Today Dream11 Team, Captain, & Vice Captain: Highest Fantasy Points
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CSK vs PBKS Dream11 Team Today
Best Captain, Vice Captain & Fantasy Team Picks | IPL 2026 Match 7
📅 April 3, 2026🕖 7:30 PM IST🏟 MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai📺 Star Sports / JioHotstar
⏱ Last Updated: 6:00 PM IST — Update after toss at 7:00 PM IST
✅ Best Dream11 Team Today — CSK vs PBKS
CSK enter Match 7 of IPL 2026 in desperate need of their first win, but they do so without two key players: MS Dhoni is ruled out with a calf strain and Dewald Brevis is doubtful with a side injury. This significantly weakens their middle order. PBKS, on the other hand, arrive full strength and high on confidence after a 3-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2026 opener.
The Chepauk pitch averages just 163–165 in the first innings, the lowest-scoring IPL venue on average. Spinners dominate from the 8th over. Pick your team for a low-par, spin-heavy surface, not a flat-track batting binge.
Best Dream 11 Team Today Match: CSK vs PBK
Role
Player
Team
Credits
Pts Potential
Ownership
WK
Sanju Samson
CSK
9.0 Cr
55–80 pts
High
BAT
Ruturaj Gaikwad
CSK
9.5 Cr
55–80 pts
High
BAT
Ayush Mhatre
CSK
8.0 Cr
40–60 pts
Medium
BAT
Priyansh Arya
PBKS
8.5 Cr
45–70 pts
Medium-High
BAT
Shreyas Iyer
PBKS
9.5 Cr
55–80 pts
High
AR
Shivam Dube
CSK
8.5 Cr
45–65 pts
Medium
AR
Marcus Stoinis
PBKS
9.0 Cr
50–70 pts
Medium
AR
Cooper Connolly
PBKS
7.5 Cr
45–65 pts
Medium-Low
BOWL
Yuzvendra Chahal
PBKS
9.0 Cr
50–80 pts
High
BOWL
Arshdeep Singh
PBKS
9.0 Cr
45–65 pts
High
BOWL
Noor Ahmad
CSK
8.0 Cr
40–60 pts
Medium-Low
🏆 Today Dream11 Captain & Vice Captain Picks
On Chepauk's spin-friendly, low-par surface, your captain must bat high in the order AND have a proven match-winning record in this fixture. Here is the data-backed case for each option:
🥇 Captain (2x) — Safe
Ruturaj Gaikwad
CSK | 9.5 Cr
Home ground. Desperate for redemption after Guwahati. Opens batting — maximum ball exposure on his own turf. Avg 62 pts last 5 matches.
🥈 Vice Captain (1.5x) — Safe
Shreyas Iyer
PBKS | 9.5 Cr
Led PBKS to IPL 2026 opener win. Bats No.4, elegant strokeplay suits slow Chepauk surface. Avg 58 pts last 5 matches.
🎯 Captain — Grand League
Yuzvendra Chahal
PBKS | 9.0 Cr
Hat-trick at this exact venue vs CSK in IPL 2025. Has dismissed Sanju Samson more than any bowler in IPL. Chepauk is his best hunting ground.
💡 Vice Captain — GL Differential
Cooper Connolly
PBKS | 7.5 Cr
Scored 72* on IPL debut vs GT. Bats No.3, bowls part-time = double points potential. Only 7.5 Cr — massive GL value at low ownership.
📌 Expert Tip — Chahal at Chepauk
In IPL 2025 at this very ground, Chahal took 4 wickets in a single over including a hat-trick, collapsing CSK from 184/6 to 190 all out in just 7 balls. He has also dismissed Sanju Samson more times than any other bowler in IPL history. If tonight repeats anything like that spell, Chahal is your highest fantasy points scorer today.
Dream11 Teams Today — Safe vs Grand League
Team 1 — Safe Pick (H2H / Small League)
Built for consistent returns. Gaikwad as captain, Shreyas Iyer as VC. Highest-probability performers on this surface. Best for head-to-head and small contests.
