MI and ČSK players after the match. (Photo credit: IPL) Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes Mumbai Indians have the edge over Chennai Super Kings ahead of their high-profile IPL 2026 clash, citing depth and experience in Mumbai’s squad.Chennai Super Kings (CSK) host Mumbai Indians (MI) tonight, May 2, 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in a high stakes ‘El Clásico’ that could decide playoff survival for both the contending five-time champions. Both the teams are languishing in the bottom half of the table, CSK are in 6th place with 6 points while MI are 9th with just 4 points from eight matches.
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Bhuvneshwar Kumar on RCB loss: ‘It was just an off day’In their previous meeting this season, Chennai Super Kings dominated their arch-rivals with a massive 103-run victory. Sanju Samson played an unbeaten 101 to guide CSK to an impressive total of 208. The bowlers then took the lead with Akeal Hosein leading the way with figures of 4/17 as Mumbai Indians were bundled out for just 104.He received solid support from Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Jamie Overton, Anshul Kamboj and Gurjapneet Singh who all chipped in with wickets to seal a comprehensive victory.Speaking to Star Sports ahead of the much-anticipated ‘El Clasico’ clash, Kaif said that while Mumbai Indians look stronger on paper, their inconsistent form remains an issue.“On paper, Mumbai Indians look stronger than Chennai Super Kings as they have a lot of match winners and experienced players. But if you look at the current form, questions arise because MI are not winning consistently. It means that in their era, if they play a dominant brand of cricket, it can be very difficult to stop them,” Kaif said.Kaif also pointed out that CSK’s heavy reliance on Samson could prove to be a weakness in the high-pressure contest.“Chennai, on the other hand, have depended heavily on Sanju Samson so far. They rely heavily on his performances to win matches. That’s why Mumbai are heading into this crucial match with an upper hand,” he added.
