Table of Contents
The Punjab Kings Vs Chennai Super Kings Timeline stretches back to the inaugural IPL season in 2008 and has developed into one of the league’s most unpredictable matchups. The teams have met in league games, knockout cricket and matches played at neutral venues, producing close finishes, huge totals, Super Overs and several memorable individual performances.
As of April 2026, the two sides had played 33 IPL matches. Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings had each won 16, while one match was tied and decided by a Super Over. Two scheduled matches between the sides were cancelled.
Head-to-Head Record
| Season/Period | Matches | CSK Wins | PBKS/KXIP Wins | Other |
| 2008–2010 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011–2015 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2016–2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Teams did not meet |
| 2018–2020 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2021–2025 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Overall | 33 | 16 | 16 | 1 tie |
The overall record is remarkably even. Chennai dominated the early years, while Punjab became increasingly competitive from the middle of the 2010s onward.
The teams’ official historical record also shows why this fixture has remained difficult to predict. CSK won the first six meetings before Punjab finally broke through in 2010. By 2026, however, Punjab had matched Chennai’s total number of wins.
Timeline: 2008
The rivalry began during the inaugural IPL season.
The first meeting took place on April 19, 2008, at Mohali. Chennai Super Kings scored 240/5, powered by an unbeaten 116 from Michael Hussey, and won by 33 runs.
The second meeting came in Chennai on May 10. CSK again won, this time by 18 runs.
The teams met for a third time in the 2008 season, and this was the first knockout meeting between them. Chennai won the semifinal at Wankhede Stadium by nine wickets.
That meant CSK won all three meetings in the first season, immediately establishing an advantage in the new rivalry.
Timeline: 2009
The 2009 IPL was played in South Africa, giving the teams two meetings at neutral venues.
Chennai won the first match at Centurion by 11 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.
The second meeting took place at Kingsmead in Durban. CSK won by 24 runs.
The results meant Chennai had won the first five matches between the franchises.
Timeline: 2010
Punjab finally ended Chennai’s winning run in one of the most unusual matches in the rivalry.
On March 21, 2010, the teams played at Chepauk. The scores were level after 20 overs, forcing the match into the IPL’s first Super Over involving these two teams.
Punjab, then known as Kings XI Punjab, won the Super Over and secured their first victory over Chennai.
The teams met again at Dharamsala on April 18. Chennai responded with a six-wicket victory.
The 2010 season therefore ended with the head-to-head record standing at 6-1 in CSK’s favor.
Timeline: 2011
The 2011 meeting took place at Mohali.
Kings XI Punjab defeated Chennai Super Kings by six wickets, giving Punjab their second win in the rivalry.
This was also the beginning of a period in which Punjab started producing more competitive results against Chennai.
Timeline: 2012
Punjab won both league meetings in 2012.
The first match took place at Chennai on April 28. Kings XI Punjab won by seven runs.
The second meeting was at Dharamsala on May 17, where Punjab won by six wickets.
Winning both matches in a season was significant because CSK had previously controlled most of the rivalry.
Timeline: 2013
Chennai restored its advantage in 2013.
At Mohali on April 10, CSK defeated Punjab by 10 wickets after bowling the home side out for 138.
The second meeting was played in Chennai on May 2. CSK won by 15 runs after posting 186/5.
The two results made it a clean 2-0 season for Chennai.
Timeline: 2014
The 2014 season produced one of the most important chapters in the rivalry.
Punjab won the first three meetings of the season.
They defeated Chennai by six wickets in Abu Dhabi on April 18. On May 7 at Cuttack, the match was tied, but Punjab won the Super Over.
The third meeting was even more memorable. In Qualifier 2 at Mumbai, Virender Sehwag scored 122 as Kings XI Punjab made 226/6. Suresh Raina then produced a stunning 87 from only 25 balls, but his dismissal ended Chennai’s attempt to chase down the target. Punjab won by 24 runs and reached their first IPL final.
The 2014 campaign gave Punjab three wins over Chennai in the same season and remains one of the strongest stretches for the franchise in this rivalry.
Timeline: 2015
Chennai dominated both meetings in 2015.
The first match at Chepauk was particularly one-sided. CSK scored 192/3 and bowled Kings XI Punjab out for 95/9, winning by 97 runs.
The second match at Mohali was much closer but still went Chennai’s way. CSK chased down 131 with seven wickets in hand.
The 97-run victory remains one of the biggest margins recorded in this fixture.
Timeline: 2016–2017
There were no matches between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab during the 2016 and 2017 IPL seasons because Chennai Super Kings were suspended from the competition.
The rivalry resumed when CSK returned for the 2018 season.
Timeline: 2018
The two teams split their meetings in 2018.
Punjab won the first game at Mohali by four runs after scoring 197/7. Chris Gayle announced himself with a 63 from 33 balls, while MS Dhoni’s late attack almost carried Chennai over the line.
The four-run margin was, at the time, the narrowest defeat Chennai had suffered in an IPL match.
Chennai won the return match in Pune by five wickets. Lungi Ngidi produced a superb bowling performance, taking four wickets for only 10 runs, while Suresh Raina finished the chase with an unbeaten 61.
