RCB vs CSK IPL 2026: The Southern Derby Returns to Chinnaswamy! Pitch Report & Playing 11
The biggest rivalry in cricket history is back! Today, Sunday, April 5, 2026, the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) host the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
RCB is coming off a massive opening win, while CSK is desperately searching for their first points of the season. Will King Kohli’s men maintain their dominance, or will the Yellow Army bounce back in Bengaluru? Here is your 100% complete match guide.
🏏 Match Details: RCB vs CSK (Match 11)
Expect the stadium to be a sea of Red and Yellow tonight. This is a high-stakes battle for momentum in the early stages of the tournament.
| Feature | Details |
| Date | Sunday, April 5, 2026 |
| Venue | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Match Time | 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM) |
| Captain (RCB) | Rajat Patidar |
| Captain (CSK) | Ruturaj Gaikwad |
| Win Prob. | RCB: 60.4% |
🏟️ Pitch Report: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
The Chinnaswamy is a nightmare for bowlers and a dream for batters. Here’s what to expect:
- The Surface: It’s a flat, hard deck with short boundaries. In the last match here, RCB chased down 202 in just 15.4 overs!
- Average Score: A par score is around 195–210. Anything less is usually chased down easily.
- The Toss Factor: Win the toss and bowl first. Chasing is significantly easier here due to the small ground and the possibility of evening dew.
- Key for Bowlers: Spinners who can bowl into the pitch and fast bowlers with effective slower balls will be the only ones to survive.
🚀 Predicted Playing 11 for Today
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
The defending champions look incredibly balanced. Virat Kohli is in red-hot form after a match-winning 69 in the opener.
- Virat Kohli
- Phil Salt ✈️
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Rajat Patidar (C)
- Jitesh Sharma (WK)
- Tim David ✈️
- Romario Shepherd ✈️
- Krunal Pandya
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Jacob Duffy ✈️
- Abhinandan Singh
- (Impact Player: Yash Dayal/Anuj Rawat)
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
CSK is dealing with a few injury concerns but has seen great sparks from young Ayush Mhatre.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (C)
- Ayush Mhatre
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Shivam Dube
- Daryl Mitchell ✈️
- Ravindra Jadeja
- MS Dhoni (WK)
- Matt Henry ✈️
- Anshul Kamboj
- Matheesha Pathirana ✈️
- Maheesh Theekshana ✈️
- (Impact Player: Sameer Rizvi/Tushar Deshpande)
📊 Head-to-Head Stats (IPL History)
CSK has historically dominated this fixture, but RCB has won 3 of the last 4 encounters.
| Statistic | Record |
| Total Matches | 36 |
| CSK Won | 22 |
| RCB Won | 13 |
| No Result | 1 |
| Last Match | RCB won by 27 runs (2025) |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is MS Dhoni playing today?
A: Yes, Thala is fit and will be behind the stumps for CSK today.
Q: Where can I watch the match?
A: You can catch the live action on the JioHotstar App and Star Sports Network on TV.
Q: Is Josh Hazlewood available for RCB?
A: No, Hazlewood is likely to remain sidelined due to a minor injury. New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy will continue to lead the attack after his 3-wicket haul in the first game.
Q: What is the weather in Bengaluru?
A: Clear skies with a temperature around 26°C. Perfect weather for a 200-run thriller!