Matthew Hayden’s take on Mumbai Indians is delivered with plenty of colour: they are typically slow to get going, yet there is a kind of “magic” that seems to seep in from the Arabian Sea surrounding their home base in Mumbai. Hayden, a long-time Chennai Super Kings supporter who is now linked with Gujarat Titans, has also issued a clear warning to IPL sides—if you blink, MI can turn the game around quickly, and that slip-up can end up costing you. Chennai would do well to heed that message as they prepare to take on Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede on Thursday night.
For the past couple of seasons, this annual matchup has slightly lost its usual sparkle, mainly because both franchises—each with five IPL titles—have struggled to hit their stride. Mumbai finished 10th in 2024, while CSK ended at the bottom last season, though the rivalry still carries the weight of a classic “El Clasico” contest for fans. Heading into the encounter, both teams arrive with two wins apiece, but the momentum is uneven: one side is coming off a victory, the other off a defeat. On paper, Mumbai Indians look the more powerful unit, especially after their most recent performance against Gujarat Titans.
After enduring four straight defeats, MI’s turnaround has been viewed as almost inevitable, and the manner of their win over GT only added to that belief. They posted 199 runs and then bowled Gujarat out for 100, a statement that suggests a reinvigorated squad is beginning to find rhythm. With MI looking increasingly dangerous once they hit top gear, CSK will face a tough task trying to slow them down. The Wankhede’s recent pattern has also been difficult for chasing sides, with the three matches played there so far in the season featuring totals around or above 200. If CSK want any realistic chance of controlling the contest, they may need to bat first and aim to post something beyond 220. Chasing is likely to be far more demanding for them, too—since 2019, they have not successfully hunted down a target above 190.
Will Jacks’ arrival gives MI a further boost in both departments, strengthening their batting and their bowling options. How the team deploys him—particularly given the form he could have produced had he been the standout player of the recent T20 World Cup—is something to watch closely. Meanwhile, CSK’s captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is under pressure with the bat: he has made only 82 runs across six matches, and expectations are higher for the skipper. Sanju Samson has returned to his best, but CSK’s plans have been disrupted by the injury to Ayush Mhatre. Urvil Patel is expected to be brought in for Mhatre, and MS Dhoni could also be included in the XI, though that possibility creates a selection conundrum for the entire squad, including the most loyal CSK supporters.
When: MI vs CSK, IPL 2026, April 23 at 7:30 PM IST
Where: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
What to expect: Back on red soil with a smaller ground footprint. The venue has leaned toward batting, and that trend should continue. Teams have often chosen to field first at this stadium, but MI may consider batting first to put pressure on CSK—who, in recent times, have not been especially effective chasing.
Head to head: MI 21 – 18 CSK. Mumbai have a slight advantage at the Wankhede with an 8-5 record at home there, yet CSK have won four of their last five meetings since 2023.
Team news and key battles
Mumbai Indians
Injuries/Unavailability: There is still no clear update on Rohit Sharma’s availability. With Jacks joining the group, MI have additional choices across both batting and bowling.
Tactics & Match-ups: Jacks might be slotted in if AM Ghazanfar misses out, but MI’s bigger decision could come at the top of the order. One route is to drop Danish Malewar and open with Naman Dhir, though that would place the young Vidarbha batter in an awkward position after he debuted in the previous game. Another option is to stick with the current opening combination, using Dhir as a “floater” if Malewar falls early, and then elevating Tilak Varma to No. 3 if Quinton de Kock departs first. Ashwani Kumar could also be a sensible choice, given Gaikwad’s relative exposure against left-arm pace—since 2022, Gaikwad has been dismissed 12 times by left-arm pacers.
Probable XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Danish Malewar, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Sherfane Rutherford, Krish Bharat, Mitchell Santner, Will Jacks, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwani Kumar.
Chennai Super Kings
Injuries/Unavailability: MS Dhoni looks to have recovered, although the team management has not issued an official confirmation. Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out for the season, with no replacement named yet. Spencer Johnson has joined the side and is expected to be in the starting XI, with confirmation also coming from bowling coach Eric Simmons. For the MI game, changes that could be considered include Urvil Patel for Mhatre, Dhoni coming in for Matt Short, and Johnson replacing Mukesh Choudhary.
Tactics & Match-ups: Noor Ahmed stands out as a promising matchup against Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Sherfane Rutherford, with each of those batters having been dismissed by the Afghan spinner a few times.
Probable XI: Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni (wk), Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Spencer Johnson, Gurjapneet Singh.
Did you know
MI and CSK have each lost 21 matches since 2024, the highest number of defeats among the 10 teams in the competition. At the Wankhede since 2025, the chasing team has won 6 of the 10 IPL games. Over those 10 matches, the average first-innings score is 188, while in games that were won, the average first innings rises to 214. Since 2024, MI have suffered the most defeats while chasing (12), with CSK next at 10.
What they said
MI batter Tilak Varma stressed the mindset needed for rivalry cricket: “It’s just another game—the name changes, but cricket remains the same. A bad ball is still a bad ball, and scoring chances will always be there. The Chennai Super Kings tag can make it feel like a bigger occasion, but once you’ve gained experience you learn to tune out the noise and concentrate on the contest between bat and ball. That’s a habit I’ve followed since childhood—look ahead, judge the situation, and respond to what the match demands. In the end, batting comes down to a few basic elements.”
Tilak Varma also spoke about the CSK rivalry, describing the importance of reading the game’s flow: “You have to keep checking the game all the time with an understanding of what’s happening. Mumbai were in trouble. The batter who came in and played an incredible innings changed the direction of the match. T20 cricket is often decided by someone producing something special at the right moment. A big performance is always close when you have quality in both teams. We don’t get too focused on the fact that we’ve just lost and they’ve just won. Tomorrow is a new start, and that’s what we’ll focus on. But in this format, one performance from a group of high-quality players can make all the difference.”
CSK bowling coach Eric Simons added that the match begins again regardless of last result: “We don’t get too caught up in whether we’ve come off a loss or they’ve come off a win. It starts again tomorrow, and that’s what we’ll focus on.”
