted them to the sixth position in the points table with just two wins in six matches. STATS The Punjab Kings lead the head-to-head record against the Royal Challengers Bangalore by 14-12. The two teams ran into each other twice in the United Arab Emirates a year ago, with Punjab Kings arising victorious on both occasions. PITCH REPORT: While bowlers are likely to get assistance from the surface, there are chances that batsmen might read the conditions better and post more runs on the board. A total close to 160 could be challenging for the chasing team. WEATHER PREDICTION: The weather in Ahmedabad is expected to be extremely hot with temperatures hovering around 42 degrees Celsius. While there are no chances of rain interruptions in the match, heavy dew could play a major role in determining the winner of the match.

PBKS vs RCB, IPL 2021: Narendra Modi Stadium pitch report, stats, weather forecast - All you need to know

An incident took place during Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians match on Friday that sparked a massive debate regarding mankading. Mumbai Indians batsman Kieron Pollard was spotted leaving the crease while Mohammed Shami still had the ball in his hand.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2021-there-were-few-things-kl-rahul-reveals-why-ravi-bishnoi-did-not-feature-before-379792" hreflang="en">IPL 2021- 'There were few things': KL Rahul reveals why Ravi Bishnoi did not feature before</a>

Pollard already had a yard's advantage before even the ball was bowled. The incident irked several netizens and cricketing experts. Former Indian cricketer-turned commentator Murali Karthik was upset and said that it called for a stricter rule to be brought in to handle and penalise such cases.

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Kieron Pollard started running even before the ball was released from Mohammad Shami's hand. <a href="https://t.co/dfzUXzN9x6">pic.twitter.com/dfzUXzN9x6</a>
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) <a href="https://twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra/status/1385619601862496256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
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April 20, 2021 - Pollard gives Shikhar Dhawan a warning for backing up 
April 23, 2021 - Pollard backs up against Punjab 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2021?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2021</a> <a href="https://t.co/DqZt42duS4">pic.twitter.com/DqZt42duS4</a>
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A similar incident took a few days ago during CSK vs RR clash when Dwayne Bravo was seen leaving the crease during Mustafizur's over. The pacer was penalised with a no-ball after stepping a few inches ahead of the crease.&nbsp;

Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad took to Twitter and said: The bowler overstepping by a few inches is penalised, but a batsman backing up a few yards isn’t. The bowler has every right to run out a batsman backing up so far. PERIOD. Calling it against the spirit of the game is a joke @ICC."

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The bowler overstepping by a few inches is penalised, but a batsman backing up a few yards isn’t. 
The bowler has every right to run out a batsman backing up so far. PERIOD. 
 
Calling it against the spirit of the game is a joke <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICC</a> .<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvRR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvRR</a> <a href="https://t.co/vIHqbe6fWU">pic.twitter.com/vIHqbe6fWU</a>
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) <a href="https://twitter.com/venkateshprasad/status/1384338760968531977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Mumbai Indians, however, did not win the match as Punjab Kings restricted them to 131 runs within 20 overs. KL Rahul and Chris Gayle took PBKS over the line with a 79-run stand.&nbsp;

An incident took place during Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians match on Friday that sparked a massive debate regarding mankading. Mumbai Indians batsman Kieron Pollard was spotted leaving the crease while Mohammed Shami still had the ball in his hand.

