CSK vs SRH Prediction & Match Preview – IPL 2026, 63rd Match
Match summary
Chennai Super Kings need a win against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk on 18 May 2026. Form, key players, pitch, weather and our verdict for IPL match 63.
Match details
| Match | Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 63rd Match |
|---|---|
| Series | Indian Premier League 2026 |
| Date | 18 May 2026 |
| Start time | 2:00 pm GMT / 7:30 pm local |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Toss pick | Chennai Super Kings |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Chennai Super Kings had won three in a row before a 7-wicket defeat to Lucknow Super Giants, in which their bowlers again struggled with line and length. They are now sixth with two league games left and cannot afford a slip. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson have scored more than 750 runs between them, Kartik Sharma made a fighting 71 last time, and Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube and Prashant Veer fill the middle and finishing roles.
The bowling faces a stern test. Mukesh Choudhary and Spencer Johnson had a poor outing against Lucknow and CSK need early wickets from the new-ball pair. Anshul Kamboj has been the best of them with 19 wickets, with Noor Ahmad and Gurjapneet Singh in support.
Sunrisers Hyderabad are third in the table despite being bowled out for 86 against Gujarat Titans in their last game, and a win here would almost secure a playoff berth. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head have combined for more than 800 runs, and Heinrich Klaasen leads the run charts with 508. Pat Cummins heads an attack in which Eshan Malinga has 16 wickets. The slow surface may blunt SRH’s power, but our preview still gives them the edge.
Chepauk is traditionally slow, dry and spin-friendly, one of the hardest grounds in India for batters. The surface grips and turns more as the game goes on, so spinners dominate the middle overs. Batting is easier early on, but stroke play gets harder later. Quick bowlers are most effective with cutters and variations, and scores around 150–170 are considered competitive in T20s.
Chennai is expected to be warm and humid on 18 May, with temperatures of 31–33°C and humidity above 75%. Skies should be partly cloudy, with a small chance of a passing shower or brief thunderstorm, though a washout looks unlikely. Dew later in the evening could make batting easier in the second innings and encourage captains to bowl first.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 165–180 | – |
| Second innings | 155–175 | – |
Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH have one of the most destructive batting line-ups in the tournament and sit third, while CSK’s bowling has been inconsistent.
Toss pick: Chennai Super Kings
FAQ
Who is favoured in CSK vs SRH?
Our preview picks Sunrisers Hyderabad, whose batting has been outstanding this season.
What does CSK need to stay in the playoff race?
They sit sixth with two league games left and need convincing wins in both.
How does Chepauk usually play?
It is slow and dry with turn for spinners, so 150–170 is generally a competitive T20 total.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Chennai Super Kings
- Ruturaj Gaikwadc
- Sanju Samsonwk
- Urvil Patel
- Kartik Sharma
- Dewald Brevis
- Shivam Dube
- Prashant Veer
- Anshul Kamboj
- Noor Ahmad
- Spencer Johnson
- Mukesh Choudhary
Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Pat Cumminsc
- Ishan Kishanwk
- Abhishek Sharma
- Travis Head
- Heinrich Klaasen
- Smaran Ravichandran
- Salil Arora
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Shivang Kumar
- Praful Hinge
- Eshan Malinga
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad that we covered.