Chennai: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 63rd match of IPL 2026 on Monday, 18 May, at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, with both teams battling to keep their playoff hopes alive. However, the biggest spotlight remains on the much-anticipated possible return of MS Dhoni this season, while speculation continues to grow over whether it could be the farewell appearance of the iconic CSK legend at Chepauk.
CSK currently stand in 5th position with 12 points after suffering a disappointing defeat against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their previous match, where their bowling attack looked expensive, especially Anshul Kamboj, who endured a difficult outing. CSK now need to win their remaining two matches to stay alive in the playoff race, while also depending on the results of other teams. Their batting lineup has shown promise, led brilliantly by Sanju Samson, but Ruturaj Gaikwad and Dewald Brevis have looked out of form and inconsistent in recent matches, while the bowling unit has otherwise looked well-balanced and effective aside from the last match.
Meanwhile, all eyes remain on MS Dhoni. The veteran has not featured this season due to a calf strain suffered before the tournament began, but speculation over his possible return has intensified ahead of CSK’s final home game of the season at Chepauk. Despite missing the campaign on the field, the former India captain has regularly been seen around the squad and attending training sessions. Ahead of the SRH clash, excitement among fans surged after Dhoni was reportedly spotted training intensely in the nets on Sunday evening, sparking widespread discussion over a possible return to the playing XI for the first time this season. Fans are also assuming that it could be Dhoni’s farewell match at Chepauk, although there has been no official update regarding his return for today’s game.
On the other hand, SRH return to action almost a week after their defeat against Gujarat Titans (GT) in their previous match, where their batting order collapsed badly against the GT bowlers. SRH currently hold the 3rd position with 14 points, and to strengthen their playoff chances, they also need victories in their remaining two matches.
In the previous encounter between the two teams earlier this season, SRH defeated CSK by 10 runs after Chennai failed to chase down the target successfully. In the IPL, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have enjoyed a dominant record against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), winning 15 of the 23 matches played between the two sides, while SRH have registered victory on 8 occasions.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Squad:
Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Urvil Patel, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Spencer Johnson.
CSK Predicted Playing XI:
Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Dian Forrester/MS Dhoni, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Spencer Johnson.
Impact Player: Mukesh Choudhary
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Squad:
Ishan Kishan, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Harshal Patel, Liam Livingstone, Pat Cummins, Jaydev Unadkat, Aniket Verma, Smaran Ravichandran, Salil Arora, Kamindu Mendis, Harsh Dubey, Brydon Carse, Shivam Kumar, Krains Fuletra, David Payne, Zeeshan Ansari, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Onkar Tarmale, Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Shivam Mavi.
SRH Predicted Playing XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (wk), Smaran Ravichandran, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora/Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins (c), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Praful Hinge.
Impact Player: Sakib Hussain
The weather in Chennai is expected to remain hot and humid, with temperatures ranging between 28°C and 38°C. The forecast suggests partly cloudy skies with a slight chance of rain during the evening, although a complete washout appears unlikely. Humidity levels may rise above 75%, making conditions challenging for players. The Chepauk pitch is expected to be slightly slow and spin-friendly, which is typical of Chennai conditions. Batters may enjoy scoring in the early overs when the ball comes nicely onto the bat, but as the match progresses, the surface is likely to slow down and offer grip and turn for spinners and slower bowlers. The average first-innings score at the venue this season has been around 190–196 runs, indicating a balanced surface. Chasing teams have also enjoyed success due to the possible dew factor in the second innings, which may encourage captains winning the toss to bowl first. Overall, the pitch is expected to provide an exciting contest between bat and ball, with spinners likely to play a key role during the middle overs.
The match promises to be an exciting contest as both teams look to collect crucial points in the playoff race. It will also be interesting to see whether CSK can take revenge for their earlier defeat against SRH and whether MS Dhoni finally returns to action at Chepauk.
