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Momentum vs survival: CSK take on out-of-form KKR, Here is the match preview

CSK aim to extend dominance as struggling KKR seek revival in crucial Chennai clash under clear skies

By Aritra Chatterjee

Apr 14, 2026 17:39 IST

The Chidambaram stadium is going to be covered with yellow fever once again as the yellow brigade is going to take on the Kolkata Knight Riders. In the last match, CSK outplayed Delhi Capitals, and KKR has not been able to find the rhythm and right combinations. KKR’s bowling has remained one of the major concerns for the purple brigade, and with zero wins in the last four matches, KKR has been positioned in last place.

In the last match, Sanju Samson regained his form; he has been in outstanding touch from the world cup. From the last few matches, he has failed to gain momentum. In the Delhi match, he smashed 115 runs and put CSK in a good position. CSK has batted really well for the last three matches. From the very beginning of the season, their bowling remained the main concern, and they addressed the area beautifully.

What to expect

At the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, conditions are expected to favour batters under clear skies, with no weather interruptions likely.

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The pitch, made of black soil, should offer consistent bounce and grip, aiding stroke play as the match progresses. Historically, the Chennai Super Kings held a clear advantage over Kolkata Knight Riders with a 20-11 head-to-head record. However, recent encounters suggest a more balanced rivalry, with both sides evenly matched at 3-3 since 2022, setting up a closely contested clash.

Match preview

Just like the last match, this match is also going to be a run fest and with both teams cracking batting line up, two teams will surely try to use most of the advantage of toss; batting first will be key. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s form is going to be a key concern for CSK. On the other hand, Kolkata is likely to make two or more changes to its squad. IPL 2026 has entered its third week, but KKR is still finding its rhythm and combination. Whereas CSK has found a winning formula. Will the two youngsters come to this match? It is going to be a key question, but over the years CSK has always believed to stick with the winning team, and it is likely that the yellow brigade will not change their squad.

Probable XIIs

CSK- Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh

Also Read | Who is Sakib Hussain? The bowler who reignites the SRH bowling line-up

KKR- Ajinkya Rahane (c), Finn Allen, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Navdeep Saini, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora

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