An incident took place during Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians match on Friday that sparked a massive debate regarding mankading. Mumbai Indians batsman Kieron Pollard was spotted leaving the crease while Mohammed Shami still had the ball in his hand. ALSO READ: IPL 2021- 'There were few things': KL Rahul reveals why Ravi Bishnoi did not feature before Pollard already had a yard's advantage before even the ball was bowled. The incident irked several netizens and cricketing experts. Former Indian cricketer-turned commentator Murali Karthik was upset and said that it called for a stricter rule to be brought in to handle and penalise such cases. Kieron Pollard started running even before the ball was released from Mohammad Shami's hand. pic.twitter.com/dfzUXzN9x6 — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 23, 2021 × April 20, 2021 - Pollard gives Shikhar Dhawan a warning for backing up April 23, 2021 - Pollard backs up against Punjab 👀#IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/DqZt42duS4 — Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) April 23, 2021 × A similar incident took a few days ago during CSK vs RR clash when Dwayne Bravo was seen leaving the crease during Mustafizur's over. The pacer was penalised with a no-ball after stepping a few inches ahead of the crease. Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad took to Twitter and said: The bowler overstepping by a few inches is penalised, but a batsman backing up a few yards isn’t. The bowler has every right to run out a batsman backing up so far. PERIOD. Calling it against the spirit of the game is a joke @ICC." The bowler overstepping by a few inches is penalised, but a batsman backing up a few yards isn’t. The bowler has every right to run out a batsman backing up so far. PERIOD. Calling it against the spirit of the game is a joke @ICC .#CSKvRR pic.twitter.com/vIHqbe6fWU — Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) April 20, 2021 × Mumbai Indians, however, did not win the match as Punjab Kings restricted them to 131 runs within 20 overs. KL Rahul and Chris Gayle took PBKS over the line with a 79-run stand.

IPL 2021: Kieron Pollard leaves crease before ball being bowled; sparks debate

Punjab Kings ended their losing streak after a thumping win over Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. PBKS spinner Ravi Bishnoi in his first IPL match this season and played a crucial role against Rohit and Co.&nbsp;

IN PICS:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2021-punjab-kings-ease-past-mumbai-indians-to-end-losing-streak-379592" hreflang="en">IPL 2021- Punjab Kings ease past Mumbai Indians to end losing streak</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bishnoi scalped two wickets and conceded just 21 runs A clinical bowling performance by Punjab Kings restricted Mumbai to 131 runs at the innings. During the post-match presentation, skipper KL Rahul revealed the reason behind why the spinner was not played until now.&nbsp;

Rahul said: "He (Ravi Bishnoi) unfortunately missed the first few games. He has been working really hard with Anil bhai and there were a few things that he needed to correct. He's been somebody who is brave, that's very good to see for a spinner."

IN PICS:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-maxwell-to-dhawan-five-players-who-have-rocked-ipl-2021-so-far-379570" hreflang="en">From Maxwell to Dhawan: Five players who have rocked IPL 2021 so far</a>

KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal gave a good start to Punjab Kings. The duo set up a 53-run opening stand for Punjab Kings.&nbsp;

Despite Mayank Agarwal's wicket, Punjab Kings continued on their path to victory after a 79-run stand between Gayle and KL landed the fatal blow to Mumbai Indians as Punjab Kings beat them by 9 wickets.&nbsp;

With this win the Punjab Kings jump to the fifth spot, Mumbai Indians remain on the fourth spot despite the second consecutive loss.

Rahul was adjudged the man of the match for his gritty knock.

Punjab Kings ended their losing streak after a thumping win over Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. PBKS spinner Ravi Bishnoi in his first IPL match this season and played a crucial role against Rohit and Co.

Punjab Kings ended their losing streak after a thumping win over Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. PBKS spinner Ravi Bishnoi in his first IPL match this season and played a crucial role against Rohit and Co. IN PICS: IPL 2021- Punjab Kings ease past Mumbai Indians to end losing streak Bishnoi scalped two wickets and conceded just 21 runs A clinical bowling performance by Punjab Kings restricted Mumbai to 131 runs at the innings. During the post-match presentation, skipper KL Rahul revealed the reason behind why the spinner was not played until now. Rahul said: "He (Ravi Bishnoi) unfortunately missed the first few games. He has been working really hard with Anil bhai and there were a few things that he needed to correct. He's been somebody who is brave, that's very good to see for a spinner." IN PICS: From Maxwell to Dhawan: Five players who have rocked IPL 2021 so far KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal gave a good start to Punjab Kings. The duo set up a 53-run opening stand for Punjab Kings. Despite Mayank Agarwal's wicket, Punjab Kings continued on their path to victory after a 79-run stand between Gayle and KL landed the fatal blow to Mumbai Indians as Punjab Kings beat them by 9 wickets. With this win the Punjab Kings jump to the fifth spot, Mumbai Indians remain on the fourth spot despite the second consecutive loss. Rahul was adjudged the man of the match for his gritty knock.

