IPL Boundary Blackjack - Round 1, Match 7 - CSK v PBKS

We're 5 matches into IPL 2026 and there are already some signs of how the tournament is going to progress in these early stages.

Firstly, all 5 matches to this point have been won by the team batting 2nd and in each occasion it was that team that won the toss and opted to chase.

That in itself is not a major surprise. In the relatively short history of T20 cricket, chasing has been the preference for most teams in most situations. However, you would not usually expect such a bias to emerge. Is it just because it's a small data set or is this how the tournament will progress?

Secondly, we've seen 4 out of the 5 matches won by the home team. Again, being able to influence pitch conditions and select squads to prosper in those conditions has been the hallmark of all forms of cricket for about 2 centuries but in the shorter formats you'd usually expect that advantage to lessened.

Being only 5 matches in, this could all change very quickly and part of the above trend might also be put down to the fact that it's early in the season and teams are still trying to figure their best XI and how to go about winning.

As far as this game is concerned, CSK would dearly love for home advantage to be extended. Over the years, the Chepauk Stadium been a fortress for them, one where their plethora of all-rounders and spin options have been expertly managed to suffocate sides on what has usually been a slower, turning track.

On the basis of their opening match where they were blown away by Rajasthan's quicks, they may wish to provide themselves with similar conditions.

Within the context of the comments above, it's also the venue across the history of the IPL to have seen the highest % of victories for teams batting first.

Again, most of those victories came when CSK were at their peak with an experienced and long batting line-up that knew what a competitive total on this pitch was.

It would be unfair to only critique CSK for not demonstrating that know how in the modern game. Both GT and LSG have shown similar failings over the past few days.

As I pointed out in the preview to their first game, if CSK are to put runs on the board then they are going to reliant on their 2 experienced openers to do so and ideally one of them is going to need to bat through the majority of the innings.

PBKS started this season where they left off last with a victory over GT. There was a little wobble towards the end when they lost 4 wickets for 8 runs but while Cooper Connolly was at the crease the win was never in doubt.

The young Aussie batted masterfully against a strong GT bowling line-up and he may get the opportunity to showcase his skills with the ball in this game.

PBKS bowled just 5 bowlers against GT and they all performed well but Marco Jansen's spell of 4 overs where he was hit for just a single boundary was particularly impressive.

Stoinis and Connolly could both add useful overs in this game and Punjab may be tempted to bring in an additional frontline spinner should the conditions demand it. Harpreet Brar has combined figures of 3 for 38 from the 6 overs he's previously bowled in Chennai.

One thing you can always guarantee with this CSK side is that they will have support. At least half the crowd in Guwahati, some 2000 miles from Chennai, were dressed in yellow leading to a slightly odd atmosphere in a supposed home game for the Royals.

There is no doubt where the home support's loyalty will lie in this match. If CSK can get ahead then the partisan crowd at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium will be very loud. If MS Dhoni plays then scientists will be able to measure his walk to the crease on the Richter scale - the place will be bouncing.

If you've never watched a game of cricket before or your impression of a cricket crowd is polite applause in between mouthfuls of cucumber sandwiches then I'd tune into this game or the big Southern derby between RCB and CSK on Saturday. The atmosphere will be electric!

Yesterday's low scorer lead to another bust-fest in IPL Boundary Blackjack!

In fact, the only player to have made a prediction in all 5 rounds and not gone bust so far is @hatdogsensei who is now up to third!

A reminder that this game, taking place on Friday 3 April, is the last match of round 1!

@bitandi went bust in match 5 but maintains his lead at the top. Surely he just needs to tap it in for a win?

Give it a little tappy tap tap taparoo

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_GavYlIiN_I

Position	Player	Points	Hits	Busts
1	@bitandi	151	4	1
2	@valentin86	147	4	1
3	@hatdogsensei	135	5	0
4	@gwajnberg	118	4	1
5	@niallon11	117	3	2
6	@tortangkahoy	113	4	1
7	@bozz.sports	108	3	2
8	@tsnaks	105	3	2
9	@onemanonewrite	104	4	1
10	@imfarhad	103	2	3
11	@fullcoverbetting	102	3	2
12	@blockchainfpl	100	2	3
13	@blanchy	98	4	1
14	@r1c4rd0	98	2	3
15	@wildlifelover	96	2	3
16	@tengolotodo	96	2	3
17	@ynwa.andree	90	2	3
18	@talesfrmthecrypt	84	2	3
19	@doombot75	82	2	3
20	@shitsignals	52	1	4
21	@kennybot	50	1	4
22	@uwelang	41	2	3
23	@workingdad	30	1	0
24	@sportsgeek	20	2	3
25	@dewabrata	0	0	0
26	@fnzcmd	0	0	0

A reminder that Round 2 of IPL Boundary Blackjack is live and starts this Saturday!

Another 5000 MEDALS are up for grabs so if you've crashed out of round 1 then your opportunity for revenge is just around the corner.

Join Round 2 of IPL Boundary Blackjack

Get yourself entered now!