IPL 2026, Match 22: Chennai Super vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Preview

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) take on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 22 of the 2026 Indian Premier League at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 14.

The Super Kings finally got their campaign underway with a victory against the Delhi Capitals, as a brilliant all-round team performance saw them win their previous game by 23 runs. Sanju Samson finally made his mark after a string of low scores with an unbeaten 56-ball 115, including 15 fours and four sixes.

Samson played with elegance and poise as his innings formed the backbone of CSK’s ascent to 212/2 in their 20 overs. The Super Kings stepped up in the field, stopping runs with dives and taking stunning catches. They picked up regular wickets and bowled the Capitals out for 189. Jamie Overton was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/18.

The Knight Riders, on the other hand, are still winless in IPL 2026. They lost their third game of the season against the Lucknow Super Giants, despite having them at the brink. They will be glad that their overseas batters like Cameron Green and Rovman Powell were amongst the runs on a slowish Eden Gardens wicket. Green has been given the all-clear to bowl and picked up his first wicket of the season against the Super Giants. 

These are two of the most decorated teams in IPL history, with eight trophies amongst them. They find themselves languishing in the bottom half of the table. The Super Kings will be looking to carry forward the momentum from their first win, while the Knight Riders will be looking to get their season underway with their first victory in 2026.

CSK vs KKR: Match Details

CSK vs KKR: Head-to-Head record

Pitch Report: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Chepauk has, over the last few years, become a venue synonymous with batting. Gone are the days when spinners used to rule in Chennai. The red-soil wickets produced are a lot more consistent and conducive to higher scores.

The two games in Chennai this year have recorded totals above 200, but only on one of those occasions has it been chased down. The wicket was on the slightly drier side against the Delhi Capitals. Dew is also a prominent factor due to the venue's proximity to the sea. Seamers get aid early due to the sea breeze flowing through the stadium.

CSK vs KKR: Predicted Playing XIs

Chennai Super Kings

Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Sanju Samson (wk), Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurjapneet Singh

Impact Player: Akeal Hossein

Kolkata Knight Riders

Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Navdeep Saini, Kartik Tyagi

Impact Player: Vaibhav Arora