IPL 2021- 'There were few things': KL Rahul reveals why Ravi Bishnoi did not feature before

Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul on Wednesday shattered Virat Kohli's record during the Indian Premier League match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Chepauk on Wednesday.&nbsp;

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-harbhajan-sreesanth-slap-gate-to-ms-dhonis-anger-top-ipl-controversies-through-the-years-378405" hreflang="en">From Harbhajan-Sreesanth slap gate to MS Dhoni's anger: Top IPL controversies through the years</a>

The wicketkeeper-batsman became the fastest Indian to breach the 5000-run mark in T20 cricket. The Punjab Kings captain took 143 innings to cross the 5000-mark, whereas, Kolhi, who held the record previously, took 167 innings.&nbsp;

The overall list, KL Rahul stand second behind his PBKS teammate Chris Gayle, who took 132 innings to go past the 5,000 mark.&nbsp;

Despite this achievement, KL's Punjab Kings suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Punjab Kings were bundled out on 120 runs by the SRH bowlers. Warner and Co. chased the low score with nine wickets in hand.&nbsp;

With this win, the Orange Army ended their three-match losing streak and opened their account in IPL 2021, whereas, Punjab Kings have gone to the bottom of the table after suffering their third consecutive loss.&nbsp;

Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul on Wednesday shattered Virat Kohli's record during the Indian Premier League match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Chepauk on Wednesday.

Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul on Wednesday shattered Virat Kohli's record during the Indian Premier League match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Chepauk on Wednesday. IN PICS| From Harbhajan-Sreesanth slap gate to MS Dhoni's anger: Top IPL controversies through the years The wicketkeeper-batsman became the fastest Indian to breach the 5000-run mark in T20 cricket. The Punjab Kings captain took 143 innings to cross the 5000-mark, whereas, Kolhi, who held the record previously, took 167 innings. The overall list, KL Rahul stand second behind his PBKS teammate Chris Gayle, who took 132 innings to go past the 5,000 mark. Despite this achievement, KL's Punjab Kings suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Punjab Kings were bundled out on 120 runs by the SRH bowlers. Warner and Co. chased the low score with nine wickets in hand. With this win, the Orange Army ended their three-match losing streak and opened their account in IPL 2021, whereas, Punjab Kings have gone to the bottom of the table after suffering their third consecutive loss.

IPL 2021- PBKS skipper KL Rahul shatters Virat Kohli's massive record

Chennai Super Kings pacer Deepak Chahar dismantled Punjab Kings last night to seal the first win for Dhoni and Co. in IPL 2021. The bowler dedicated his performance to a social media critic who asked him not to play against Punjab Kings after a poor show in the first match.&nbsp;

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-dhoni-to-kohli-highest-paid-players-with-mind-boggling-salaries-in-ipl-2021-377532" hreflang="en">From Dhoni to Kohli: Highest-paid players with mind-boggling salaries in IPL 2021</a>

“I was watching social media after reaching my room. A boy had texted me saying, ‘Bhai aap bohot acche bowler ho but ek request hai — agla match mat khelna’ (You are a good bowler but I request you to not play the next match),” Chahar said after the match in a video posted by IPL.

