The IPL play-off race enters a crucial phase on Sunday with a double-header that could shape the points table significantly, with several teams still fighting for a top-four finish. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to get their campaign back on track when they take on Mumbai Indians at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. RCB remain firmly in playoff contention but recent results have slowed their pace at an important stage of the season.
Virat Kohli’s lack of runs added to their worriesespecially with Phil Salt’s injury upset the balance at the top of the order. Meanwhile, Mumbai seem to be finding their rhythm at the right time and will see this as a chance to strengthen their own push for the playoffs.
Earlier in the day, Chennai Super Kings will host Lucknow Super Giants at a packed Chepauk in another high-stakes contest. Lucknow will go into the clash with renewed confidence after ending their losing streak with a big win over RCB, while Chennai will know that another setback could seriously dent their qualification hopes. With playoff spots still up for grabs, Sunday promises two games with plenty on the line.
CAN I BURN MY STARS TOGETHER?
A lot has been said about Mumbai Indians this season, but on paper they still boast one of the best playing XIs in the competition. The challenge was to turn this potential into consistent performances. Rohit Sharma’s return from injury has been a big boost, the veteran opener has looked superb and Mumbai will be hoping to continue to lead the charge with the bat.
Suryakumar Yadav’s inconsistent returns remain an issue, although he has shown in recent matches that quick starts are not an issue. The key may be to give yourself a bit more time rather than forcing the pace too soon. Captain Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, is yet to make the impact he enjoyed during his time with Gujarat Titans. Mumbai will need him to step up as both a leader and an all-rounder to keep their playoff hopes firmly alive. But before all that, he would need to prove that he is fit and ready to play.
IS ATTACK RCB’S BEST DEFENSE?
After the defeat in the previous match, Rajat Patidar said that Royal Challengers Bengaluru did not want to adopt a defensive mindset. While this intention reflects a positive attitude, T20 cricket is not always about constant aggression. There are stages in the game where soaking up pressure and waiting for the right moment to counter-attack can be just as effective.
This is where RCB may have to rethink their approach, especially with Virat Kohli struggling for rhythm. Kohli has never been a batsman who needs to force pace from ball one. His greatest asset has always been his ability to read situations, build a shift and then shift when the moment calls for it. Asking him to play at a high intensity all the time from the start may not get the best out of him. Kohli has struggled to find form in the last few matches (Courtesy: PTI)
Due to the unavailability of Phil Salt, the balance at the top has also changed. Salt’s aggressive starts often allowed Kohli the freedom to settle into his anchor role. With Jacob Bethell still adjusting, that partnership dynamic hasn’t quite clicked, leaving RCB searching for the right formula at a crucial stage of the season.
CAN LSG WIN IT TWICE?
Lucknow Super Giants will head into their clash with renewed faith after ending their losing streak for good, and a big part of that confidence will come from a batting unit that may have found its ideal balance. The promotion of Nicholas Pooran to No.3 seems to have given the line-up more clarity and allowed one of their most dangerous forwards to impact the game earlier. Mitchell Marsh’s recent century is another big boost, while the presence of Aiden Markram further down the order gives LSG more stability in the middle overs.
However, LSG’s biggest strength this season has probably been their fast attack, which has often resulted in the batting failing. Prince Yadav proved to be a key figure with his consistent performances while the home pace core provided strong support. Their ability to hit early and control phases of the innings was crucial in keeping Lucknow competitive.
If the conditions offer help with spinning, LSG also has useful options you can turn to. Digvesh’s mystery factor could prove valuable, while Shahbaz Ahmed offers control and variety. If both departments click, Lucknow will be back for another big result.
TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY MS DHONI?
There has been a lot of debate about whether MS Dhoni will return, but the bigger question may be whether Chennai Super Kings should even make the change right now. With back-to-back wins pulling them back into the playoffs, CSK have finally found some momentum and upsetting that balance could be a gamble.
The current combination started to click. Behind the stumps, Kartik Sharma and Sanju Samson helped bring stability while the partnership of Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad added control and consistency in the middle overs. More importantly, the team seems to have found a rhythm that was missing earlier in the campaign. Will CSK finally play MS Dhoni? (Courtesy: PTI)
Dhoni’s experience and presence is undeniable, but bringing him back now carries some risk. Any change to the balanced side can affect the momentum, especially at such a crucial stage of the season. The emotional appeal of Dhoni’s return is obvious, but CSK may have to decide whether the sentiment aligns with what is currently working for them on the field.
TEAM NEWS
CSKA: The biggest talking point remains MS Dhoni’s availability. While several reports have suggested that he is fit, it is still uncertain whether he will play, especially with Chennai Super Kings finding some rhythm in the recent games.
LSG: Josh Inglis and Mohsin Khan missed the previous match due to injury concerns. If available, Lucknow would love to bring Mohsin back given how valuable he has been with the ball in all three phases of the innings.
RCB: Phil Salt’s continued absence remains a major concern for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His injury has disturbed the balance at the top, Jacob Bethell has not made a significant impact yet. This could open the door to a rethink, with a possible change in the batting order if RCB look for a different approach.
ME: Suryakumar Yadav was away from the team for the birth of his first child, the Mumbai Indians media manager confirmed before the pre-match press conference. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya’s availability is subject to medical clearance.
EXPECTED XIS:
Chennai Super Kings Predicted XI: Sanju Samson (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary
CSK Impact Subs: Prashant Veer, Matthew Short, Akash Madhwal, Sarfaraz Khan, MS Dhoni
Lucknow Super Giants Predicted XI: Mitchell Marsh, Arshin Kulkarni, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Aiden Markram, Akshat Raghuvanshi, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav.
LSG Impact Subs: Mayank Yadav, Mukul Choudhary, Abdul Samad, Avesh Khan
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Predicted XI: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
RCB Impact Subs: Venkatesh Iyer, Rasikh Salam Dar
Mumbai Indians Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Naman Dhir, Will Jacks, Sherfane Rutherford, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Raghu Sharma, Allah Ghazanfar.
MI Impact Subs: Mayank Rawat, Shardul Thakur, Corbin Bosch, Quinton de Kock, Mayank Markande
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Published on:
10 May 2026 11:15 AM IST