Role
Player
Team
Credits
WK
Sanju Samson (wk)
CSK
9.0 Cr
BAT
Ruturaj Gaikwad ⭐ C
CSK
9.5 Cr
BAT
Ayush Mhatre
CSK
8.0 Cr
BAT
Priyansh Arya
PBKS
8.5 Cr
BAT
Shreyas Iyer ⭐ VC
PBKS
9.5 Cr
AR
Shivam Dube
CSK
8.5 Cr
AR
Marcus Stoinis
PBKS
9.0 Cr
AR
Cooper Connolly
PBKS
7.5 Cr
BOWL
Yuzvendra Chahal
PBKS
9.0 Cr
BOWL
Arshdeep Singh
PBKS
9.0 Cr
BOWL
Noor Ahmad
CSK
8.0 Cr
Team 2 — Grand League Differential
Chahal as captain (high ceiling, not maximum owned), Connolly as VC at just 7.5 Cr. Sarfaraz Khan as a budget batting differential (only ~20% ownership). This combination separates you from the crowd in mega contests.
72* on IPL debut. Low-owned. Bats No.3 + part-time bowling
AR
Shivam Dube
CSK
Medium
CSK's most reliable power-hitter
BOWL
Yuzvendra Chahal ⭐ C
PBKS
Medium-High
GL Captain — hat-trick at Chepauk vs CSK. Highest ceiling on this pitch
BOWL
Arshdeep Singh
PBKS
High
Death-over anchor. Wickets + economy bonus
BOWL
Noor Ahmad
CSK
~40%
Left-arm wrist spin thrives at Chepauk. Under-owned.
🎯 Today Match Winning Percentage — Contest Strategy
Your captain-VC logic must change depending on your contest size. The same team that wins a head-to-head will often finish mid-table in a Grand League. Here's how to maximise your winning percentage today by contest type:
Contest Type
Captain
Vice Captain
Key Differential
Strategy
Grand League
Yuzvendra Chahal
Cooper Connolly
Sarfaraz Khan (~20%)
High risk, high reward. Chahal's ceiling is 80–90+ pts at Chepauk.
Small League
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Shreyas Iyer
Priyansh Arya
Balanced. Low risk, steady floor returns.
Head-to-Head
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Shreyas Iyer
Noor Ahmad
Safest C/VC combo today. Home opener vs confident No.4 batter.
Multiple Teams
Split: Gaikwad + Chahal
Split: Iyer + Connolly
Arya + Stoinis
Cover batting feast AND bowling spell scenarios both.
️ Pitch Report — MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Chepauk is the great leveller of IPL. If you are building your Dream11 team assuming another high-scoring Mumbai or Ahmedabad night, tonight demands a complete rethink. The ground's red-soil surface slows progressively — average first-innings IPL score here is just 163–165, the lowest of any major IPL venue.
Spinners take over from the 8th over and batting becomes increasingly difficult as the match develops. Totals above 180 are achievable but far from the norm.
163
Avg 1st Innings Score
56.5%
Batting First Wins
100%
IPL 2026 Bowl-First Toss Trend
246/5
Highest Team Total
70
Lowest Team Total
68%
CSK Home Win Rate
Condition
Data
Dream11 Impact
Pitch Type
Red soil, slow & spin-friendly
Pick at least 2–3 quality spinners. Do not over-stack batters.
Avg 1st Innings Score (IPL)
163–165 runs
Low-scoring match = every wicket is worth more. Bowlers are premium.
Batting First Win %
56.5% (51 of 90 IPL matches)
Slight historical edge batting first. But dew changes things at night.
IPL 2026 Toss Trend
100% — all 4 toss winners bowled first and won
Expect toss winner to bowl. Chasing-team batters get dew advantage.
Chahal, Noor Ahmad, Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer are your core picks.
⚠️ Pitch Note for IPL 2026
Some reports suggest Chepauk may play slightly better for batters in 2026 — India scored 254/4 vs Zimbabwe at this venue in the T20 World Cup 2026. However, IPL conditions are different from international cricket and the consistent IPL average of 163–165 should anchor your picks until the toss pitch inspection is confirmed.
Team News, Injuries & Probable Playing XI
Key Injury & Availability Updates
Player
Team
Status
Dream11 Impact
MS Dhoni
CSK
❌ OUT Calf strain (2+ weeks)
Do NOT pick. Confirmed unavailable.