“Expectations are very high and performing in every match is important. So, this is for that guy who messaged me. This performance would not have come if I was not playing. Don’t declare a player bad on the basis his one performance. Please support them," he added.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🔝 bowling performance 
1⃣st win of the season 
Interesting social media message 😉 
 
Wrecker-in-chief <a href="https://twitter.com/deepak_chahar9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@deepak_chahar9</a> chats with <a href="https://twitter.com/imShard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imShard</a> after <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a>'s win at Wankhede. 👌👌 - By <a href="https://twitter.com/NishadPaiVaidya?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NishadPaiVaidya</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VIVOIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VIVOIPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PBKSvCSK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PBKSvCSK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Vivo_India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Vivo_India</a> 
 
Full interview 🎥👇 <a href="https://t.co/y51FcTVFNS">https://t.co/y51FcTVFNS</a> <a href="https://t.co/tjk6x2FObh">pic.twitter.com/tjk6x2FObh</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1383269109752762371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Deepak Chahar went on to talk about the wicket at Wankhede and said that it is his favourite ground.&nbsp;

"Looking at today's wicket and today's performance, I must say that Wankhede is my favourite ground because you get help in the starting (from the pitch)," Chahar told IPL's official website.

"It was a good feeling. It (the spell) came at an important time as we needed to win this game. "It was thus necessary to provide a good start and this was an important match for us and I am very happy that I could contribute to the team's win," Chahar said.

"After the first few matches were high-scoring, there were a lot of meetings about what I needed to do in this particular over and set the field accordingly. "But in the last game, I got a bit of support. But today (on Friday night) plan B, C wasn't needed and plan A worked. So the meetings that we had might help us in the upcoming matches," he said.

Deepak Chahar conceded just 14 runs while scalping four big wickets in four overs including a wicket maiden.&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings pacer Deepak Chahar dismantled Punjab Kings last night to seal the first win for Dhoni and Co. in IPL 2021. The bowler dedicated his performance to a social media critic who asked him not to play against Punjab Kings after a poor show in the first match.

Chennai Super Kings pacer Deepak Chahar dismantled Punjab Kings last night to seal the first win for Dhoni and Co. in IPL 2021. The bowler dedicated his performance to a social media critic who asked him not to play against Punjab Kings after a poor show in the first match. IN PICS| From Dhoni to Kohli: Highest-paid players with mind-boggling salaries in IPL 2021 “I was watching social media after reaching my room. A boy had texted me saying, ‘Bhai aap bohot acche bowler ho but ek request hai — agla match mat khelna’ (You are a good bowler but I request you to not play the next match),” Chahar said after the match in a video posted by IPL. “Expectations are very high and performing in every match is important. So, this is for that guy who messaged me. This performance would not have come if I was not playing. Don’t declare a player bad on the basis his one performance. Please support them," he added. 🔝 bowling performance 1⃣st win of the season Interesting social media message 😉 Wrecker-in-chief @deepak_chahar9 chats with @imShard after @ChennaiIPL's win at Wankhede. 👌👌 - By @NishadPaiVaidya #VIVOIPL #PBKSvCSK @Vivo_India Full interview 🎥👇 https://t.co/y51FcTVFNS pic.twitter.com/tjk6x2FObh — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 17, 2021 × Deepak Chahar went on to talk about the wicket at Wankhede and said that it is his favourite ground. "Looking at today's wicket and today's performance, I must say that Wankhede is my favourite ground because you get help in the starting (from the pitch)," Chahar told IPL's official website. "It was a good feeling. It (the spell) came at an important time as we needed to win this game. "It was thus necessary to provide a good start and this was an important match for us and I am very happy that I could contribute to the team's win," Chahar said. "After the first few matches were high-scoring, there were a lot of meetings about what I needed to do in this particular over and set the field accordingly. "But in the last game, I got a bit of support. But today (on Friday night) plan B, C wasn't needed and plan A worked. So the meetings that we had might help us in the upcoming matches," he said. Deepak Chahar conceded just 14 runs while scalping four big wickets in four overs including a wicket maiden.

