🏏IPL 2026: CSK vs SRH, 63rd Match, at Chennai on 18/05/2026🏏

🏏IPL 2026: CSK vs SRH, 63rd Match at MA Chidambaram

Stadium, Chennai on 18/05/2026 at 7:30PM IST🏏

CSK's playoff hopes on the line against SRH in Chennai

The match is also Dhoni's last chance of playing at Chepauk in IPL 2026Once upon a time, MS Dhoni said he wanted to play his last game at Chepauk. He is 44 years old. Tomorrow will be the last game of the IPL 2026 season in Chennai. What's going to happen? Will he play? Nobody knows. Dhoni came to training, like he has done all season. He trained for 30 to 40 minutes, facing throwdowns and spin bowlers. Then he left.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in sixth place, need to win both their remaining games to make the playoffs. They are in this situation because of a poor start, but also, they gave up a winning position in the away game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Coach Stephen Fleming said the team had been hurt by that performance. SRH, in third place, have a chance to make them hurt even more and also fortify their chances of making it through to the playoffs.

Pat Cummins' team are coming off a week-long break where the players were given permission to go off and do their own thing. Ishan Kishan, for example, zipped home to launch the Jharkhand T20 league. Will that help them erase the memory of 86 all out against Gujarat Titans? Monday will provide the answer.

Team News

Chennai Super Kings

Injuries/Unavailabilities: Most players skipped the pre-match practice session. But MS Dhoni once again had a hit in the nets as intrigue grows over his CSK future. It will be interesting to see if CSK throw in Dian Forrester straightaway to bolster the lower middle order.

Tactics & Matchups: Although Mukesh Choudhary has struggled against Abhishek Sharma previously, the pacer has had great success against Ishan Kishan, dismissing him thrice in just 7 balls.

Probable XII: 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, Mukesh Choudhary

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Injuries/Unavailabilities: While there are no new injuries reported in the SRH camp, they do have a case to bring back Aniket Verma to strengthen their batting down the order.

Tactics & Matchups: Pat Cummins has a favourable matchup against Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube. Given they bat in different phases of the game, Cummins will have to manage his overs effectively. While Heinrich Klaasen batted at No.5 last game, SRH may have to move him back to 4 again to counter Noor given the South African's imperious record against the wrist spinner.

Probable XII: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (w), Smaran Ravichandran, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora/Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins (c), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge

When: CSK vs SRH, May 18 at 7:30 PM

Where: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

What to expect: The weather in Chennai has been slightly inconsistent over the last few days. But no rain threat is expected on match day. The contest will be played on the surface that was used against Mumbai Indians.

Head-to-head: CSK 15 - 8 SRH

Head to Head Last 5 Matches

SRH won by 10 runs, 19-Apr-2026

SRH won by 5 wickets (with 8 balls remaining), 26-Apr-2025

CSK won by 78 runs, 29-Apr-2024

SRH won by 6 wickets (with 11 balls remaining), 06-Apr-2024

CSK won by 7 wickets (with 8 balls remaining), 22-Apr-2023

CSK vs SRH Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Heinrich Klaasen

Heinrich Klaasen has played a different brand of cricket, where he hasn't gone hammer and tongs from ball one, but instead, given himself some time to get accustomed to the surface before playing the big shots. He has amassed 508 runs in 12 innings at an average of 50.80 and a strike rate of 153.94.

Probable Best Bowler: Anshul Kamboj

Anshul Kamboj

Anshul Kamboj conceded 63 runs in just 16 balls in the last game against the Super Giants. However, one bad game is acceptable for someone who has picked up 19 wickets this season at an average of 22.53 and a strike rate of 13.37. He will look to get some wickets with the new ball and then come back in the back end with his accurate yorkers.

Here are the key player battles in CSK vs SRH, Match 63 of IPL 2026:

Heinrich Klaasen vs Noor Ahmad

Heinrich Klaasen has tweaked his natural game and batted with much more responsibility in IPL 2026. Lowering his strike rate has helped him become very consistent. He has scored 500-plus runs in 12 matches, which is very impressive for someone who bats at No. 4.

Noor Ahmad, on the other hand, has blown hot and cold in IPL 2026. In some matches, he has bowled stunning spells through the middle overs. However, in others, he has been taken for plenty. The Afghanistan spinner has 12 wickets from 12 games this season at an economy rate of 7.89.

Abhishek Sharma vs Anshul Kamboj

Abhishek Sharma has had another exemplary year with the willow. In 12 innings, he has amassed 481 runs at an average of 43.73 and a strike rate of 209.13. The opening batter has notched up three fifties and one century in IPL 2026 already. If he gets going, CSK bowlers will be in for a tough time.

Anshul Kamboj would want to forget the last game he played against the Lucknow Super Giants. The right-arm pacer went wicketless and gave away 63 runs in 2.4 overs. Kamboj, however, is among the top wicket-takers in the tournament, with 19 scalps from 12 matches. He would want to bounce back strongly on Monday.

Sanju Samson vs Eshan Malinga

Sanju Samson has not been at his consistent best. However, he has played some match-winning knocks here and there. After a slow start to his career at CSK, the right-handed batter has aggregated 450 runs in 12 innings at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 164.24.

Eshan Malinga, meanwhile, has been the leading wicket-taker for SRH in IPL 2026. The Sri Lankan seamer has picked up 16 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 15.88. He has bowled the difficult overs but still managed to maintain a decent economy rate of 9.64.

Today's Match Prediction: Chasing team to win the match

Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

CSK

Second To Bat

Powerplay: 65-75

210-220

SRH

Second To Bat

Powerplay: 50-60

200-210

Win Probability

CSK 45%

SRH 55%

Disclaimer

The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.

See everything is in ur favour