IPL 2026
The order has changed as PBKS leave CSK behind
One poor mega auction can mess up an entire cycle. PBKS have been there before and now it's CSK's turn
For many years, history determined the distance between the Chennai Super Kings and the Punjab Kings. CSK had a system that survived people, an identity, and clarity. Conversely, PBKS frequently seemed like a team that was never settled and was always rebuilding. In 2026, it seems that the two teams have switched identities. How many times have PBKS faced the formidable CSK as favorites? While one side has won the championship five times, the other has only reached the final twice in eighteen years.
However, the outcome on Friday, April 3, should not be all that shocking. In addition to coming into this match fresh off three straight victories over the host team in their own stadium, a quick glance at both teams revealed a lot. It is a common belief that teams that perform well in the mega auction typically have successful outcomes throughout the cycle. Teams that make mistakes at the table, however, are forced to play catch-up for the entirety of the cycle. And Punjab Kings are the best people to understand that. For many years, PBKS has entered large auctions with optimism and left with doubts. Big names, mismatched roles, and squads that never quite aligned.
That eventually altered in 2025. The correct players with well-defined roles were paid the right amount of money. This team is capable of adjusting its combinations to suit various surfaces and conditions. It appears like the batting lineup is established. More importantly, if there are injuries, this team is unlikely to falter. They seem even more formidable now than when they made it to the final in 2025. For example, Cooper Connolly, who has already shown promise, has taken Josh Inglis' place at No. 3. Three of their five seam-bowling overseas all-rounders regularly play in the playing XII. Any of them can easily join the playing group if needed because of their adaptability.
This time, they made a 210-run chase against CSK seem ridiculous. Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh were batting in the middle when the fifth wicket fell, so even though they lost a few wickets at the end, they managed to avoid panic. It is hard to predict how CSK would have reacted in that situation. Recall that this is not the previous CSK. CSK's middle order appears vulnerable without a South African dasher half his age and a 44-year-old MS Dhoni. Despite his success at the top of the order, Matthew Short was selected to bat at No. 4 after Dewald Brevis was unable to play in the first game. Even though Sarfaraz Khan's recent T20 triumphs have come while batting at No. 3, he did bring some much-needed brightness for CSK on a dismal evening.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, and Ayush Mhatre are already in the top three for CSK. And Mhatre just demonstrated why the five-time champs should keep having him bat there. They recently signed Kartik Sharma for more than INR 14 crore, and he is ideally suited to bat at number four. Prashant Veer, the other INR 14 crore recruit, was not even included in CSK's XII for the first game, and when he did make his debut, he did not bowl a single over and did not light the stage on fire with the bat. It makes sense that his captain said the young player is still a work in progress in this style during the pre-match press conference.
Shivam Dube's greatest season for CSK was once again when he came out to bat at the fall of the second wicket, despite his most recent experience batting down the order for India. Who can CSK trust to complete the task at hand in such a situation? Because the Impact Player rule forces the pace throughout an innings, head coach Stephen Fleming feels there is no such thing as a finisher in the modern IPL. In actuality, though, effective teams use players who are accustomed to that position lower in the order to deliver under duress. In actuality, CSK made mistakes in both the micro and mega auctions.
For example, one wonders what could have happened if Donovan Ferreira had replaced Short in that CSK team. Ferreira was previously traded to the Rajasthan Royals for just INR 1 crore. CSK's shortfall was INR 1.50 crore. Strangely, being one of JSK's finishers in the SA20, that player is also acquainted with the Super Kings lineup. The two 14 crore assets have not yet proven their worth, even though the sample size is now too tiny. At this point, one of them might not even be prepared. We have not even discussed the bowling group, which has appeared vulnerable since Nathan Ellis' exclusion. In recent times, all of these draw attention to the auction table.
Gaikwad was direct before this PBKS confrontation. "We did not have the best of squads last year," he said. "I do not mean to offend any players, but I believe the combination did not work out the way we had hoped. Naturally, you have fewer alternatives and a smaller pool of players in the second year of the cycle, and you attempt to fill those gaps with whatever players are available. You sort of hope that everything will work itself out. Therefore, it is possible that we lost out on several excellent players in the huge auction. However, it is a learning process, and occasionally poor auctions or unforeseen circumstances might alter the cycle's overall perspective."
Naturally, several CSK supporters criticized him on social media for seeming to have given up already. Excuses are not well received by this team's followers. When it comes to success, this franchise was the best. However, the real world is not like that. Ironically, PBKS now seems to be setting the benchmark in terms of squad formation and performances, indicating that the tide has really turned. Dhoni and Brevis must return quickly to strengthen that batting team because the reigning champions RCB are next, even though nothing can change in that bowling department right away.
That eventually altered in 2025. The correct players with well-defined roles were paid the right amount of money. This team is capable of adjusting its combinations to suit various surfaces and conditions. It appears like the batting lineup is established. More importantly, if there are injuries, this team is unlikely to falter. They seem even more formidable now than when they made it to the final in 2025. For example, Cooper Connolly, who has already shown promise, has taken Josh Inglis' place at No. 3. Three of their five seam-bowling overseas all-rounders regularly play in the playing XII. Any of them can easily join the playing group if needed because of their adaptability.The cycle repeated often enough to
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