IPL 2026: CSK vs SRH, Match 63 – Top player battles to watch out for

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in match No. 63 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday, May 18.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Co. would want to bounce back to winning ways after being annihilated by the Lucknow Super Giants in their last game. The Men in Yellow have six wins and as many defeats after playing 12 this season.

Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad are very close to qualifying for the playoffs. They have registered seven wins and five defeats in IPL 2026. In their last game, they were outplayed by the Gujarat Titans and lost by 82 runs.

Here are the key player battles in CSK vs SRH, Match 63 of IPL 2026:

3. Heinrich Klaasen vs Noor Ahmad

Heinrich Klaasen has tweaked his natural game and batted with much more responsibility in IPL 2026. Lowering his strike rate has helped him become very consistent. He has scored 500-plus runs in 12 matches, which is very impressive for someone who bats at No. 4.

Noor Ahmad, on the other hand, has blown hot and cold in IPL 2026. In some matches, he has bowled stunning spells through the middle overs. However, in others, he has been taken for plenty. The Afghanistan spinner has 12 wickets from 12 games this season at an economy rate of 7.89.

2. Abhishek Sharma vs Anshul Kamboj

Abhishek Sharma has had another exemplary year with the willow. In 12 innings, he has amassed 481 runs at an average of 43.73 and a strike rate of 209.13. The opening batter has notched up three fifties and one century in IPL 2026 already. If he gets going, CSK bowlers will be in for a tough time.

Anshul Kamboj would want to forget the last game he played against the Lucknow Super Giants. The right-arm pacer went wicketless and gave away 63 runs in 2.4 overs. Kamboj, however, is among the top wicket-takers in the tournament, with 19 scalps from 12 matches. He would want to bounce back strongly on Monday.

1. Sanju Samson vs Eshan Malinga

Sanju Samson has not been at his consistent best. However, he has played some match-winning knocks here and there. After a slow start to his career at CSK, the right-handed batter has aggregated 450 runs in 12 innings at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 164.24.

Eshan Malinga, meanwhile, has been the leading wicket-taker for SRH in IPL 2026. The Sri Lankan seamer has picked up 16 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 15.88. He has bowled the difficult overs but still managed to maintain a decent economy rate of 9.64.