The Indian Premier League (IPL) has a rich history and ever since the tournament started in 2008, there are 988 games have been played till now (as of April 27, 2023). In IPL history, we have seen so many good teams playing, with so many legends and match winners being a part of the tournament over the years.
Two teams are the most successful teams in the IPL. And both are arch-rivals as well. The two teams are Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
MI and CSK: Two most successful teams in IPL history
Mumbai Indians are the most successful team in IPL history with 5 IPL titles (in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020). All the trophies were under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.
Followed by MI, CSK is the second most successful team with 4 titles (in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021). All the trophies were under MS Dhoni’s leadership. The franchise was also banned for two years (in 2016-17) and has played two seasons less than MI.
Today, we will talk about the arch-rivalry between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
In the IPL history, it is the best rivalry we have seen over the years and this rivalry is also called the el classico of the IPL (Indian Premier League).
Both teams have given us so many nail-biting matches and interesting finishes over the years. There is always a good fight between the two big teams in the IPL.
We have seen so many great players playing for MI like K Pollard, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, L Malinga, Mitchell Johnson, etc, and many more. Also, CSK also had very good players in their team like Suresh Raina, M Hussey, Brendon McCullum, MS Dhoni, R Jadeja, etc and many more.
We have seen these players winning games for their respective teams from the jaws of the feat. Let’s see the head to head of the two teams in the IPL history.
CSK vs MI : Head to Head Stats
Both teams have locked horns against each other 35 times till now. Mumbai Indians are ahead of Chennai Super Kings with 20 wins. CSK has managed to win 15 games in that period.
Highest and lowest total against each other
Mumbai’s highest total against CSK is 219 in 2021. Incidentally, CSK’s highest total against MI also came in the same match. CSK scored 218 (the highest score against MI in the IPL history) in the first inning.
Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali scored 50s at the top and Ambati Rayudu played an outstanding knock of 72 off just 27 balls in that game. But CSK failed to defend that total. K Pollard played a match-winning knock of 87 off 34 balls and took 2 wickets as well. The West Indian all-rounder was adjudged man of the match for his outstanding performance.
Head to Head in the finals against each other
MI and CSK have played 4 finals against each other. Out of which, CSK only managed to win one final and MI have won three finals.
In 2010, for the first time, CSK and MI played the final and CSK won that game by 22 runs. They defended the target of 169 by restricting MI to 146.
After that, MI didn’t give a chance to CSK. In 2013, MI won the final against CSK by 23 runs in a low scoring final. They defended 149 against MS Dhoni’s men. It was Rohit Sharma’s first IPL title as captain.
In 2015, the two teams played the final and MI won the game again, this time by 41 runs. They defended a good total of 203. Captain Rohit Sharma was the man of the match in that final.
In 2019, it was the last time the two teams played the final against each other MI won the title for the fourth time by beating CSK for the third time in the final.
It was a close final which MI won by just one run. While defending a target of 150, they restrict CSK to 148. Shane Watson was the lone warrior for CSK. But he failed to get the team over the line.
Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians (CSK vs MI) in IPL 2023
The two teams played last time in IPL 2023. It was the game number 12 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. CSK won the toss and opted to bowl first.
In match 12 IPL 2023, MI openers added 38 in a quick time. But there is no big partnership in that game for MI. They only managed to score 157 on the board. Ishan Kishan was the highest scorer in the inning with 32 off 21 balls.
When CSK came out to chase the target, they lost Devon Conway early. But then we saw the comeback of Ajinkya Rahane in this game. He scored 61 off just 27 balls. And with the cameos of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Ambati Rayudu, CSK got over the line.
So we saw that MI has an edge over CSK in the IPL history till now. Whether it is in the league stages or in the finals. Also, they are the only team to beat CSK in their home (Chepauk), before Rajasthan Royals (RR) did it recently for the first time in a while. CSK are very good at their home ground and it is their fortress. But MI has managed to do well there as well.
MI and CSK will play their next game at Chepauk on May 06, 2023. It will be the 1000th game in IPL history.
