Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer cringes in pain after being hit by a shot from batting partner Cooper Connolly (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
There is cautious optimism about Shreyas Iyer’s availability as Punjab Kings prepare to take on Chennai Super Kings in an IPL 2026 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.Eyre suffered a painful blow to his wrist in the previous match after being struck by a powerful shot from Cooper Connolly on the non-striker’s side, raising immediate concerns about his participation in this high-profile encounter.
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However, early signs suggest that PBKS could receive a significant boost. Assistant coach Brad Hadden confirmed that the injury was not serious, which eased concerns within the camp.“There’s no fracture (of the bone), which is good. Now it’s just a matter of getting the swelling down and getting movement back in the hand, so he should be ready for tomorrow,” Hadden said.The update came as a relief to
Punjab
especially with Ayer’s leadership and decisive strikes in their plans this season.
The skipper also reportedly looked in good shape during training, even managing to clear the ropes with ease, indicating that his recovery is on the right track.PBKS head into the competition with momentum after a strong start to their campaign, including a win over Gujarat Titans. Their recent record in Chibok is a further confidence booster, having won at the stadium in each of the past three seasons – a rare feat against CSK at home.Chennai Super Kings, on the other hand, find themselves under early pressure after a disappointing display in their opener against Rajasthan Royals. With conditions in Chennai expected to be more batting-friendly, the contest could turn out to be a high-scoring match.