Dewald Brevis
CSK
⚠️ Doubtful Side strain
Avoid. Not expected to play tonight.
Shreyas Iyer
PBKS
✅ Expected Hand bruise (minor)
Expected to play. Monitor toss update.
Full PBKS Squad
PBKS
✅ Full Strength
No major injury concerns for PBKS.
CSK Probable Playing XI
Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short / Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry
Note: Akeal Hosein may replace Matthew Short given Chennai's spin conditions. Final XI confirmed at toss (7:00 PM IST).
PBKS Probable Playing XI
Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Note: Vijaykumar Vyshak may be rested for spin-friendly Chepauk. Chahal expected to be PBKS's main wicket-taking threat.
Dream11 Highest Points Today — Player Analysis
Most Dream11 guides list players without the numbers behind them. Here is a data-driven case for each key pick — why they earn the highest fantasy points in this specific match-up.
Top Batting Picks
Player
Recent Form
Chepauk Factor
Verdict
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Low score in Guwahati — hungry for redemption at home
Opens batting at his home ground. Knows this surface better than anyone. Timing-based game suits slow pitch.
Can explode in powerplay before pitch slows. High risk-reward. Chahal has dismissed him more than any bowler in IPL.
High Ceiling | SL
Priyansh Arya
475 runs last season at SR ~180. Scored 102 vs CSK in IPL 2025.
Aggressive in powerplay before spin kicks in. Low-cost big upside.
Differential | GL
Cooper Connolly
Unbeaten 72* on IPL debut vs GT. Bats No.3, bowls part-time.
Low-owned (7.5 Cr). Part-time bowling = extra points possible. New to IPL = no fear factor.
GL Differential
Top Bowling Picks
Player
Recent Form
vs CSK / Chepauk Record
Verdict
Yuzvendra Chahal
2 wickets vs GT in IPL 2026 opener
Hat-trick at this exact venue vs CSK in IPL 2025 (4 wickets in one over). Has dismissed Sanju Samson more than any bowler in IPL. Chepauk spin conditions are his playground.
BEST BOWL PICK | GL C
Arshdeep Singh
Consistent death-over specialist. ~11 wickets vs CSK in career H2H.
Gets extra swing in Chennai humidity with new ball. Economy bonus + wickets make him a top-10 pts scorer.
SAFE BOWL | Must Pick
Noor Ahmad
CSK's spin option. Low-owned (~40%)
Left-arm wrist spin directly assisted by Chepauk's red soil surface. High upside at low ownership.
Value Pick | Low Owned
❌ Players to Avoid in Dream11 Today
Player
Why Avoid
Risk
MS Dhoni
Confirmed OUT with calf injury — not in the squad today
❌ Do Not Pick
Dewald Brevis
Doubtful with side strain — not expected to play
❌ Do Not Pick
Marco Jansen
Medium-pace all-rounders underperform on this spin-heavy surface
⚠️ Low Upside
Anshul Kamboj
Pace bowlers consistently underperform at Chepauk vs spinners
⚠️ Low Upside
Matt Henry
Foreign pace quota + spin pitch = very limited ceiling tonight
⚠️ Low Upside
Vijaykumar Vyshak
May be dropped by PBKS for Chepauk's spin conditions
⚠️ May Not Play
CSK vs PBKS Head-to-Head Record in IPL
Understanding the head-to-head history between CSK and PBKS is not just cricket trivia — it directly reveals which players have dominated this fixture and which team carries the psychological upper hand into tonight.
Despite an equal all-time record, since 2022 PBKS have completely dominated, winning 5 of their last 6 encounters against CSK.
32
Total H2H Matches
16
CSK Wins
16
PBKS Wins
5–4
PBKS Lead at Chepauk
5–1
PBKS Since 2022
0
No Results
📊 Critical Trend: PBKS Dominate Recent History
PBKS have won 5 of the last 6 encounters against CSK — including both meetings in IPL 2025. They have also won their last 3 trips to Chepauk. This is no longer a 50-50 contest on current form. PBKS players carry a demonstrably higher confidence floor in tonight's match. Factor this into your captain and player weighting.
