Chennai Super Kings Opt to Bowl First Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026

In the IPL 2026 Southern Derby, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won the toss and chose to bowl first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad expressed confidence in his team's performance, noting the pitch's potential for high scores. RCB enters the match with a winning streak, having defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opener. Meanwhile, CSK seeks to recover from two consecutive losses. Both teams have announced their playing XI, with RCB holding a favorable record against CSK in recent encounters. Will CSK turn their fortunes around? Read on for more details.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 5, 2026, 20:29 IST

Match Overview

On Sunday, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won the toss and chose to bowl first in their match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the IPL 2026 'Southern Derby' at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Captain's Insights

CSK's captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, mentioned that the pitch appears conducive to high scores. He also provided an update on MS Dhoni's recovery, indicating that he might return to play soon. Gaikwad expressed confidence in his team's abilities, stating, "We will bowl first. This ground is known for high scores, and we aim to restrict their runs as much as possible. MS is gradually recovering; it takes time, but he should be back soon. After a disappointing first game, our batting improved in the second match, and the team is feeling confident. We will field the same eleven as last time."

Team Performance and History

The defending champions, RCB, enter this match with confidence after a solid six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their season opener. RCB has a favorable record against CSK, having won their last three encounters in the IPL.

Conversely, CSK is looking to bounce back from consecutive losses, having been defeated by the Rajasthan Royals and the Punjab Kings at Chepauk. They are eager to secure a win against the team led by Rajat Patidar.

Playing XI for Both Teams

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, Jacob Duffy.

RCB Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Rasikh Salam Dar, Kanishk Chouhan, Venkatesh Iyer.

Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed.

CSK Impact Subs: Matthew Short, Akeal Hosein, Kartik Sharma, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Gurjapneet Singh.