IPL 2021: Deepak Chahar dedicates his fiery spell to a social media critic

KL Rahul's Punjab Kings will take on MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings in match 8 of the Indian Premier League 2021 at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2021-you-are-not-going-to-get-the-orange-cap-riyan-parag-reveals-skipper-virat-kohlis-advice-377768" hreflang="en">IPL 2021- 'You are not going to get the Orange Cap': Riyan Parag reveals skipper Virat Kohli's advice</a>

Punjab Kings had a good start to the tournament as they defeated Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai on Monday. Skipper KL Rahul continued his form from the previous season and is expected to play a vital role for his team. Punjab Kings bowler, however, were smashed all around the park and they will be looking to redeem themselves against Chennai, who dominated the Punjab bowlers last year.&nbsp;

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2021-rajasthan-royals-win-a-thriller-against-delhi-capitals-377832" hreflang="en">IPL 2021- Rajasthan Royals win a thriller against Delhi Capitals</a>

Chennai Super Kings, on the other hand, did not have a dream start under MS Dhoni this year. They suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Delhi Capitals and sit at the bottom of the table. Chennai bowlers too were smashed all around the park in their previous fixture and they will be looking to bowl the right length this time around.&nbsp;

<h2>PITCH REPORT:</h2>

Wankhede is a batter's paradise so it is expected to be a high-run scoring match. The pitch overs seam and swing to the pacers but not much luck for spinners here. Last night, (DC vs RR) the slower delivery fetched plenty of wickets. Toss will be crucial because of dew.&nbsp;

<h2>WEATHER FORECAST:&nbsp;</h2>

Today's temperature in Mumbai is 32°c. Day's maximum temperature would hover at 34°c, while the minimum temperature is predicted to be 27°c. The skies will be partly cloudy but there are no chances of rain.&nbsp;

<h2>STATS:&nbsp;</h2>

Chennai Super Kings dominate the head-to-head stats against Punjab Kings (14-9).&nbsp;

KL Rahul's Punjab Kings will take on MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings in match 8 of the Indian Premier League 2021 at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday. ALSO READ: IPL 2021- 'You are not going to get the Orange Cap': Riyan Parag reveals skipper Virat Kohli's advice Punjab Kings had a good start to the tournament as they defeated Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai on Monday.

KL Rahul's Punjab Kings will take on MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings in match 8 of the Indian Premier League 2021 at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday. ALSO READ: IPL 2021- 'You are not going to get the Orange Cap': Riyan Parag reveals skipper Virat Kohli's advice Punjab Kings had a good start to the tournament as they defeated Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai on Monday. Skipper KL Rahul continued his form from the previous season and is expected to play a vital role for his team. Punjab Kings bowler, however, were smashed all around the park and they will be looking to redeem themselves against Chennai, who dominated the Punjab bowlers last year. IN PICS| IPL 2021- Rajasthan Royals win a thriller against Delhi Capitals Chennai Super Kings, on the other hand, did not have a dream start under MS Dhoni this year. They suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Delhi Capitals and sit at the bottom of the table. Chennai bowlers too were smashed all around the park in their previous fixture and they will be looking to bowl the right length this time around. PITCH REPORT: Wankhede is a batter's paradise so it is expected to be a high-run scoring match. The pitch overs seam and swing to the pacers but not much luck for spinners here. Last night, (DC vs RR) the slower delivery fetched plenty of wickets. Toss will be crucial because of dew. WEATHER FORECAST: Today's temperature in Mumbai is 32°c. Day's maximum temperature would hover at 34°c, while the minimum temperature is predicted to be 27°c. The skies will be partly cloudy but there are no chances of rain. STATS: Chennai Super Kings dominate the head-to-head stats against Punjab Kings (14-9).

PBKS vs CSK, IPL 2021 - Wankhede Stadium pitch report, Mumbai weather forecast, stats - All you need to know

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