Five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will begin their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 journey against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their opening match of the season.
The game will be played on March 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The fixture comes just months after one of the most high-profile trades in IPL history that saw Sanju Samson move to CSK while Ravindra Jadeja joined Rajasthan Royals.
Chennai Fans Await First Home Match
CSK supporters in Chennai will get their first chance to see the team at home on April 3, when the franchise faces Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Led by captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, the squad will also feature legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni, who remains one of the biggest attractions of the tournament.
CSK IPL 2026 Schedule (First Matches)
Here are Chennai Super Kings’ confirmed fixtures for the early stage of IPL 2026:
- RR vs CSK – March 30, 7:30 PM IST – Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
- CSK vs PBKS – April 3, 7:30 PM IST – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- RCB vs CSK – April 5, 7:30 PM IST – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- CSK vs DC – April 11, 7:30 PM IST – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
The clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 5 is expected to be one of the most high-profile games early in the season.
CSK Full Squad for IPL 2026
Chennai Super Kings 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
High Expectations for the Five-Time Champions
With a refreshed squad and the addition of Sanju Samson, CSK will aim to add another title to their impressive trophy cabinet in IPL 2026. Under captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and with the experience of MS Dhoni, the team will look to start the season strongly.