Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Chennai Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB began their IPL 2026 campaign with a win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, while CSK have lost both opening matches. RCB have won the last three meetings between these sides and are defending champions. CSK’s bowlers have taken only seven wickets across their two defeats.
Toss & Conditions
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium has produced high-scoring matches, with 200-plus totals chased in three of the last six IPL games. The surface favors batting, and chasing teams have won four of those six matches, making the toss and chasing strategy significant.
Head-to-Head
RCB have won all of the last three matches against CSK, including victories by 2 runs, 50 runs, and 27 runs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB are fourth in the IPL regular season standings with 2 points and a net run rate of +2.907. They have won all of their last three matches, including a 203/4 chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Chennai Super Kings
CSK are tenth in the IPL regular season table with 0 points and a net run rate of -2.562. They have lost both matches this season, including a 209/5 total that was chased by Punjab Kings and a 127/10 loss to Rajasthan Royals.
Playing XI
News & Facts
- Josh Hazlewood was unavailable against Sunrisers Hyderabad; Jacob Duffy replaced him and was Player of the Match.
- RCB have won their last three head-to-head matches against CSK.
- Since IPL 2025, CSK have recorded the lowest powerplay run rate of 8.70, while RCB’s is 9.94.
- At the Chinnaswamy Stadium, there have been 35 totals of 200-plus in IPL matches, the most among venues with at least 15 games.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar has conceded 120 runs to Sanju Samson at an average of 30 and strike rate of 126.31, while Ruturaj Gaikwad has scored 69 off 48 balls against him without dismissal.
मुख्य आँकड़े
Prediction
Key stats favor RCB 6–2, with advantages in points, NRR, Elo rating, win rate, head-to-head record, and powerplay economy, while CSK lead in mid and death-over economy. All four predictive models favor RCB, with an average probability of 75% versus 25% for CSK. Bookmakers also lean toward RCB at 59% (odds 1.63) against CSK’s 41% (odds 2.29). RCB’s superior form, NRR, and head-to-head dominance are the main differentiators.