Timeline: 2019
The teams again split their two matches.
Chennai won the first encounter at Chepauk by 22 runs after scoring 160/3.
The return meeting in Mohali produced a very different result. Kings XI Punjab chased down Chennai’s 170/5 with two overs remaining.
KL Rahul was the star, scoring 71 from 36 balls as Punjab won by six wickets.
Timeline: 2020
The 2020 season produced two contrasting results.
On October 4 in Dubai, Chennai produced a dominant 10-wicket victory. Punjab scored 178/4, but Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis chased down the target without losing a wicket. Watson made 83 not out and du Plessis scored 87 not out.
The teams met again on November 1. Chennai won by nine wickets after chasing 154 with ease.
The two wins made 2020 another clean sweep for CSK.
Timeline: 2021
Punjab reversed the trend in 2021.
The first meeting at Mumbai went Chennai’s way, with CSK winning by six wickets after successfully chasing Punjab’s 106/8.
The second meeting was played in Dubai. Punjab won by six wickets after chasing 135/6.
KL Rahul played a key role in the victory, finishing unbeaten on 98 as Punjab reached the target with seven balls remaining.
Timeline: 2022
Punjab won both meetings in 2022.
The first match at Brabourne Stadium saw Punjab score 180/8 before bowling Chennai out for 126. PBKS won by 54 runs.
The second meeting at Wankhede Stadium was much closer. Shikhar Dhawan’s unbeaten 88 helped Punjab post 187/4. Chennai fought hard through Ambati Rayudu’s 78, but Punjab held on to win by 11 runs.
The two victories extended Punjab’s winning run over Chennai.
Timeline: 2023
Punjab produced another dramatic chase in 2023.
Chennai scored 200/4 at Chepauk, with Devon Conway making an unbeaten 92 from 52 balls and MS Dhoni adding two sixes from the final two deliveries.
Punjab’s chase went down to the final over. Sikandar Raza held his nerve and scored the runs needed from the final delivery as PBKS reached 201/6.
Punjab won by four wickets, making it another memorable away victory against CSK.
Timeline: 2024
The teams split their two matches again.
Punjab won the first meeting at Chepauk by seven wickets. Chennai made 162/7, but PBKS chased the target with 13 balls remaining.
The return match at Dharamsala went Chennai’s way. CSK scored 167/9 and bowled Punjab out for 139, winning by 28 runs.
The 2024 season therefore continued the pattern of alternating results rather than one team dominating both meetings.
Timeline: 2025
Punjab won both meetings in 2025.
The first match was played at Mullanpur on April 8. Punjab scored 219/6 and defeated Chennai by 18 runs.
The second meeting took place at Chepauk on April 30. Chennai made 190/10, but Punjab chased the target with four wickets remaining.
Those two wins were important because Punjab had now won several consecutive meetings against Chennai and had become a consistent threat in the fixture.
Timeline: 2026
The latest completed meeting took place on April 3, 2026, at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
CSK posted 209/5 after a strong batting performance. Punjab responded with an aggressive chase and reached 210/5 in 18.4 overs.
PBKS won by five wickets.
The victory moved the overall record to 16 wins apiece, with one tied match decided by a Super Over.
Memorable Encounters
2008 – First Meeting: Chennai won the first-ever match between the franchises by 33 runs after scoring 240/5.
2008 – First Knockout Meeting: CSK defeated Punjab by nine wickets in the semifinal at Wankhede.
2010 – First Super Over: Punjab beat Chennai after the league match ended level.
2014 – Sehwag’s 122: Virender Sehwag’s 122 helped Punjab beat Chennai in Qualifier 2 and reach their first IPL final.
2018 – Four-Run Thriller: Chris Gayle’s 63 helped Punjab defend 197/7 against MS Dhoni’s late assault.
2020 – CSK’s 10-Wicket Chase: Watson and du Plessis completed a comfortable chase of 179 without losing a wicket.
2023 – Last-Ball Chase: Punjab chased 201 at Chepauk, with Sikandar Raza scoring the winning runs from the final delivery.
2026 – 210 Chase: Punjab chased 210 in Chennai to win by five wickets and level the overall rivalry record.
Important Milestones
2008: The franchises met for the first time in IPL history.
2008: CSK defeated Punjab in the first knockout match between the teams.
2010: Punjab recorded its first win over Chennai after a Super Over.
2012: Punjab won both league meetings against Chennai.
2014: Punjab defeated Chennai three times in one season and reached its first IPL final.
2015: Chennai recorded a 97-run victory over Punjab.
2018: Chris Gayle led Punjab to a four-run win in Mohali.
2020: Chennai defeated Punjab by 10 wickets.
2022: Punjab won both meetings by 54 runs and 11 runs.
2023: Punjab completed a last-ball chase of 201 at Chepauk.
2025: Punjab won both meetings against Chennai.
2026: Punjab defeated Chennai by five wickets in Chennai, bringing the overall win count to 16-16.
Major Records
The fixture has produced several notable individual and team performances.
