Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will be back in the thick of things on Thursday, but this time the focus is on who could return as well as the contest itself. Two former champions still searching for consistency, two sides with five titles each, now looking for steady campaigns that have yet to find their full rhythm.
At the heart of it all is MS Dhoni, whose legacy continues to shape this rivalry. On the 12th anniversary of the first match of the IPL, he was hailed by a panel of experts as the league’s best captain, a reputation built on nights like the 2010 final when his Chennai Super Kings beat the Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians to win their first title.
After sixteen years, Dhoni is once again central to MI vs CSK build-up. The former CSK captain is on the verge of returning from a calf strain and his availability could set the tone for the first El Clasica of IPL 2026 at the Wankhede on Thursday.
Similar expectations surround Rohit Sharma, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. The two were in the middle of practice Wednesday, batting side by side in a scene that brought back memories of past contests.
WILL DHONI, ROHIT RETURN?
Their paths have been side by side for almost two decades.
Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni shared the field for the first time on 1 October 2006 at the Challenger Trophy in Chennai, with one finishing for India Red and the other for India Blue. Since then, they have been part of 652 matches across formats, sometimes as teammates, often as opponents and almost always at the heart of the competition.
On Thursday, that thread could stretch a little further. After almost twenty years, they might again take the field at Wankhede together. Rohit is eyeing a comeback after missing Mumbai Indians’ last two matches with a hamstring injury, while Dhoni looks set to make his first appearance in IPL 2026 if the last few days of training are anything to go by. Not only did he bat, but he also kept wickets, something he rarely did in the nets even at his peak, a clear sign that he is preparing for the intensity of the match.
It says a lot about their strength that both will remain the face of their respective franchises in 2026. It also says something about where these two sides stand, still turning to established names while others have moved forward with more established combinations.
Neither has been officially cleared, but both look close.
Rohit eased his way back from the setback against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and looked fluent during his stint in the nets after missing the earlier non-compulsory part. Dhoni’s build-up was steady and deliberate. He spent time behind the stumps, bowled down, faced the quicks and gradually lengthened his batting as the week went on.
They batted together on Wednesday and for a while it seemed like very little had changed. The sight alone was enough to bring back memories of contests where the two often shaped the narrative.
There is still uncertainty surrounding their availability, but signs point to a return, at least to some degree. Rohit, if fit, should go straight back into the playing XI. Dhoni may be released, perhaps as an impact replacement, with Chennai Super Kings handling his workload.
Even doubts contribute to the increase. This rivalry has long carried their imprint, and even now it seems that their presence or absence could tip the balance.
THE BATTLE OF THE FALLEN GIANTS?
If nostalgia draws the eye, the present tells a far more uncertain story.
Apart from Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni, it’s really about where Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings stand right now. They have 10 IPL titles between them, but this season has been more about adjustments than authority. Neither side found a steady rhythm and both spent more time finding the right combinations than building momentum.
Chennai Super Kings have felt this instability more than most. Just when things seemed to be settling down, an injury to Ayush Mhatre forced another reset. He was their most fluent batsman, scoring 201 runs at a fast pace and his absence leaves a void that is not easy to fill. Management returns to weighing options, with Urvil Patel among those in contention. Things have rarely gone CSK’s way in IPL 2026, will that change in Mumbai? (PTI photo)
Their defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad captured the mood of their campaign. Chasing a modest target, CSK were in control before the innings slipped away without a defining moment. Chasing a modest target, CSK were in control before the innings lost its way, the middle order unable to deliver when it mattered. Sarfaraz Khan has provided stability without losing games while captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has struggled for rhythm and managed 82 runs so far. Sanju Samson carried the bulk of the scoring but the support around him was inconsistent.
Eighteen players have been fielded in six matches and more changes are likely. It’s not a position CSK are used to, but it reflects how unsettled their season has been. However, they will take some confidence from recent meetings, having won four of their last five against Mumbai.
Mumbai Indians had their own stop-start campaign. They have already used 20 players, the most of any team, as they try to settle on a combination that works.
But there are signs of progress. Tilak Varma’s century against Gujarat Titans he did more than end a four game losing streak. It brought clarity to the batting and gave some shape to the order. The promotion of Naman Dhir has added balance, especially against the spin, while the arrival of Will Jacks gives them another option to work with. MI enters the CSK clash with a certain winning momentum. (PTI photo)
There are still gaps. Suryakumar Yadav has yet to quite find his flow and Hardik Pandya has yet to consistently impact games with bat or ball. But the bowling showed encouraging signs in the last outing. Jasprit Bumrah, returning between the wickets, is changing the face of the attack and with the support of a revamped combination, including Ashwani Kumar’s four-wicket haul, there was a sense of control that had been missing.
The table shows how tight things are. Both teams are on four points, separated only by net run rate, while the sides at the top have started to pull away.
And yet these accessories rarely followed the script.
Mumbai Indians versus Chennai Super Kings was always going to be about moments more than momentum. It was about players rising to the occasion, games getting progressively tighter.
That’s why Thursday is compelling. Two teams trying to stabilize their seasons, a rivalry that still carries weight and a sense that it only takes one moment to swing the other way.
For all that has changed, the opportunity remains the same.
MUMBAI: PITCH AND TERMS
Pitch 7 at the Wankhede has told a slightly different story in recent games, moving away from the ground’s reputation as a batting paradise. It hasn’t been quite a run event, the last six T20s here have produced an average first innings score of 179.
A clear pattern also emerged in the results. The teams batting first had the upper hand, winning four of those six matches, with scoring tightening slightly in the chase – the run rate dropping from 8.98 in the first innings to 8.57 in the second.
Spin also played a bigger role than usual at a venue traditionally dominated by pace. The slower bowlers kept things tighter, going for 7.71 overs, compared to the quicks who conceded at 9.38.
However, despite all these trends, throwing is unlikely to lose its importance. Dew remains a factor in Mumbai and with temperatures expected to be in the mid-30s Celsius, skippers may still lean towards the chase once the lights go on.
MI vs CSK: HEAD-TO-HEAD
Arch-rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will clash in the first El Clasico of IPL 2026, a fixture that has consistently delivered drama over the years.
The head-to-head record reflects how close this rivalry has been. In 39 meetings, Mumbai Indians have a narrow advantage of 21:18. That said, the recent fixtures have favored Chennai, who have won four of the last five clashes between the two sides.
The two teams have also crossed paths on the biggest stage and have clashed in four IPL finals. Mumbai ranked first in three of them.
MI vs CSK: PREDICTED XI
The inclusion of Will Jacks will likely come at the expense of Sherfane Rutherford, whose role at No. 7 remains unsettled. Jacks offer a similar bat profile with the added bonus of off-spin.
Mumbai Indians could also look at playing both by sacrificing an overseas spinner. With Hardik Pandya in the XI, they have enough depth to absorb this compromise and strengthen the batting.
If Rohit Sharma is fit, he is expected to return in place of Denmark’s Malewar.
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma/Danish Malewar, Quinton de Kock (week), Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (captain), Will Jacks/Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, AM Ghazanfar, Krish Bhagat, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwani Kumar.
For Chennai Super Kings, Urvil Patel is shaping up to be a natural replacement for Mhatre after his season last year.
However, Dhoni’s fitness might have affected the final call. Matthew Short is a candidate to miss out after a mixed performance against SRH – decent with the ball up front but then expensive, and a 34 off 30 that halted the chase.
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Matthew Short/MS Dhoni, Jamie Overton, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary/Matt Henry/Akeal Hosein, Gurjapneet Singh.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
23 Apr 2026 08:02 IST
