Chennai Super Kings take on Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 Match 61 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, with first ball at 7:30 PM IST.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium surface is slow turner, spinners dominate the middle overs. Par score is 165 first-innings par, and set batters score 80% of the runs. CSK have leaned on Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja for top-order runs through this stretch of the season; their bowling stack rests on Khaleel Ahmed swinging the new ball. RR counter with Sanju Samson anchoring and Trent Boult as the breakthrough bowler.
Captain stack: Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain (highest ceiling on the card), Sanju Samson vice-captain (consistent floor), MS Dhoni as the differential 3rd pick.
Want the full Dream11 team plus probable XI for both sides? Detailed match preview with both teams' probable XI, captain stack, budget alternative team, and pitch report → ipl-predict.in match 61.
With 26 fixtures still to play before the IPL 2026 playoffs cut on 19 May, every match shifts the points-table maths. Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals both have implications on the playoff race — Rajasthan Royals are tracking the seeding race more aggressively, and the result here can flip a top-4 vs eliminator outcome by net run-rate alone.
For Dream11 lineup construction the key inputs are the venue (above), the toss decision (chasing teams have been winning roughly 60% of night games at MA Chidambaram Stadium this season), and the lineup confirmation 30 minutes before first ball. Lock your team after the toss when possible.