Overall H2H Summary Stats
Stat
Value
Total IPL Matches Played
32
CSK Wins
16 (50%)
PBKS Wins
16 (50%)
No Result
0
At MA Chidambaram (Chennai)
PBKS 5 – CSK 4 (PBKS lead at CSK's home ground)
Since 2022
PBKS won 5, CSK won 1 — clear recent dominance
IPL 2025 Result 1
PBKS won by 18 runs (Mullanpur, Apr 8, 2025)
IPL 2025 Result 2
PBKS won by 4 wickets (Chennai/Chepauk, Apr 30, 2025)
CSK Highest Total (H2H)
240/5 vs PBKS (Apr 19, 2008, Mohali)
PBKS Lowest Total (H2H)
92/8 vs CSK
Most Runs in CSK vs PBKS H2H
Player
Team
Runs
Status
Suresh Raina
CSK
719
Retired
MS Dhoni
CSK
599
OUT INJURED — Not playing today
Faf du Plessis
CSK / RCB
593
No longer at CSK
Virender Sehwag
PBKS
Top scorer (122 in single match, Qualifier 2, 2014)
Retired
Most Wickets in CSK vs PBKS H2H
Player
Team
Wickets
Dream11 Relevance
Ravichandran Ashwin
Both teams (different seasons)
18
Not in IPL 2026 — historical data
Dwayne Bravo
CSK
18
Retired
Yuzvendra Chahal
PBKS
Active — hat-trick vs CSK at Chepauk (2025)
✅ ACTIVE — TOP PICK TODAY
Arshdeep Singh
PBKS
~11 wickets vs CSK career H2H
✅ ACTIVE — MUST PICK
Lakshmipathy Balaji
CSK
Best figures: 5/24 (H2H record)
Retired
CSK vs PBKS Last 5 Match Results
Date
Venue
Result
Margin
Apr 30, 2025
Chennai (Chepauk)
PBKS Won
4 wickets
Apr 8, 2025
Mullanpur
PBKS Won
18 runs
May 13, 2022
Mumbai
PBKS Won
54 runs
Mar 27, 2022
Mumbai
PBKS Won
5 wickets
Apr 20, 2023
Mohali
CSK Won
24 runs
Trend: PBKS have won 4 of the last 5 H2H meetings. They have won their last 3 trips to Chepauk specifically. CSK have not beaten PBKS at home since 2021. This form gap is real and directly affects which team's players you should weight more heavily tonight.
📅 Complete CSK vs PBKS IPL Match History (2008–2025)
This complete record of every encounter between these two franchises reveals the long-term patterns behind tonight's match. PBKS's recent dominance is clearly visible in the last several rows.
Year
Date
Venue
Result
2008
Apr 19
Mohali (PCA)
CSK Won by 33 runs (CSK 240/5)
2009
Various
Various
Matches played both seasons
2010
Apr 18
Dharamsala
CSK Won by 6 wickets (chased 195)
2011
Various
Various
Matches played
2012
Various
Various
Matches played
2013
Various
Various
Matches played
2014
Qualifier 2
Various
PBKS Won — reached final (Sehwag 122)
2015
Various
Various
Matches played
2016
Various
Various
Matches played
2018
Apr 15
Mohali
CSK Won
2019
Various
Various
Matches played
2020
Sep 24
Dubai
PBKS Won by 97 runs
2021
Various
Sharjah / Abu Dhabi
CSK Won (last home H2H win)
2022
Mar 27
Mumbai
PBKS Won by 5 wickets
2022
May 13
Mumbai
PBKS Won by 54 runs
2023
Apr 20
Mohali
CSK Won by 24 runs
2024
Various
Various
Matches played
2025
Apr 8
Mullanpur
PBKS Won by 18 runs (Priyansh Arya 102)
2025
Apr 30
Chennai (Chepauk)
PBKS Won by 4 wickets (Chahal hat-trick)
2026
Apr 3
Chennai (Chepauk)
TODAY — IPL 2026 Match 7
🏟️ MA Chidambaram Stadium — Complete IPL Records
Stat
Record
Total IPL Matches Hosted
90+ (since 2008)
Teams Batting First Win %
56.5% (51 of 90 matches)
Teams Chasing Win %
43.5% historically
IPL 2026 Toss Trend
100% — all 4 toss winners chose to bowl and won
Average First Innings Score (IPL)
163–165 runs
Highest Team Total at Venue
246/5 by CSK vs RR (2010)
Lowest Team Total at Venue
70 all out by RCB vs CSK (2019)
Highest Successful Chase
213/4 by LSG vs CSK in 2024 (in 19.3 overs)
Highest Individual Score
127 — Murali Vijay (CSK) vs RR, 2010 (56 balls)
Most IPL Runs at Venue
Suresh Raina — 1,498 runs (55 innings)
Wicket-Taking Trend
Right-arm bowlers dominant — 745 wkts vs 277 by left-arm
CSK Home Win Rate (All-Time)
~68% — one of the best home records in IPL
CSK vs PBKS at Chepauk
PBKS 5 – CSK 4 (PBKS lead despite being away team)
Key Dream11 takeaway: IPL 2026's 100% bowl-first trend is the strongest signal you have tonight. If the toss winner bowls first as expected, weight your second-innings (chasing team) batters slightly higher. The toss update at 7:00 PM IST should finalise your captain decision.
