Chennai Super Kings enter IPL 2026 under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad, the five-time IPL champions looking to add a sixth title to their legendary collection. CSK open their campaign on March 30 against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati before returning to their fortress at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai for their home fixtures. Here is the complete match-by-match schedule for Chennai Super Kings across the full IPL 2026 league stage.
CSK IPL 2026 — Key Details
Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad. Home venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Total league stage matches: 14. Live streaming: JioHotstar. TV broadcast: Star Sports.
CSK Complete IPL 2026 Match Schedule
Match 1: March 30, Monday, 7:30 PM — Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, Guwahati. Away match. CSK’s season opener.
Match 2: April 3, Friday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings, Chennai. Home match. CSK’s first home game of the season.
Match 3: April 5, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings, Bengaluru. Away match. Defending champions vs five-time winners. Chinnaswamy electric.
Match 4: April 11, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Chennai. Home match.
Match 5: April 14, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai. Home match. Two of IPL’s most successful franchises meet at Chepauk.
Match 6: April 18, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings, Hyderabad. Away match.
Match 7: April 23, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai. Away match. The El Clasico of Indian cricket at Wankhede.
Match 8: April 26, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings, Ahmedabad. Away match.
Match 9: April 37, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Chennai. Home match.
Match 10: May 2, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians, Chennai. Home match. Historic rivalry at Chepauk.
Match 11: May 9, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings, Chennai. Home match.
Match 12: May 15, Friday, 7:30 PM — Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow. Away match.
Match 13: May 18, Monday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai. Home match.
Match 14: May 21, Thursday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans, Chennai. Home match. Final league stage fixture at Chepauk.
CSK Home Matches at a Glance
Chennai Super Kings play eight home matches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium across the league stage. Home fixtures fall on April 3, April 11, April 14, April 29, May 2, May 9, May 18, and May 21. Chepauk is one of the most intimidating venues in IPL cricket, with CSK’s passionate yellow-clad fanbase creating an atmosphere that has historically overwhelmed visiting teams. CSK’s home record at Chepauk is among the strongest of any franchise at their home ground across IPL history.
CSK Away Fixtures Summary
Chennai Super Kings play six away matches across five different cities. Guwahati hosts RR vs CSK on March 30. Bengaluru hosts RCB vs CSK on April 5, one of the most anticipated clashes of the first phase. Hyderabad hosts SRH vs CSK on April 18. Mumbai hosts MI vs CSK on April 23 in what is historically the most watched fixture in IPL. Ahmedabad hosts GT vs CSK on April 26. Lucknow hosts LSG vs CSK on May 15.
The Fixture to Watch — CSK vs MI at Chepauk
The May 2 fixture between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium is the single most anticipated match in CSK’s schedule. The CSK vs MI rivalry is the defining contest of IPL history, combining the two most successful franchises, the two largest fanbases, and the most consistent head-to-head drama across 18 editions of the tournament. Ruturaj Gaikwad leading CSK against Hardik Pandya’s MI at Chepauk, with playoff implications potentially riding on the result, is as compelling a cricket fixture as the IPL calendar can produce.
The RCB vs CSK Clash on April 5
The defending champions hosting the five-time winners at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 5 is another fixture that deserves special attention. RCB vs CSK at Bengaluru always generates extraordinary atmosphere, with Virat Kohli facing Ruturaj Gaikwad adding a personal narrative layer to what is already one of IPL’s most watched rivalries. Just eight days into the season, this fixture could set early tone-setting signals for both franchises’ title campaigns.
What to Watch For in CSK’s Campaign
Chennai Super Kings have consistently defied predictions of decline across multiple IPL cycles, reinventing themselves each season while maintaining a culture of calm, clinical performance under pressure. Ruturaj Gaikwad enters his second full season as captain with the confidence of having led CSK through a transition period. The squad’s depth, particularly in spin bowling which suits the Chepauk surface, will be a key competitive advantage through the home phase of their campaign. CSK’s consistency in reaching playoffs, having qualified in every IPL season they have participated in, makes them perennial title contenders regardless of squad composition.