IPL 2026 Double Header Today: RCB vs DC (3 PM) and SRH vs CSK (7 PM) Previewed
Saturday, April 18 brings a full cricket day for IPL 2026 fans. Two matches, two cities, four teams with very different agendas. Royal Challengers Bengaluru host Delhi Capitals in the afternoon, then Sunrisers Hyderabad face Chennai Super Kings under lights. Here is everything you need to know before the first ball is bowled.
Today’s Double Header at a Glance
| Match | Teams | Venue | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26th Match (D/N) | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 3:30 PM IST |
| 27th Match (N) | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad | 7:30 PM IST |
RCB vs DC: Afternoon Clash in Bengaluru
Royal Challengers Bengaluru arrive in fine nick. They have won four of their last five games and sit second on the IPL 2026 points table with 10 points from five matches. Delhi Capitals, fourth with eight points from six outings, have form too — three straight wins before back-to-back losses.
Current Form
| Team | Last 5 | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | W W L W W | 2nd | 10 |
| Delhi Capitals | W W W L L | 6th | 4 |
The Chinnaswamy surface tends to reward big hitters in the second innings under lights, but the afternoon start changes that slightly. A high first-innings total could prove decisive here.
Players to Watch — RCB vs DC
Virat Kohli has been in unstoppable form: 442 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate touching 158. Rajat Patidar, who captains the side, has 306 runs at a blazing 184-plus strike rate. With the ball, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (12 wickets) and Krunal Pandya (11 wickets) have both been consistent.
Delhi’s batting leans heavily on KL Rahul (327 runs, 151 SR) and Sameer Rizvi, who has been exceptional with 263 runs at an average of 65. Axar Patel leads their bowling with seven wickets at a very tidy economy of 7.64. Check the full Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad and fixtures and the Delhi Capitals squad for the complete picture going into today.
Head to Head (Last 5 Meetings)
| Date | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Apr 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 6 wickets (9 balls left) |
| 10 Apr 2025 | Delhi Capitals | 6 wickets (13 balls left) |
| 12 May 2024 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 47 runs |
| 06 May 2023 | Delhi Capitals | 7 wickets (20 balls left) |
| 15 Apr 2023 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 23 runs |
RCB lead 3-2 in the last five. Both teams have shown they can win big here, but the form and home advantage tips things towards the hosts. See the full RCB vs DC head-to-head timeline for historical records going back to the start of the IPL.
SRH vs CSK: The Evening Showdown in Hyderabad
The night match carries a lot of tension. Both Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings are in mid-table trouble and desperately need points to stay in playoff contention.
Sunrisers Hyderabad sit fifth with six points from five games. Their recent record reads L W L L W, which tells you they are inconsistent. Chennai are eighth — same points, same matches, but a poor NRR of -0.846 making every run and wicket count.
Form and Table Position — SRH vs CSK
| Team | Last 5 | Position | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | L W L L W | 5th | 6 | +0.576 |
| Chennai Super Kings | L L L W W | 8th | 6 | -0.846 |
Key Players — SRH vs CSK
Heinrich Klaasen has been SRH’s batting anchor: 423 runs at an average of nearly 53 with a strike rate of 165. Ishan Kishan, who captains the side, adds 384 runs at a strike rate of 170. With the ball, Eshan Malinga (13 wickets) and Jaydev Unadkat (12 wickets) are SRH’s primary threats.
For Chennai, Ayush Mhatre leads the batting with 349 runs at an outstanding 180-plus strike rate. Sanju Samson has slotted in well with 226 runs in six matches. The bowling attack is CSK’s real strength: Anshul Kamboj (15 wickets) and Noor Ahmad (14 wickets) are among the most dangerous pairs in the competition this season. You can catch today’s match via the IPL 2026 live streaming guide for full broadcast details.
The SRH vs CSK head-to-head history shows CSK hold a strong overall record, but Hyderabad’s home conditions and Klaasen’s form make this genuinely 50-50.
What’s at Stake Today
- RCB can go level on wins with Kolkata Knight Riders and consolidate their top-two position
- Delhi Capitals need a win to stop the slide and keep pace with the top half
- A loss for Chennai Super Kings today could push them perilously close to elimination territory, especially with their NRR already deep in the red
- Sunrisers Hyderabad must find consistency — another defeat would raise serious doubts about their top-four chances
For the full schedule of remaining fixtures across the tournament, the IPL 2026 schedule has every match date and venue.
Umpires
| Match | On-Field | TV Umpire | Match Referee |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCB vs DC | Abhijit Bhattacharya, Bhavesh Patel | KN Ananthapadmanabhan | Prakash Bhatt |
| SRH vs CSK | Anish Sahasrabudhe, Vinod Seshan | Adrian Holdstock | Shakti Singh |
FAQs
What time does RCB vs DC start today?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals starts at 3:30 PM IST on April 18 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
What time does SRH vs CSK start tonight?
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings starts at 7:30 PM IST at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.
Who is the RCB captain for today’s match?
Rajat Patidar captains Royal Challengers Bengaluru in today’s match against Delhi Capitals.
Who is the SRH captain against CSK?
Ishan Kishan captains Sunrisers Hyderabad in tonight’s match against Chennai Super Kings.
Which team is in the worst position heading into today’s double header?
Chennai Super Kings sit eighth with the worst NRR in the top eight at -0.846, making tonight’s game against Sunrisers Hyderabad a near must-win for their playoff hopes.
Where can I follow both matches live today?
Head to the IPL 2026 updates section for live scores, match reports, and post-match coverage for both games throughout the day.
