Will Shreyas Iyer play tonight in CSK vs PBKS clash of IPL 2026?

Shreyas Iyer was hit on the hand while trying to protect himself from a powerful shot by his teammate Cooper Connolly.

The runners-up of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Punjab Kings (PBKS), stepped into the new season with a win in their first game against Gujarat Titans (GT), showing their consistency. The team, led by Shreyas Iyer, chased down a target of 163 runs, courtesy of a brilliant knock by debutant Cooper Connolly.

However, the game also gave a huge scare to PBKS fans as their captain Shreyas Iyer got injured after being struck by a powerful shot from his teammate Connolly. He was seen in agony, clutching his wrist. Iyer received treatment on the field before getting out soon after.

At the post-match presentation, the Punjab captain joked that he didn’t want to jinx anything and said he would keep his fingers crossed regarding his availability for the game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Punjab Kings are set to face CSK at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on April 3. Iyer’s availability will be crucial for the team, as he has led them brilliantly since being bought at a high price in last year’s auction. PBKS assistant coach Brad Haddin later gave an update confirming whether Shreyas will be available for the match.

Will Shreyas Iyer play in CSK vs PBKS game of IPL 2026?

Punjab Kings assistant coach Brad Haddin has confirmed that Shreyas Iyer is fully fit and will play the game against CSK. Haddin said that Shreyas does not have any fracture in his hand and is currently dealing with only swelling.

He stated:

“No break, so that’s a good thing. Now it’s just about getting the swelling down and getting the movement back in the hand, so he should be right for tomorrow,” at the pre-match press conference on Thursday.

He further added that the team was fortunate, as a major injury could have been a big setback for Punjab Kings.

“So, we’re very lucky. He was hit well by Cooper, it was a drop catch from the captain that was put down as a stat, but all in all, with the injuries, we got the best possible result we could out of what initially looked like a nasty incident.”

Iyer couldn’t score big in the first game against GT as he managed just 18 runs. He would want to make a big impact in second game and help his team win their second straight game of season.

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