The Indian Premier League 2026 season is set to begin on March 28, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) releasing the first phase of the tournament schedule.
This phase will feature 20 matches played between March 28 and April 12 across 10 cities, while the remaining fixtures will be announced later due to upcoming state elections.
Among the teams gearing up for the new season are the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), one of the most successful franchises in IPL history. The five-time champions will begin their campaign on March 30 against the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati.
IPL 2026 Tournament Format and Schedule Overview
The 19th edition of the IPL will follow the traditional league stage and playoffs format, where all teams compete in the group stage and the top four teams in the points table advance to the playoffs.
The first phase of the tournament will take place across multiple venues, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
All four of Chennai Super Kings’ matches in the opening phase are scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST, the standard evening slot for IPL fixtures.
Chennai Super Kings IPL 2026 Match Schedule
Chennai Super Kings will play four matches in the first phase, including two home games in Chennai and two away fixtures.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2026 | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| April 3, 2026 | Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| April 5, 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
| April 11, 2026 | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 7:30 PM |
CSK Home Matches in IPL 2026
Chennai Super Kings will host two matches at their home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium, popularly known as Chepauk.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 3 | Punjab Kings | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| April 11 | Delhi Capitals | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
Home conditions in Chennai often favour spin bowlers, which could give CSK a strategic advantage in these matches.
CSK Away Matches in IPL 2026 First Phase
The team will also play two away matches during the opening phase.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 30 | Rajasthan Royals | Guwahati | 7:30 PM |
| April 5 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Bengaluru | 7:30 PM |
These matches will test the team in different conditions before returning to their home ground.
Chennai Super Kings’ Legacy in the IPL
Chennai Super Kings are one of the most successful teams in the history of the Indian Premier League. The franchise has won the IPL title five times — in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023.
Over the years, the team has been known for its consistency, experienced leadership and ability to perform in high-pressure matches.
Veteran captain MS Dhoni continues to play a key role in the franchise, providing leadership and experience to the squad.
CSK’s Major Squad Changes Ahead of IPL 2026
Ahead of the 2026 season, Chennai Super Kings made several notable changes to their squad during the IPL auction and transfer window.
One of the biggest moves was the signing of Sanju Samson in a trade deal with Rajasthan Royals that involved players like Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
The franchise also focused on bringing in young talent, spending a significant portion of their auction budget on uncapped players.
Some of the new additions include:
Prashant Veer
Kartik Sharma
Akeal Hosein
Matt Henry
These signings indicate a strategic shift towards blending youth with experience.
Chennai Super Kings Squad for IPL 2026
The CSK squad for IPL 2026 features a mix of established international stars and promising young players.
CSK Squad:
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain)
Ayush Mhatre
MS Dhoni
Dewald Brevis
Urvil Patel
Shivam Dube
Jamie Overton
Ramakrishna Ghosh
Noor Ahmad
Khaleel Ahmed
Anshul Kamboj
Gurjapneet Singh
Shreyas Gopal
Mukesh Choudhary
Nathan Ellis
Sanju Samson
Kartik Sharma
Prashant Veer
Rahul Chahar
Akeal Hosein
Matt Henry
Matthew Short
Aman Khan
Sarfaraz Khan
Zakary Foulkes
What to Expect From CSK in IPL 2026
Chennai Super Kings enter the 2026 season with a balanced squad that combines experienced campaigners with emerging talent. With a strong home record at Chepauk and experienced leadership within the team, CSK will once again aim to compete for the IPL title.
A solid start in the first phase could set the foundation for another successful campaign for the five-time champions.
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