CSK vs RCB Pitch Report IPL 2026: Rain of runs in Chinnaswamy or comeback of Chennai? Know the latest updates on pitch report, weather and Dhoni’s injury.

Bengaluru: The 11th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Sunday, April 5 is going to witness a battle for which millions of cricket fans are waiting. The teams of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will face each other at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. On one hand, RCB would like to maintain their winning streak, while on the other hand, for Chennai, which has lost two consecutive matches, this match is like ‘do or die’.

Suspense on Dhoni’s return: Will ‘Thala’ take the field?

The biggest question for the fans of Chennai Super Kings is whether Mahendra Singh Dhoni will play in this high-voltage match? Dhoni has been out of the last two matches (against Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings). The impact of his absence is clearly visible on the team’s performance and morale. According to the latest reports, the chances of Dhoni playing against RCB are very less, which can prove to be a big blow for CSK. Fans are continuously praying for his recovery on social media.

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch report: Batsmen’s fun or bowlers’ fun?

Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has always been a batsman’s paradise. The boundaries here are small and the pitch is flat, due to which the ball comes straight to the bat.

Batting: Scores of 200+ are often seen on this pitch. The average score of the first innings is 179 runs, but with the form Virat Kohli and Phil Salt are in, the score can go much higher than this.

Bowling: The nights here are challenging for the bowlers. Due to small boundaries, there is less scope for mistakes.

Roll of toss: There is every possibility of dew falling in the evening, which makes bowling difficult in the second innings. In such a situation, whichever captain wins the toss, he will prefer to bowl first.

Bengaluru weather and dew factor

The weather of Bengaluru on 5th April is going to be absolutely favorable for cricket. The temperature will be around 28 degrees Celsius and there is no chance of rain. However, due to high humidity, dew will play a decisive role in the second half of the match. Due to dew, the ball becomes wet, due to which spinners and fast bowlers have difficulty in getting grip, and batting becomes much easier.

Performance of both teams so far

RCB: In their first match, Bengaluru showed their strength by achieving Sunrisers Hyderabad’s huge target of 202 in just 15.4 overs. The pair of Virat Kohli and Padikkal is in great form.

CSK: The start of the season has been scary for Chennai. After losing by 8 wickets to Rajasthan and 5 wickets to Punjab, this team captained by Rituraj Gaikwad has slipped down in the points table. The team is in dire need of improvement in its bowling and middle order batting.

Probable Playing XI

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Suyyash Sharma.

(Impact Player: Abhinandan Singh)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Sanju Samson (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Ayush Mhatre, Matt Short, Shivam Dubey, Karthik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj.

(Impact Player: Sarfaraz Khan)