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And, that's a wrap!

10:40 PM IST - From the start to the finish, Chennai were in the driver's seat and ensured they return to winning ways emphatically. Plenty of questions for KL Rahul to answer but the Yellow Brigade win the game by six wickets in MS Dhoni's 200th game.

Final scores - Punjab (106/8, 20 overs) Chennai (107/4, 15.4 overs)

Chennai gifting wickets

10:30 PM IST - Chennai are just five runs away from victory, but with Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu dismissed in succession, the three-time winners are probably taking it too easy. Chennai 102/4 after 15 overs.

Moeen departs

10:15 PM IST - A brilliant inning from Moeen Ali comes to an end. The all-rounder slog-sweeps to Shahrukh Khan at deep midwicket to draw curtains to a fine knock of 46 runs off 31 balls. Chennai 90/2 after 12.3 overs.

Punjab need to rethink strategy - 1st Timeout

9:57 PM IST - Punjab's bowlers are applying pressure on Chennai's batsmen, but that won't be enough to squeeze out wickets. A linear chase for MS Dhoni's men? Chennai 53/1 after nine overs.

Moeen Ali, from zero to hero?

When will Chennai speed up?

9:45 PM IST - Playing with a relaxed nature, Chennai end their powerplay with the run rate at 5.33. Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali are not afraid to concede dots but they must push the accelerator when the road is clear. After six overs, Chennai are 32/1.

Punjab make breakthrough

9:38 PM IST - Ruturaj Gaikwad drags a pull shot off an Arshdeep Singh delivery to find Deepak Hooda at deep midwicket. A slow start and a wicket. Chennai 24/1 after five overs.

Safe start for the Yellow Brigade

9:20 PM IST - Mohammed Shami provides an early scare to the Chennai openers, with a couple of opportunities close enough to be called out as an lbw dismissal. Two runs off the first over. Chennai 2/0 after one over.

Chennai begin their run-chase!

9:18 PM IST - Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis take the crease in the yellow shirt as Chennai look to register their first win of the 2021 Indian T20 League season. In their way stands a determined Mohammed Shami though, who will be licking his lips after Chahar's bowling with the new ball.

SRK saves Punjab the blushes

8:56 PM IST - Punjab end their batting at 106/8 after new boy Shahrukh Khan scores some crucial 47 runs for Punjab to fight for! KL Rahul will be be hoping to get some assistance from his spinners after Mohammed Shami works his magic in the powerplay overs.

Ashwin departs!

8:41 PM IST: Veteran batsman Murugan Ashwin has departed for 6 runs. Dwayne Bravo coming to the party now and is graced with a wicket straightaway! Punjab sit at 87/7 after 17 overs.

Punjab get stability at 2nd timeout

8:35 PM IST - After a forgettable collapse in the first part of the first innings, Team Punjab will now look to try to set a competitive target for Chennai with Shahrukh (34) and Ashwin (5) looking settled. Punjab are 81/6 after 16 overs.

Richardson bowled by Moeen Ali!

8:25 PM IST - The end is near for Punjab now! Hardly any batsmen left after Jhye Richardson's stumps were uprooted by Moeen Ali's short ball. Punjab 61/6 after 13 overs.

A lot to plan for Punjab during 1st timeout!

8:12 PM IST - After a high-scoring game in their first match, Punjab look well destined for one of the record lowest totals of the tournament today! All the experienced batsmen are back to the pavilion! Punjab 45/5 after nine overs.

Chahar knuckles off Hooda!

8:06 PM IST - Punjab are falling like a house of cards here! Now, Hooda departs in a familiar fashion. This match looks already over! After six overs, Punjab sit at 26/5.

Gayle & Pooran wrapped up in one over!

7:57 PM IST - This is turning out to be a calamity for Punjab as Deepak Chakar strike for the fourth time this evening. After Chahar's knuckle ball was misread by Gayle and Ravindra Jadeja took a diving catch, Pooran went back for a duck in the same over as his hook was caught at long leg by Shardul Thakur.
Punjab 19/4 after five overs!

Two wickets in two overs!

7:45 PM IST - It is Jadeja's brilliant fielding that has done the job. A short run when Jaddu is nearby? Very foolish move! Punjab 17/2 after two overs.

Early jitters for Punjab

7:35 PM IST - Deepak sends Mayank Agarwal back to the pavillion with a brilliant delivery, wrecking his stumps completely. Chris Gayle escape an early scare as well! Punjab 2/1 after one over.

Match Start

7:30 PM IST - KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal take the crease for Punjab as Deepak Chahar is ready for a run up for Chennai. MS Dhoni looks focussed from behind the stumps. Let's begin!

Team Punjab playing XI

KL Rahul (captain & wicket-keeper), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, M Shahrukh Khan, Jhye Richardson, M Ashwin, Riley Meredith, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh

Team Chennai playing XI

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (captain & wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar

Toss result

7:00 PM IST - Team Chennai have won the toss and elected to bowl first.

"We will get hit off good boundaries but it is important to assess as a bowler. (Pitch) Looks a bit tacky and a bit more grass. Bit of dew settles down a bit and in the second innings as well, the first few overs will be crucial," says MS Dhoni who is playing his 200th game for the three-time champions.

Pitch report

6:45 PM IST - Ian Bishop reckons that the pitch, which has a fresh green tinge, may not produce seam movement. As dew will start to settle in towards the second half of the game, bowlers must go for the yorkers.

Dangerman

Fans' early predictions

Know the Chennai vs Punjab head-to-head record

6:10 PM IST - Team Chennai lead the head-to-head record against Punjab with 14 wins and 9 losses in 23 encounters between them.

For more insights, check out our tips and predictions for the game.

Punjab to hit more sixes!

6:00 PM IST - SportsAdda ambassador Brett Lee has predicted that KL Rahul's Punjab will score the maximum sixes in the Punjab vs Chennai game. To know more, click here.

Wondering where to watch Punjab vs Chennai live?

5:40 PM IST - The Punjab vs Chennai Indian T20 League match will be telecast live at 7:30 PM IST on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports Select 1 and Star Sports Select 1 HD TV channels in India, on Friday, April 16.

Live streaming of Punjab vs Chennai will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.

Stage set for the MS Dhoni-KL Rahul showdown!

5:30 PM IST - Good evening and a warm welcome to SportsAdda’s live blog for the Indian T20 League 2021!

Chennai eye their first win of Indian T20 League 2021 as they cross swords with Punjab at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

MS Dhoni and Co. enter this fixture with confidence from their head-to-head record, but will need to be diligent enough against Punjab, who are in a confident position to end Chennai’s dominance.

Since 2015, KL Rahul’s men have lost six of the last eight Punjab vs Chennai matchups in the Indian T20 League but given how they have started the 2021 edition, onlookers can fancy an entertaining affair in Mumbai.

Stay tuned for all the latest updates here!

Featured photo: Twitter / Indian Premier League

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Related tags:

KL RahulPunjabChris GayleIndian Premier League, 2021MS DhoniChennaiSam Curran Indian T20 League