The CSK practice match 2026 sessions at the team’s training base in Navalur have given Chennai Super Kings fans exactly what they wanted to see — MS Dhoni clearing the ropes against the franchise’s frontline pacers and ₹14.2 crore signing Prashant Veer looking every bit worth the investment.
Unlike other franchises who have played formal intra-squad matches with full scorecards, CSK have opted for a match simulation format in their pre-season preparation. The sessions on March 25 featured batters facing 3-4 balls each — if you hit a maximum, you continue; if not, the next batter replaces you. Head coach Stephen Fleming watched from the umpire’s position, while bowling coach Eric Simmons had detailed conversations with bowlers after every over.
No official CSK practice match scorecard has been released, but on-ground reports paint a vivid picture of how the squad is shaping up five days before the season opener against Rajasthan Royals.
MS Dhoni’s Six-Hitting in CSK Practice Match — What We Know
Dhoni was the headline act in the CSK practice match today. Batting against Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, and Jamie Overton in the match simulation, Dhoni hit multiple maximums that had the training ground buzzing.
The key moments from Dhoni’s session:
- Hit a maximum towards the sightscreen off Khaleel Ahmed with a characteristically stable base — the shot that has defined his career
- Whacked one over covers off Mukesh Choudhary’s bowling with brute power. The ball hit the compound wall, drawing comparisons to his peak years
- Cleared midwicket against Jamie Overton — middled perfectly, pure timing over raw power
- Placed a stump on the wide line to measure wide yorkers, then drilled a middle-stump yorker straight down the ground. A clear sign he is working on specific match scenarios, not just free-hitting
Dhoni’s focus appeared to be on generating maximum power from a stable base while maintaining his shape — the same approach that produced strike rates of 220 (2024) and 182 (2023) when he was batting just 10-12 balls per innings. Last season, when he was forced to face 145 balls across the campaign, his strike rate dropped to 135. CSK will hope their revamped top order means Dhoni can return to his specialist finisher role in IPL 2026.
Prashant Veer Switches to Dhoni’s Bat — And Starts Clearing the Ropes
The most talked-about moment from the CSK practice match 2026 session involved Prashant Veer and Dhoni’s bat. The young all-rounder initially batted with his own willow before switching to Dhoni’s bat mid-session — and immediately started smashing maximums.
Veer was already in Dhoni’s good books after an earlier nets session where Dhoni was heard reacting with a loud “Shot!” to his strokeplay. The ₹14.2 crore signing is expected to fill the Ravindra Jadeja-shaped hole in CSK’s XI — a left-handed batting all-rounder who can bowl spin in the powerplay. His domestic record (Player of the Tournament in the UPT20 League with 25 fours, 14 sixes, and 18 wickets in seven matches) suggests he has the game for IPL cricket. Whether he can handle the pressure of his price tag is the question IPL 2026 will answer.
Other Key Observations from CSK’s Match Simulation
Bowling: Kamboj Nailed Yorkers, Overton Had a Mixed Day
The CSK practice match score may not exist in a formal sense, but the bowling performances told a clear story:
- Anshul Kamboj was the standout bowler — consistently nailing yorkers with only occasional misses. After Nathan Ellis was ruled out of IPL 2026, Kamboj’s death-overs ability becomes critical for CSK
- Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Choudhary bowled well but sprayed deliveries down leg or well outside wide at times — a pattern that needs tightening before March 30
- Jamie Overton had a mixed session — one over where Prashant Veer took him apart, but otherwise looked sharp. Didn’t do much with the bat when his turn came
- Gurjapneet Singh occasionally nailed yorkers outside off but lacked consistency
- Ramakrishna Ghosh bowled well initially before getting hit in his final two overs. With the bat, he was slogging everything — connecting some, miscuing others
Batting: Aman Khan Started Well, Then Went Quiet
Aman Khan was hitting fours confidently in the early part of his simulation stint but had a quiet second half. He was caught out at long-off against Ghosh’s bowling. His role as a middle-order Indian batter competing with Sarfaraz Khan and Kartik Sharma for a spot makes every practice session a mini-audition.
Where to Watch CSK Practice Match 2026
CSK have not live-streamed their practice sessions or match simulations in the way KKR did on YouTube for their intra-squad games. The best sources for CSK practice match live updates are:
- CSK’s official social media channels (Instagram, X, YouTube) — for clips, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content
- On-ground reporters — accounts like @Vinoth__Manivel on X have been providing ball-by-ball updates from the Navalur training base
- CSK official app — carries training videos, player interviews, and camp updates
There is no television broadcast for pre-season practice sessions. For CSK’s actual IPL 2026 matches, all games will be live on Star Sports and JioHotstar.
What the CSK Practice Match 2026 Tells Us About the Playing XI
CSK’s match simulation format — short bursts of high-intensity batting against the main bowling attack — suggests the coaching staff are focused on death-overs scenarios rather than full innings building. This makes sense given CSK’s biggest weakness last season was their inability to finish games.
The likely CSK playing XI from the squad for IPL 2026 based on practice sessions and available reports could be: Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Prashant Veer, MS Dhoni (wk), Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed.
Key watch points heading into the March 30 opener against RR in Guwahati:
- Dhoni’s batting position — likely No. 7 or 8, facing 10-15 balls maximum
- Prashant Veer at No. 6 or 7 as the Jadeja replacement, bowling spin in the powerplay
- Kamboj vs Overton for the third seamer’s slot alongside Henry and Khaleel
- Akeal Hosein’s availability — the West Indian spinner is expected to join CSK on March 25 after travel delays following the T20 World Cup
CSK tickets 2026 for the home matches at Chepauk are available through the District app by Zomato and the official CSK website.
Also read: RCB Practice Match Scorecard 2026 | KKR Practice Match Scorecard 2026 | SRH Practice Match Scorecard 2026 | LSG Practice Match Scorecard 2026
