Chennai Super Kings (CSK) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has been one of the most repeated battles in Indian Premier League (IPL). Each meeting between these two franchises has had great cricket, strategy, and memorable performances-even if the rivalry hasn’t been quite as intense as some of the league’s traditional rivalries.
Chennai has a greater head to head record over their southern counterparts since they replaced the Deccan Chargers in 2013. But, there have been memorable wins for Hyderabad as well like the IPL 2018 league-stage win and major performances from players such as David Warner (20 runs from 5 balls), Kane Williamson (66 off 45), Heinrich Klaasen (48 off 83), and Pat Cummins (12 orchestrated wickets).
Here is a complete Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad timeline, highlights, stats and best performances.
Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Head-to-Head Record (2013-2025)
| Matches | CSK Won | SRH Won | No Result |
| 23 | 17 | 6 | 0 |
Statistics include IPL matches played through the 2025 season.
Chennai has maintained a strong advantage throughout the rivalry, especially at their home ground, MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk).
Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Timeline
2013 – The Beginning of the Rivalry
Sunrisers Hyderabad had come into the IPL in 2013 as a replacement for Deccan Chargers.
First Meeting
- Venue: Hyderabad
- Winner: Chennai Super Kings
- CSK dealt SRH, who were a new addition to the league at the time, an easy win on the backs of Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina in batting.
Second Meeting
- Venue: Chennai
- Winner: Chennai Super Kings
- In the bowling department, Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo shone for CSK in a double over this season.
Timeline highlights: A stronger CSK announced itself early in the rivalry
2014 – Chennai Continue Their Dominance
These two teams met each other twice in IPL 2014.
- And one of these was the pinned down bowling from Chennai.
- Nehra led a CSK attack with serious experience to it, and they put Sunrisers under extreme pressure in the chase of 167 runs.
MS Dhoni’s stoic captaincy & death bowling by Bravo decided the outcome yet again.
2015 – High-Pressure Encounters
The rivalry became more competitive.
League Stage
CSK JUST DEFEATED SRH IN A THRILLING MATCH
Qualifier 2
Sept. 2023: The largest game in the rivalry
Winner: Chennai Super Kings
Result : CSK qualified for IPL Final
Similar Category: Dwayne Smith and Faf du Plessis gave an important alliance before Ashish Nehra, and Bravo bowled brilliantly to defend the total.
2016-2017 – CSK Suspension
Both CSK were suspended from IPL for 2 seasons
CSK and SRH did not play any matches in these seasons.
Strangely, 2016 marked the first IPL title for Sunrisers Hyderabad which was led by David Warne
2018 – The Rivalry Reaches New Heights
Having completed their two-year suspension, CSK faced off against SRH as rivals once again in the IPL.
League Match
- Winner: Sunrisers Hyderabad
After an impressive bowling performance led by Rashid Khan and Siddarth Kaul, Hyderabad eventually bowled out Chennai for just 113, winning the tie by 9 runs.
IPL Final 2018
Arguably One Of The Best Match Ever Played In This Rivalry
Venue: Mumbai
Winner: Chennai Super Kings
Outcome: CSK claimed their third IPL crown.
Shane Watson possibly played the best innings in an IPL final ever:
117 off 57 balls*
Watson scratched through injury to reach his hundred and once he passed the mark held it all together to win another title for CSK in a solo chase of the target.
Clearly, this was the moment that mattered the most in this rivalry: 109 by Shane
2019 – Chennai Continue Their Winning Run
CSK has won both of the league games against SRH.
Key performers included:
- MS Dhoni
- Deepak Chahar
- Imran Tahir
- Faf du Plessis
SRH have struggled against the spinners in Chennai conditions as a comparison.
2020 – SRH Finally Fight Back
Due to COVID-19 the matches were played in the UAE.
Sunrisers Hyderabad posted an outstanding win on account of:
- David Warner
- Jonny Bairstow
- Rashid Khan
But SRH has also lost to CSK once this season.
It was an equal rivalry in 2020.
2021 – Chennai Return to the Top
CSK once again dominated.
League Match
While, Ruturaj Gaikwad sustained his calm Ravindra Jadeja gave a masterclass in all-round sense.
Chennai’s road to the playoffs was relatively comfortable and they took their fourth IPL crown.
2022 – New Captains, Same Story
Both franchises were in a state of transition.
Despite a forgettable IPL 2022 campaign overall, CSK had the wood over SRH on this occasion.
While Mukesh Choudhary and Devon Conway gave Chennai a glimpse of hope.
2023 – Chennai Lift Another Trophy
CSK continued their dominance.
League Match
Chennai stormed to another simple win with Ravindra Jadeja and Devon Conway at the wheel.
The Heading of MS Dhoni yet again infested the batting order pallid below utility Hyderabad.
It’s the fifth IPL title for Chennai, who in that same season also won their first championship after a four-year drought.
2024 – SRH’s Explosive Batting Era
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins captain (bowling all-rounder) followed the new-look approach for SRH.
Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram formed arguably the most cavalier batting line-up of any team in IPL’s history, making all-out warfare the SRH way.
CSK vs SRH
It is worth mentioning that during the league phase SRH beat Chennai.
Key contributors:
- Abhishek Sharma
- Aiden Markram
- Shahbaz Ahmed
With Chennai boasting an experienced side with the ball, SRH’s aggressive form helped to nullify this factor.
2025 – Another Competitive Chapter
Among them was one of those irresistible finishes that always seems to crop up in every IPL season – the 2025 edition.
In the vital win over Chennai, Indian youngsters chipped in along with foreign experienced players for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
In contrast, Chennai looked at transitioning to a new youthful brigade but without losing that killer instinct and winning mentality with a different leader.
This opened up a new age of the rivalry with younger players on both ends.
Most Memorable CSK vs SRH Matches
IPL Final 2018
- Shane Watson’s unbeaten century
- CSK won their third IPL title
Qualifier 2 (2015)
- Chennai thrashes Hyderabad to march in yet another IPL Final.
League Match (2024)
- Chennai got outclassed by an explosive SRH batting line-up.
League Match (2018)
- Brilliant spell by Rashid Khan as Hyderabad thump CSK ahead of final
Top Run Scorers in CSK vs SRH Matches
Top Run Scorers in CSK vs SRH Matches
| Player | Team | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | CSK | Consistent finisher |
| Suresh Raina | CSK | Reliable middle-order scorer |
| Faf du Plessis | CSK | Several match-winning knocks |
| David Warner | SRH | Highest-impact batter for Hyderabad |
| Kane Williamson | SRH | Calm and consistent performances |
Top Wicket-Takers
| Player | Team |
| Dwayne Bravo | CSK |
| Ravindra Jadeja | CSK |
| Deepak Chahar | CSK |
| Rashid Khan | SRH |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | SRH |
Key Moments in the Rivalry
- CSK vs SRH – CSK and SRH’s first meeting in 2013
- 2015: Qualifier 2: CSK won by 4 wickets (Chasing SRH’s total of 176 in run chase).
- 2018: He Matches Shane Watson IPL Final Century achievement
- 2019: Chennai returned to claiming the title.
- 2024: Ultra-aggressive batting unit, Solos to muzzle CSK
- 2025: A history-making season for the rivalry, bright-rising young star power on both sides
Why This Rivalry Is Special
This isn’t like the regional rivalry that stokes most of IPL’s rivalries, it’s more tactical cricket between two franchises. In that sense, Chennai’s always been about experience/spin bowling and sedate finishes; Hyderabad has normally held down a sort-of pacing scorecard on disciplined pace attacks and artisanal foreign batters.
This difference in the style of play has ensured every encounter has been an enjoyable spectacle. From MS Dhoni’s brain games, to Shane Watson’s last minute heroics, David Warner’s aggressive batting and Heinrich Klaasen opening the stout-hitting contest in this rivalry. Never a dull moment between these two teams in the IPL.
Conclusion
The Chennai Super Kings-Sunrisers Hyderabad rivalry timeline represents over a decade of intense IPL cricket. Chennai obviously had a better run, having won more of their encounters and key knockout matches (2018 IPL Final anyone?)
Sunrisers Hyderabad have proven time and again that they can give CSK a test with controlled bowling, aggressive batting, and captained well. Given the continuing evolution of both franchises as they invest in homegrown Indian talent and experienced international stars, there could be many more thrilling chapters in this rivalry for years to come – starting with IPL 2024.
Also Read: Mumbai Indians 2026 IPL Captains
FAQs
1. What is the head-to-head record between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad?
As of the end of IPL 2025, Chennai Super Kings lead the head-to-head record with 17 wins, while Sunrisers Hyderabad have 6 victories.
2. When did CSK and SRH first play against each other?
The two teams first met in IPL 2013, the inaugural season for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
3. Which is the most memorable CSK vs SRH match?
The IPL 2018 Final, where Shane Watson scored an unbeaten 117 off 57 balls to lead CSK to their third IPL title, is widely regarded as the rivalry’s greatest match.
4. Who has scored the most memorable innings in this rivalry?
Shane Watson’s 117* The 2018 IPL Final is considered the most iconic innings between CSK and SRH.
5. Why is the CSK vs SRH rivalry significant?
The rivalry features contrasting styles—CSK’s experienced, tactical approach versus SRH’s pace attack and aggressive batting—resulting in consistently competitive and entertaining IPL encounters.
Dalvi is a passionate cricket writer and analyst at CricketDeck, dedicated to delivering accurate, engaging, and up-to-date cricket content. With a strong interest in IPL, player stats, match analysis, and trending cricket news, Dalvi simplifies complex insights into easy-to-read articles for fans worldwide. His writing focuses on providing real value, deep analysis, and the latest updates from the cricket world. Through CricketDeck, Dalvi aims to connect cricket lovers with reliable information and exciting match coverage.
