IPL 2026: Is MS Dhoni playing in SRH vs CSK Match 27?

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are being hosted by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 27 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 for a thrilling contest at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday, April 18. A lot of fans were eager to know whether MS Dhoni would finally make a return to the field, and their question was answered as CSK announced their playing XI ahead of the toss.

SRH vs CSK: Toss Update

The Chennai-based franchise won the toss and invited the hosts to bat first at the Hyderabad wicket, which seems to be quite a batting-friendly deck. Broadcaster Ravi Shastri did not ask CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad regarding the playing combination for the ongoing contest, but it was confirmed officially a while after that CSK made a couple of important changes to their line-up from the previous contest. 

Dhoni still unavailable; SRH replace Harsh Dubey for Sri Lankan pacer

Meanwhile, fans will have to wait a little longer for the return of MS Dhoni to the field, and the veteran cricketer is now expected to make a comeback during the El Clasico between the Mumbai Indians and CSK at the Wankhede Stadium on April 23. CSK made a couple of changes, bringing in Matthew Short and Mukesh Choudhary for Khaleel Ahmed and Akeal Hosein. SRH, on the other hand, dropped Harsh Dubey and opted for swing-bowling services of Dilshan Madushanka. 

SRH vs CSK: What did the captains say?

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Chennai Super Kings captain, 

We are going to bowl first. Looks a really good track, won't change much so we look to chase. Good to be up from the bottom. From the second game we started doing the basics right. The key is to be consistent. Last game I felt Noor bowled really well and good to have him back on track and even Anshul bowling really well at the death. In your language it looks like a belter but we got to assess it.

Ishan Kishan, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain,

I think we would have batted first. Looks like a good wicket so we want to put up a good total. You have to bat for the team and not for individual performances. We just have to take it game by game and it doesn't matter where we are right now because it's a long tournament. I think the ball is going to move a bit in the beginning and the batters have to watch the ball and play well. Dilshan Madushanka comes in for Harsh Dubey for more swing upfront.

SRH vs CSK: Playing XIs

Chennai Super Kings

Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Jamie Overton, Matthew Short, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh

Impact Substitutes: Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Matt Henry

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (c), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (w), Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivang Kumar, Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain, Eshan Malinga

Impact Substitutes: Smaran Ravichandran, Harsh Dubey, Liam Livingstone, Dilshan Madushanka, Harshal Patel