CSK vs DC IPL 2026 Match 18 preview: Check date, time, venue, predicted XIs, pitch report, head-to-head record, team news, and where to watch live in India.
Chennai Super Kings players (Photo: IANS/Dhananjay Yadav)
The Chennai Super Kings will take on the Delhi Capitals in Match 18 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, with the hosts desperate to register their first win of the season.
Chennai Super Kings have endured a difficult start to their campaign, losing all three of their matches so far. Defeats against Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have left them at the bottom of the table. Under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK will be eager to bounce back, especially in home conditions at Chepauk.
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Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, have looked like a well-balanced unit this season. They began their campaign with consecutive wins over Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians before suffering a narrow one-run defeat to Gujarat Titans. Led by Axar Patel, DC have impressed with both bat and ball and will aim to return to winning ways.
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Weather watch in Chennai
Weather conditions are expected to remain clear during match hours, ensuring an uninterrupted contest.
Temperatures will hover around 28–29°C, but high humidity levels (close to 80%) could make conditions uncomfortable for players.
The heavy dew factor is likely to come into play in the second innings, making it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball and favouring teams chasing under the lights.
What time will the CSK vs DC IPL 2026 match start?
The match will begin at 7:30 PM IST.
What time will the toss take place?
The toss is scheduled for 7:00 PM IST.
Where is the CSK vs DC match being played?
The match will be held at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk), Chennai.
Where can you watch the CSK vs DC IPL 2026 match live on TV?
The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network in India.
Where can you livestream the CSK vs DC match?
Fans can stream the match live on the JioHotstar app and website.
Matches: 31
CSK wins: 19
DC wins: 12
No Result: 0
Chennai Super Kings hold a clear edge historically, having dominated this fixture over the years.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Sarfaraz Khan, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed
Impact Player: Rahul Chahar
Delhi Capitals (DC):
KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana / Ashutosh Sharma, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (c), Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan
Impact Player: Vipraj Nigam
The Chepauk surface is expected to play differently from its traditional slow nature, with a flatter track likely to assist batters.
Recent matches at the venue have seen high-scoring totals, with scores crossing the 200-mark.
While spinners could still play a role in the middle overs, the pitch may not offer excessive turn. Dew in the second innings is expected to reduce their impact further.
Captains winning the toss are likely to opt to bowl first due to the dew factor.
Team News & Key Updates
Chennai Super Kings:
MS Dhoni is unlikely to feature as he continues rehabilitation for a calf injury. Dewald Brevis is expected to return to the playing XI, adding firepower to the middle order.
Delhi Capitals:
Mitchell Starc remains unavailable due to injury. KL Rahul is in excellent form, having scored 92 in the previous match, while there could be a change at No. 3 depending on Nitish Rana’s form.
Players to Watch
KL Rahul (DC): Coming off a brilliant knock and key to DC’s top order.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK): Needs to lead from the front to revive CSK’s campaign.
Shivam Dube (CSK): A crucial middle-order hitter, especially against spin.
Kuldeep Yadav (DC): Could be decisive in the middle overs despite dew conditions.
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Akeal Hosein, Sarfaraz Khan, MS Dhoni, Dewald Brevis, Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Chahar, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, Aman Khan, Gurjapneet Singh, Zakary Foulkes, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer
Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel (c), KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Rana, Abishek Porel (wk), Ajay Mandal, Ashutosh Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, Kuldeep Yadav, Madhav Tiwari, Mitchell Starc, Sameer Rizvi, T Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Mukesh Kumar, David Miller, Ben Duckett, Auqib Nabi, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi, Sahil Parikh, Prithvi Shaw, Kyle Jamieson
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