For CSK vs PBKS IPL 2026 Match 7, the best Dream11 team today is: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Ayush Mhatre, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Shivam Dube, Marcus Stoinis, Cooper Connolly, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Noor Ahmad. Full breakdown with credits and ownership percentages is in the prediction table above.
Q: Who should be Dream11 captain and vice captain today?
Safe picks: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C) and Shreyas Iyer (VC). Both are high-ceiling top-order batters with strong records in this fixture. For Grand League: Yuzvendra Chahal as captain is the premium differential pick. He took a hat-trick at this exact venue against CSK in IPL 2025, has dismissed Sanju Samson more than any bowler in IPL, and Chepauk's spin surface gives him the highest individual ceiling of any player tonight.
Q: Who will score Dream11 highest points today?
Yuzvendra Chahal has the single highest ceiling on tonight's Chepauk pitch — potentially 80–90+ points if he replicates anything close to his IPL 2025 hat-trick spell here. Among batters, Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer are the most likely 60–80 pt performers. On a low-scoring surface, consistent top-order knocks earn more points than explosive innings on flat tracks because every run is harder-earned and every wicket is more impactful.
Q: Best team for Dream11 today match T20?
For this T20 match at Chepauk, unlike most IPL venues, spinners are equally as valuable as batters. Build your T20 Dream11 team with at least 3 quality bowlers, prioritising Chahal and Arshdeep Singh from PBKS. Pick top-order batters (openers + No.3 and No.4) who face maximum deliveries. Avoid lower-middle-order batters who only face 5–8 balls on Chepauk's slow, tough surface.
Q: Today match winning percentage — who will win CSK vs PBKS?
Based on recent H2H form (PBKS won 4 of last 5 meetings, including both in IPL 2025), PBKS's full-strength squad vs CSK's injury-hit lineup (no Dhoni, no Brevis), and IPL 2026's 100% bowl-first winning trend, PBKS hold a clear advantage. A rough estimate puts PBKS at approximately 60% match-winning probability tonight. CSK's Chepauk home crowd and Gaikwad's motivation for redemption keep this competitive.
Q: Is today match prediction 100% sure?
No Dream11 prediction can be 100% sure — cricket is a live sport and conditions change ball by ball. What this analysis provides is the highest-probability picks based on Chepauk's verified pitch data, current IPL 2026 form, confirmed injury updates, and player-specific records. Use the two-team strategy above to spread risk across both the safe and differential options and maximise your winning percentage today.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This Dream11 prediction is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Fantasy sports involve real-money risk. Please play responsibly and within your means. This article is not affiliated with Dream11 or any fantasy gaming platform.
Last Updated: April 3, 2026 — 6:00 PM IST | Update captain/VC picks after toss (7:00 PM IST) with confirmed playing XI
Pankaj Suyal is a sports enthusiast and fantasy gaming expert who transforms his love for the game into compelling content. From match previews to player analysis and trending updates, he brings the sports world closer to his readers. When he is not writing, you will find him creating fantasy team or deep into a book (Yes, he is a bibliophile).
