Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and opted to field first against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday.
Toss Decision
Gaikwad cited the dew factor and the team's strength in chasing as reasons for choosing to bowl first. “We will bowl first. The wicket looks good, and dew might play a role later. Our batting lineup is confident chasing any target,” he said at the toss.
Team Changes
CSK made one change, bringing in pacer Tushar Deshpande in place of spinner Maheesh Theekshana. LSG, on the other hand, remained unchanged from their previous match.
Playing XIs
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana, Mukesh Choudhary.
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c & wk), Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur, Naveen-ul-Haq.
Match Context
Both teams entered the match with momentum, having won their previous games. CSK aimed to continue their winning streak at home, while LSG sought to upset the hosts on their turf. The pitch at Chepauk is known to assist spinners, but dew in the second innings could make it easier for batsmen.
The match is crucial for both sides as they jostle for playoff positions in the IPL 2026 points table. A win for Chennai would strengthen their hold on a top-two spot, while Lucknow would look to climb into the top four.
