IPL 2026, SRH vs CSK 27th Match Match Preview

Ravi Singh

4 hours ago

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Big Picture – Khaleel a big miss for CSK

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings are level on four points, but a big gap in net run rate separates them. A win for SRH strengthens their position at No. 4, while CSK can possibly jump from No. 8 into the top four if they notch up a third straight win.

The road has gotten a bit tougher for the visitors, with Khaleel Ahmed ruled out for the season. This forces another rethink of their bowling attack at a venue where surfaces have oscillated to extremes.

The good news, though, is Noor Ahmad is slowly rediscovering his old magic and Anshul Kamboj has picked up 10 wickets across phases in a season where he’s been used more flexibly. From being a nearly-exclusive powerplay bowler (98% of his overs) last year, there has been an even distribution of his bowling utility across all phases, most notably in the death (41% of his overs) – a sign of his evolution as a fast bowler.

CSK’s batting has slowly revved up with Sanju Samson hitting top gear, with Ayush Mhatre and Sarfaraz Khan playing key roles. They’ll be hoping Ruturaj Gaikwad can rediscover his touch after an indifferent start. There’s also the MS Dhoni question to consider: where will he bat, and what will his role be? But that’s possibly one for the next game.

On paper, SRH’s attack looks strikingly raw. Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain have turned heads on their IPL debuts, but Harsh Dubey is only eight games into his career, and Shivang Kumar had played just one T20 before this season. Yet, this attack brings a thrill, and is one they’ll likely back for the time being, until Pat Cummins arrives.

For now, Ishan Kishan remains the captain and their best striker this season, while Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Reddy have made timely contributions through the middle and death overs. Now for Travishek to regain their old consistency and become fearsome once again.

Form Guide

Sunrisers Hyderabad WLWWL (last five matches, most recent first)
Chennai Super Kings WWLLL

Key Question

Team News

Meanwhile, Pat Cummins is set to arrive in Hyderabad on Friday, and is in line to feature from April 25, according to head coach Daniel Vettori. Cummins had flown home after the first game in Bengaluru to consult his specialists and undergo scans on his back, before being given an all-clear by Cricket Australia.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (probable XII): 1 Travis Head, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Ishan Kishan (capt, wk), 4 Heinrich Klaasen,s 5 Nitish Reddy, 6 Aniket Verma, 7 Salil Arora, 8 Harsh Dubey, 9 Shivang Kumar, 10 Eshan Malinga, 10 Praful Hinge, 12 Sakib Hussain

Dhoni is nearing match fitness after a three-week rehab for a calf strain and has travelled with the squad for an away game for the first time this season. However, his inclusion remains uncertain.

CSK’s bigger concern will be filling a void in Khaleel’s absence due to a quadriceps injury. This could open the door for Mukesh Choudhary if they prefer an Indian seamer. Mukesh is a like-for-like option who has played 16 matches for the side, 13 of them in 2022. But if they pivot towards experience, it could bring Henry back into the mix.

Chennai Super Kings (probable XII): 1 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Ayush Mhatre, 4 Dewald Brewis, 5 Sarfaraz Khan, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Jamie Overton, 8 Noor Ahmad, 9 Anshul Kamboj, 10 Gurjapneet Singh, 11 Mukesh Choudhary/Matt Henry, 12 Akeal Hosein/MS Dhoni

In the spotlight

Since IPL 2025, Travis Head‘s powerplay returns have dipped. His strike rate is down from 179 to 148, with just one fifty in 19 innings compared to 12 in 33 in the preceding year. His boundary percentage has held up, suggesting the intent remains intact but consistency has slipped. He’s made starts in three innings this season; SRH hope for a bigger impact as the tournament enters its middle phase.

Ruturaj Gaikwad may not feel heat from the CSK management, but his own high standards of the past could soon gnaw at him. Across four innings, his top score is 28, with a strike rate of 105 – the second-lowest among batters who’ve faced 50 balls. He has also been dismissed twice by left-arm spin in two innings, making Harsh Dubey a compelling powerplay match-up. There is increasing chatter around a move to No. 3, especially with Ayush Mhatre in excellent form at the top. These conversations will only grow louder with another failure.

Stats and trivia

Noor Ahmad, fresh off a Player-of-the-Match performance, faces a sterner middle-overs test against Heinrich Klaasen, who strikes at 269 against him (43 runs, 0 dismissals in two innings).
Sarfaraz Khan’s blinders have made a few highlights reels, but CSK’s catching efficiency of 63.6% is the lowest among all sides so far this season. They dropped three catches in their win against KKR.
CSK have struggled against left-handers this season, conceding at 11.8 and taking just one wicket in 6.2 overs. That’s a concern against Sunrisers Hyderabad’s left-heavy top three of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. By contrast, their economy against right-handers is a more controlled 9.5, albeit across a larger sample of 52.1 overs.

Pitch and conditions

The surface is the same as the one on which SRH beat Rajasthan Royals three nights ago. While it’s expected to be a belter, as Ishan Kishan proved with SRH posting 216, Vettori expects this surface to play a tad differently because of the heat factor. This, he said, may also force them to alter their combinations if necessary.

Quotes

“The goal is to be super aggressive. To make that that come off every time is impossible. We still want them to stick to their natural games. We have a strong enough batting group behind them, and they’ve been able to perform exceptionally well even when that partnership hasn’t come off. When they come off, they’re one of the best in the competition. We want to them to play with that freedom.”
SRH coach Daniel Vettori isn’t fussed bout Travishek’s form or approach

“He’s going fine, hasn’t had the returns that he would like, and he’s working hard on that. He’s training well, hitting the ball well, has a positive mindset. If we can cover for him for a few games and he comes into form, that’s the way IPL can go. very rarely someone dominates the whole way through. He’s working very hard and has a lot of support around him.”
CSK coach Stephen Fleming believes its a matter of time before Gaikwad fires

Shashank Kishore is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo

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