The pressure is mounting on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as they strive to shake off their poor start to the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. After a disappointing 2022 campaign, where they finished joint-bottom, CSK are now on the brink of equaling that poor start. With four straight losses, they are in danger of matching their worst ever start to a season. This time, however, the poor run follows successive dull campaigns, unlike in 2022. The bowling attack has been sub-par, with Noor Ahmad failing to recreate his heroics from 2025, and the batting department has come under more scrutiny. Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad have yet to get going in their new colours, and Dewald Brevis' absence has been felt. The costly young additions, Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, are yet to make an impact. CSK have had time to reflect on their campaign so far, and the next two games, both at Chepauk, could determine their fate for the rest of the season. They face a formidable outfit in the Delhi Capitals (DC), who are in a better place compared to CSK. DC are settled and have good depth in their squad, with players like Karun Nair, Abhishek Porel, and Ashutosh Sharma yet to feature. Sameer Rizvi, who was with CSK before, has sizzled so far, and KL Rahul roared back to form with an excellent 92 in the last game. DC would fancy their chances of winning at Chepauk again, after finally ending their losing run at this venue last season. The match between CSK and DC on April 11 at 7:30 PM IST at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, is expected to be another batting-friendly surface, with no rain threat in the region. CSK have lost each of their last six matches at Chepauk, their home venue, and their win percentage under MS Dhoni is 59.81%, which drops to 31.42% under other captains. The match will be a crucial test for CSK, who need to win to get their campaign going, and it will be interesting to see how they fare against DC, who have a strong squad and a good record at Chepauk. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming has praised Dewald Brevis, who is yet to participate in this contest due to fitness concerns. Fleming believes that Brevis brings experience and talent, and his aggressive and skilful approach is becoming consistent. DC pacer T Natarajan, who has been recovering from a collarbone injury, has praised the DC management for their care and support. He has attended camps in Delhi, Surat, and Hyderabad, and played in the DY Patil tournament, which gave him confidence and rhythm. The match between CSK and DC promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams having their work cut out to get their campaigns back on track.
