CSK vs PBKS playing XIs: Prashant Veer replaces Short, Punjab go with same line-up

Chennai Super Kings have made a couple of changes to their playing XI for their second game of Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) against Punjab Kings (PBKS). The five-time champions’ decision to use Matthew Short at number 4 backfired, as he proved to be ineffective against Rajasthan Royals. CSK have decided to replace the Australian with Rs 14.20 crore uncapped buy Prashant Veer in the playing XI. Meanwhile, PBKS have decided to go with an unchanged playing XI for the game at Chepauk.

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CSK vs PBKS, IPL 2026 LIVE: Punjab Kings opt to field, go with same XI

CSK vs PBKS playing XIs

Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmed, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed
Impact subs: Jamie Overton, Rahul Chahar, Matthew Short, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Gurjapneet Singh

Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (capt), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
 Impact subs: Suryansh Shedge, Priyansh Arya, Vishnu Vinod, Pravin Dubey, Hemant Brar

CSK have lost 6 out of 7 games to PBKS since 2022. The hosts have decided to make just one change in their playing XI, with Veer replacing Short. The Australian failed miserably in the previous game, managing to score just 2 runs off 7 balls against RR. Instead, he will be replaced by Rs 14.20 crore buy – Veer.

Veer delivered a standout performance in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League (UPT20), having scored 320 runs from 10 games, averaging 64 and picked up 8 wickets. He then scored 376 runs in 7 innings at an average of 94 in the U23 One-Day competition and finished as the third highest wicket-taker with 18 scalps to his name. He was even called for trials by CSK before the mini auction. In 9 T20 games, Veer scored 112 runs with a highest score of 40 runs.

Jamie Overton, who had top-scored for CSK in the game against RR, has been benched. Instead, Sarfaraz Khan finds himself in the playing XI after being used as an impact player in the previous game.

PBKS, on the other hand, have gone with an unchanged playing XI, which means Connolly will continue to bat at number 3. His mature knock helped PBKS clinch a 3-wicket win in their IPL 2026 opener.

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