IPL 2026: CSK vs KKR, Match 22 - Top player battles to watch out for

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match No. 22 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday, April 14.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Co. have finally registered their first win of the season after defeating Delhi Capitals by 23 runs. They had a concerning start to the season, losing three games consecutively. On the other hand, the Kolkata Knight Riders are still without a win in IPL 2026. They have three defeats from four games and earned one point after their game against Punjab Kings was washed out.

CSK would breathe a sigh of relief after Sanju Samson and Ayush Mhatre got back among the runs in the last game against Delhi. However, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad's lack of runs this season would be a cause of concern. On the bowling front, Noor Ahmad and Khaleel Ahmed fared well last season but they have not been at their best in IPL 2026. Jamie Overton, however, has bowled brilliantly. In the last game, he bagged a brilliant four-for.

For the Knights, they have not played well as a unit. The bowling department hasn't looked very threatening, despite the presence of Sunil Narine. Varun Chakaravarthy has been struggling with form and fitness. Matheesha Pathirana is expected to join the team before the game. However, it will be interesting to see if the KKR management injects him into the attack straightaway.

Here are 3 player battles for CSK vs KKR, Match 22 of IPL 2026:

3. Finn Allen vs Khaleel Ahmed

Finn Allen has looked in good touch but hasn't been able to convert his starts into big scores. KKR would want their opening batter to bat at least for the first 10 overs. If Allen can do that, with the way he bats, the Kiwi star can put KKR in a solid position.

Khaleel Ahmed has been nowhere near his best this season. In four games, he has taken only one wicket. However, he will hold the key with the new ball as he can swing it at pace. Khaleel took his first wicket of the season in the last game and would want to take confidence from it to produce a match-winning performance on Tuesday.

2. Sunil Narine vs Shivam Dube

Sunil Narine has not been at his best so far. While he has been economical, KKR needs their talismanic mystery spinner to pick wickets, especially with the rest of the bowlers being fairly inexperienced. He will have a crucial role to play in the middle overs.

Shivam Dube loves to take on the spinners. He has been in scintillating form since the start of the T20 World Cup. In IPL 2026, he is averaging 44.50 and has a strike rate of 164.82. If he gets himself set at the crease, he has the ability to hit boundaries at will.

1. Vaibhav Arora vs Sanju Samson

Vaibhav Arora is another bowler who has flattered to deceive this season. The right-arm seamer has taken five wickets in three innings but conceded runs at an economy rate of 11.42. Arora will look to swing the new ball and put the opposition batters under pressure.

Sanju Samson scored a majestic 115 not out off 55 balls in the last game. He will look to continue in the same vein on Tuesday. The wicketkeeper-batter will have to be wary against Arora. If Samson gets his eye in, he could be very difficult to contain for the out-of-form KKR bowlers.