Highest CSK total: Chennai scored 240/5 in the first-ever meeting in 2008. Michael Hussey made an unbeaten 116 in that innings.
Highest PBKS/KXIP total: Punjab’s highest score against Chennai is 231, recorded during the franchise’s earlier Kings XI Punjab era.
Highest individual score for Punjab: Virender Sehwag scored 122 in the 2014 Qualifier 2, which remains one of the defining batting performances in a knockout meeting.
Highest individual score for Chennai: Michael Hussey’s unbeaten 116 in 2008 stands out among CSK’s biggest individual performances against Punjab.
Best CSK bowling performance: Lakshmipathy Balaji took 5/24 against Punjab in 2008.
Notable Punjab bowling record: Parwinder Awana recorded 4/30 in the fixture during Punjab’s earlier Kings XI Punjab era.
Knockout Meetings
The rivalry has also included important playoff cricket.
The first knockout meeting came in 2008, when Chennai defeated Punjab by nine wickets in the semifinal.
The most memorable knockout meeting followed in 2014. Kings XI Punjab faced Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 2 at Wankhede Stadium.
Punjab posted 226/6, with Sehwag making 122. Chennai appeared capable of mounting an extraordinary chase after Suresh Raina smashed 87 from only 25 balls, but his dismissal changed the momentum.
Punjab eventually won by 24 runs and advanced to their first IPL final.
The match remains one of the clearest examples of how quickly an IPL knockout game can change.
Recent Matches
The recent head-to-head record has shifted noticeably toward Punjab.
| Year | Winner | Result |
| 2021 | CSK | Won by 6 wickets |
| 2021 | PBKS | Won by 6 wickets |
| 2022 | PBKS | Won by 54 runs |
| 2022 | PBKS | Won by 11 runs |
| 2023 | PBKS | Won by 4 wickets |
| 2024 | PBKS | Won by 7 wickets |
| 2024 | CSK | Won by 28 runs |
| 2025 | PBKS | Won by 18 runs |
| 2025 | PBKS | Won by 4 wickets |
| 2026 | PBKS | Won by 5 wickets |
Across the most recent 10 completed meetings listed by IPL records, Punjab have won seven while Chennai have won three.
That recent stretch is quite different from the rivalry’s early years, when Chennai controlled most of the contests.
Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings Timeline at a Glance
| Year | Major Result |
| 2008 | CSK won all three meetings, including the semifinal |
| 2009 | CSK won both meetings |
| 2010 | PBKS won via Super Over; CSK won the other match |
| 2011 | PBKS won by 6 wickets |
| 2012 | PBKS won both meetings |
| 2013 | CSK won both meetings |
| 2014 | PBKS won all three meetings |
| 2015 | CSK won both meetings |
| 2016–17 | No meetings |
| 2018 | PBKS and CSK won one each |
| 2019 | CSK and PBKS won one each |
| 2020 | CSK won both meetings |
| 2021 | CSK and PBKS won one each |
| 2022 | PBKS won both meetings |
| 2023 | PBKS won by 4 wickets |
| 2024 | PBKS and CSK won one each |
| 2025 | PBKS won both meetings |
| 2026 | PBKS won by 5 wickets |
Final Thoughts
The history between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings has gone through several distinct phases.
Chennai dominated the opening years, winning the first five meetings and most of the early contests. Punjab gradually turned the matchup around, producing memorable wins in 2012, 2014, 2018 and the seasons that followed.
The 2014 season remains especially important because Punjab defeated Chennai three times and then beat them in Qualifier 2 to reach their first IPL final. The 2020 10-wicket victory showed Chennai could still produce dominant performances, while the 2022 and 2023 matches demonstrated Punjab’s ability to win high-pressure games against CSK.
The recent numbers tell another part of the story. Punjab won both meetings in 2025 and then won again in 2026, bringing the overall head-to-head record level at 16 wins apiece, with one tied match decided by a Super Over.
That balance is what makes this IPL fixture particularly interesting. Across 33 matches, the rivalry has included massive totals, last-ball finishes, knockout drama, Super Overs and some of the league’s most recognizable names.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings first play each other?
The first meeting took place on April 19, 2008, during the inaugural IPL season in Mohali. Chennai Super Kings won by 33 runs after scoring 240/5.
How many times have Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings played each other?
As of April 2026, the teams had played 33 IPL matches. Chennai and Punjab had each won 16, while one match ended in a tie before Punjab won the Super Over. Two scheduled matches were cancelled.
Who has won more matches between PBKS and CSK?
Neither team currently has an overall advantage. After the April 3, 2026 meeting, both teams had 16 wins from 33 matches, with one tied match decided by a Super Over.
What was the most famous knockout match between Punjab and Chennai?
The 2014 Qualifier 2 is one of the most memorable. Punjab scored 226/6, with Virender Sehwag making 122, and defeated Chennai by 24 runs to reach their first IPL final.
What happened in the latest PBKS vs CSK match?
Punjab Kings defeated Chennai Super Kings by five wickets on April 3, 2026, at Chennai. CSK scored 209/5, while PBKS chased the target with a score of 210/5 in 18.4 overs.
