The MA Chidambaram Stadium — Chepauk — is one of the most iconic and intimidating cricket venues in the world. Situated in the heart of Chennai with a capacity of around 50,000, it is a fortress that opposing teams genuinely dread visiting. The pitch here is legendary for its spin-friendly nature — slow, low, and turning sharply as the match progresses — which plays directly into CSK’s hands with their spin-heavy bowling attack. The Chennai crowd is passionate, knowledgeable, and relentless in their support of the Yellow Army from the first ball to the last.
Fan tip: Chepauk is accessible via Chennai Beach Station on the Chennai Suburban Railway. Plan for significant traffic along Anna Salai and Kamarajar Salai on match evenings. Chepauk tickets sell out extremely fast, especially for the CSK vs DC Saturday night clash — book early via BookMyShow.
Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati (Away — 30 March)
The Barsapara Stadium serves as Rajasthan Royals’ secondary home ground in 2026 — and it is where CSK’s season begins. With a capacity of around 40,000 and an increasingly vocal crowd, Guwahati has established itself as one of the IPL’s most atmospheric neutral venues. CSK open their campaign here on a Monday evening — making it an unusual but intriguing start to the season, with the added emotional dimension of Ravindra Jadeja facing his old side.
Fan tip: Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport connects Guwahati to most major Indian cities. Accommodation near GS Road puts you close to the stadium and the city’s lively food scene.
Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru (Away — 5 April)
A Sunday evening clash against RCB at Chinnaswamy is one of the toughest away assignments in Phase 1 — and CSK face it just two days after their home game against Punjab Kings. The defending champions will have a sold-out, electric home crowd behind them. However, the Chinnaswamy surface, much like Chepauk, traditionally assists spin — which could work in CSK’s favour despite the hostile atmosphere.
Fan tip: Chinnaswamy is accessible via Cubbon Park Metro Station on the Purple Line. Travelling CSK fans should book accommodation in central Bengaluru well in advance — RCB vs CSK is one of the most in-demand tickets of the entire season.