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The five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), are gearing up to hit the field again as they prepare to face off against the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), in a thrilling double-header on April 5. 

Unfortunately, the Yellow Army hasn’t had the best start to their IPL 2026 season, suffering back-to-back losses. They’ll be looking to bounce back strong against the Bengaluru team.

However, a big question looms over the match: will MS Dhoni make his return? Without him, CSK’s batting lineup appears quite inexperienced and has struggled in their previous outings. The 43-year-old is currently sidelined with a calf strain and has been confirmed to miss the first two weeks of action, including this upcoming game. 

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There’s still no clear timeline for Dhoni’s return. Although he was spotted batting in the nets before the RCB vs CSK match, he didn’t seem to be moving his feet as quickly as usual. Reports suggest he might miss at least six matches, and tonight’s game marks only CSK’s third match of the season. 

In addition to Dhoni’s absence, CSK will also be without Dewald Brevis, who is recovering from a side strain. His return is still uncertain, but he has been seen practicing in the nets.

As for CSK in IPL 2026, the former champions are struggling, having lost to both RR and Punjab Kings (PBKS). Currently sitting at the bottom of the IPL 2026 standings, both of their defeats have come while trying to defend their totals. 

Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain), MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Urvil Patel.

All-rounders: Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Matthew William Short, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Shivam Dube.

Bowlers: Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Spencer Johnson.