IPL 2026 SRH vs CSK Preview: MS Dhoni’s fitness in focus as Chennai face Hyderabad in crucial clash

Sunrisers Hyderabad's Sakib Hussain celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Rajasthan Royals' Donovan Ferreira during the Indian Premier League 2026 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, in Hyderabad on Monday, April 13, 2026. (Photo: IANS)


The Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on the Chennai Super Kings in Match 27 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, with both sides looking to build momentum at a crucial stage of the tournament.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have had a mixed campaign so far but are coming into this contest on the back of an impressive win over Rajasthan Royals. Led by Ishan Kishan, SRH have shown flashes of brilliance, particularly with their aggressive top order featuring Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. With home conditions favouring their batting-heavy approach, SRH will aim to secure another win and strengthen their position in the top half of the table.

Chennai Super Kings, on the other hand, have bounced back strongly after a difficult start to the season. Under Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK have registered consecutive wins against Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals to revive their campaign.

All eyes will also be on MS Dhoni, whose fitness continues to be under scrutiny. The CSK icon has not been fully fit, and his participation in this match is still uncertain. With Chennai looking to build momentum, Dhoni’s presence, either as a finisher or guiding figure, could prove vital against SRH.

Sitting lower on the points table, the five-time champions will look to carry forward this momentum and climb further up with another strong showing.

Weather watch in Hyderabad

Conditions are expected to be clear and very warm, with no rain forecast during match hours.
Temperatures will range between 29°C and 34°C through the evening, and humidity levels will remain relatively low. Dew is likely to play a role later in the game, potentially favouring teams chasing.

IPL 2026 SRH vs CSK: Match Details

What time will the SRH vs CSK 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 SRH vs CSK match being played?
The match will be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

Where can you watch the SRH vs CSK IPL 2026 match live on TV?
The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network in India.

Where can you livestream the SRH vs CSK match?
Fans can stream the match live on the JioHotstar app and website.

SRH vs CSK IPL 2026: Head-to-Head Record

Matches: 22
CSK wins: 15
SRH wins: 7

Chennai Super Kings hold a clear historical advantage in this fixture, although SRH have had better success at home in Hyderabad in recent meetings.

SRH vs CSK IPL 2026: Predicted Playing XIs

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):
Ishan Kishan (c/wk), Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Liam Livingstone, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat
Impact Player: Aniket Verma

Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Matheesha Pathirana, Rahul Chahar
Impact Player: MS Dhoni

SRH vs CSK IPL 2026: Pitch & Conditions

The Hyderabad surface is expected to be a batting-friendly track with a flat and hard nature, offering consistent bounce and carry.
A high-scoring encounter could be on the cards, with a par score likely around 190–210.

Teams winning the toss may prefer to bowl first, given the dew factor.

Team News & Key Updates

Sunrisers Hyderabad:
SRH are likely to stick with their aggressive approach at the top. Their batting unit looks strong, and they will rely on their power-hitters to dominate at home.

Chennai Super Kings:
CSK have found form after early setbacks. However, they may miss Khaleel Ahmed due to injury, while MS Dhoni’s fitness remains a key talking point ahead of the match.

Players to Watch

Ishan Kishan (SRH): Leading from the front and crucial at the top of the order.
Heinrich Klaasen (SRH): A destructive middle-order batter who can change games quickly.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK): Anchoring the innings and key to CSK’s batting stability.
Noor Ahmad (CSK): Could be effective as the pitch slows down in the middle overs.

SRH vs CSK IPL 2026: Squads

Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (wk/c), Liam Livingstone, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Harsh Dubey, Eshan Malinga, Shivam Mavi, Smaran Ravichandran, Zeeshan Ansari, Salil Arora, Kamindu Mendis, Brydon Carse, David Payne, Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain, Krains Fuletra, Amit Kumar, Onkar Tarmale, Shivang Kumar

Chennai Super Kings:
Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Matthew Short, Akeal Hosein, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Matt Henry, Ramakrishna Ghosh, MS Dhoni, Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Chahar, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, Urvil Patel, Aman Khan, Zakary Foulkes