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

Match Preview: CSK vs RCB

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 5: In the much-anticipated 'Southern Derby' of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won the toss and chose to bowl first against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

CSK's captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, expressed his thoughts on the pitch, indicating it appears conducive to high scores. He also mentioned that MS Dhoni is on the mend and could return to play soon, while reaffirming confidence in the team's performance. The lineup remains unchanged from their previous match.

"We will bowl first. This ground is known for high scores, and the pitch looks promising for runs. Our goal will be to limit their scoring 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 significantly in the second match, and the team is feeling confident. We are sticking with the same squad," Gaikwad stated during the toss.

On the other hand, RCB enters the match with a boost of confidence following a solid six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their season opener. Historically, RCB has had the upper hand against CSK, winning their last three encounters.

In contrast, CSK is looking to bounce back after suffering consecutive defeats, first against the Rajasthan Royals and then against the Punjab Kings at Chepauk. They are eager to secure a win against the Rajat Patidar-led RCB.

Here are the playing elevens 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 substitutes: 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 substitutes: Matthew Short, Akeal Hosein, Kartik Sharma, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Gurjapneet Singh.