RR vs CSK Playing 11 IPL 2026: CSK Miss Dhoni and Brevis as RR Enter Match 3 Settled

Chennai Super Kings head into Match 3 of IPL 2026 tonight at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati without two of their most important players. MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis are both ruled out due to injury, forcing a major reshuffle in the CSK lineup before the season has even properly started.

MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis Both Out: How Big Is the Blow?

Dhoni’s absence removes CSK’s most experienced finisher and the calming influence that has defined their middle and lower order for years. Even at the tail end of his career, his presence in the dressing room and at the crease in pressure situations is irreplaceable in the short term.

Dewald Brevis was bought to solve exactly that finishing problem. He is out too. Two of their most impactful batting options gone in one go before Match 1 of their campaign.

Sanju Samson steps into the wicketkeeping role. His presence adds top-order firepower alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad, but the lower-middle order looks thin without Dhoni and Brevis in the mix.

CSK Predicted Playing XI: Who Fills the Gaps?

With Dhoni and Brevis unavailable, CSK are looking at Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma as potential impact options depending on conditions in Guwahati.

Chennai Super Kings Predicted XI:

• Sanju Samson (wk)
• Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
• Ayush Mhatre
• Matthew Short
• Shivam Dube
• Prashant Veer
• Jamie Overton
• Rahul Chahar
• Noor Ahmad
• Khaleel Ahmed
• Anshul Kamboj

Shivam Dube now carries the responsibility of being the finisher in a middle order that has lost two of its biggest names. Jamie Overton can hit down the order but this is not the CSK batting unit they planned for.

RR Predicted Playing XI: Settled and Ready

Rajasthan Royals, by contrast, walk in with a clear, settled lineup. Riyan Parag leads a side that has explosive options at every stage of the innings and a bowling attack that has genuine pace and spin variety.

Rajasthan Royals Predicted XI:

• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
• Riyan Parag (c)
• Shimron Hetmyer
• Dhruv Jurel (wk)
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Dasun Shanaka
• Jofra Archer
• Sandeep Sharma
• Ravi Bishnoi
• Adam Milne

Jadeja playing against his former franchise adds a massive subplot to the evening. He knows CSK’s plans better than anyone in the RR camp, and his batting, bowling, and fielding all contribute at a level CSK will miss having on their side.

Check the full Rajasthan Royals squad and the Chennai Super Kings squad and fixtures for complete player details.

RR vs CSK Head-to-Head Record and All-Time Stats

CSK hold the narrowest of edges in this rivalry. One win separates the two sides across 31 matches, which tells you everything about how close this fixture always is.

All-time top run scorers in this rivalry:

All-time top wicket takers:

Jadeja tops both the batting and bowling charts in this fixture for combined impact. Tonight he adds to those numbers wearing Rajasthan Royals pink.

For the full season-by-season breakdown of every result between these two sides, the CSK vs RR head-to-head timeline has every match record and stat.

Key Battles That Will Decide Tonight’s Match

With CSK missing their finishers, the middle overs battle becomes even more important. A few individual matchups worth watching:

• Jofra Archer vs Ayush Mhatre: Mhatre has been fearless in recent cricket with a SR of 189. Archer’s pace and bounce at Barsapara will be the first real test of that confidence.
• Ravindra Jadeja vs Ruturaj Gaikwad: Jadeja knows Gaikwad’s game inside out. This battle in the 10 to 15 over window could be the turning point.
• Noor Ahmad vs Yashasvi Jaiswal: Noor took 14 wickets in his last 10 T20s. Jaiswal averages 50 plus in the same period. One of the best batter vs spinner battles in the competition right now.
• Ravi Bishnoi vs CSK middle order: Without Dhoni and Brevis, CSK’s middle order is less experienced against quality leg spin. Bishnoi will target this phase hard.

What This Means for CSK’s IPL 2026 Campaign

Losing Dhoni and Brevis before Match 1 of your campaign is not ideal for any franchise, but for CSK it changes their entire batting identity. The franchise has always built their chase and big-total games around that lower-middle order punch.

Ruturaj Gaikwad will need a big personal performance to set the tone, and Sanju Samson walking out against his former team for the first time adds an extra layer of motivation that could swing the night in CSK’s favour regardless of the injury setbacks.

Stay across all match results and standings updates through the IPL 2026 points table.

For all team news and the full fixture list across the season, check the complete IPL 2026 schedule.

FAQs

Who replaces MS Dhoni in CSK’s playing XI for RR vs CSK IPL 2026?

Sanju Samson takes over wicketkeeping duties. Prashant Veer or Kartik Sharma are options to fill the batting slot left by Dhoni’s absence.

Is Dewald Brevis playing for CSK tonight against RR?

No. Dewald Brevis is ruled out due to injury alongside MS Dhoni, leaving CSK short of their planned finishing options.

What is the RR vs CSK head-to-head record?

Chennai Super Kings lead 16-15 across 31 IPL matches against Rajasthan Royals. The narrowest of edges in one of the closest rivalries in the tournament.

Who is captaining RR and CSK in IPL 2026?

Riyan Parag captains Rajasthan Royals and Ruturaj Gaikwad leads Chennai Super Kings this season.

Why is Ravindra Jadeja playing for RR against CSK?

Jadeja was traded to Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2026 in the deal that brought Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings.

Who are the top wicket takers in the RR vs CSK rivalry all time?

Ravindra Jadeja leads with 21 wickets, followed by Ravichandran Ashwin with 19. Jadeja now plays for the opposition, which makes his record in this fixture even more interesting tonight.