Struggling former champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will be looking for consistency as they await the return of their former leaders Rohit Sharma and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, respectively when they play in the IPL 2026 match in Mumbai on Thursday.
Although Dhoni (calf strain) and Rohit (hamstring) are making a comeback, it is unclear if either will play in what has always been a legendary IPL match at Wankhede Stadium.
While Dhoni, who hasn’t played in the IPL yet, went through his drills and hinted at a potential return as an Impact Substitute, Rohit skipped Tuesday’s optional training session.
Despite not yet being officially cleared to play in the match, Rohit and Dhoni batted in the nets session on Wednesday while wearing the training uniforms of their respective teams.
The drama, however, extends beyond the two Indian mainstays, as both teams—who have won ten IPL titles between them—continue to face numerous challenges.
Like most teams, CSK started the competition looking for form and the correct combination. Just when they seemed to be settling in, local sensation Ayush Mhatre, who had scored 201 runs, suffered a hamstring injury.
Urvil Patel, a wicketkeeper-batter from Gujarat, is one of the possibilities available to CSK as they attempt to fill the void in their batting reserves once more.
After a disappointing loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, where they should have easily closed out the game while chasing 130 off 90 balls with eight wickets in hand, CSK will be eager to see their hitters fire together. However, a lack of initiative from the middle order allowed SRH to turn the tide in their favor.
Despite playing a crucial batting role, Sarfaraz has not yet turned starts into a huge innings despite being steady with 147 runs. This is especially true given that captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has had a dismal season with just 82 runs.
Given that Sanju Samson (192 runs) is returning to the site of his heroics in the T20 World Cup semi-final, many will also rely on the India wicketkeeper-batter.
CSK, who have won four of their last five meetings with MI, will also be looking to end their two-match losing streak.
With four points apiece, the only thing separating seventh-place MI (0.067) and eighth-place CSK (-0.780) is net run rate. In-form teams have already taken the lead with eight or more points.
The Mumbai Indians’ four-match losing streak was ended by Tilak Varma’s mastery in Ahmedabad, but the five-time champions are still in damage control mode. Given MI’s track record of handling similar circumstances in the IPL, Tilak’s century might be the catalyst they need to revitalize their campaign.
The form of MI captain Hardik Pandya and India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, however, continue to be the biggest concerns. Pandya has failed to provide the late pyrotechnics or stabilize the innings when necessary, while Suryakumar has only managed one half-century so far.
Naman Dhir has been required to step up in both scenarios, and the Punjabi batsman has done it fairly well. Along with Ashwani Kumar’s four wickets, Jasprit Bumrah’s return among the wickets was a significant boost for MI in their decisive 99-run victory, allaying worries in the camp since neither Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, nor Hardik Pandya had consistently produced early breakthroughs.
Will Jacks, an English all-rounder for MI, arrived in India, joined the camp prior to Thursday’s game, and has been training at the Wankhede Stadium. It is anticipated that Jacks will bolster the team even more.
MI vs CSK Head-to-Head:
With 21 wins out of 39 games, the Mumbai Indians have a slight advantage over the Chennai Super Kings in their head-to-head record. But in the last three seasons, CSK has won four of their last five games, demonstrating their current dominance.
MI vs CSK Pitch Report:
Teams are expected to score more than 200 runs on the Wankhede surface, which is once again predicted to be a batting paradise. Both teams scored more than 200 runs in the two innings in the first two games of the season at this location. In the previous match, Punjab Kings chased down MI’s 195/6 in just 16.3 overs thanks to a dominant batting display.
MI vs CSK Weather Report:
Dew may play a role in the evening, particularly for the team bowling second, since temperatures are predicted to be between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius.
MI vs CSK Probable XIs:
Mumbai Indians: Danish Malewar, Quinton de Kock (w/k), Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Tilak Varma, Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Krish Bhagat, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (w/k), Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain), Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Jamie Overton, Matthew Short, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh
FAQs:
When is the IPL 2026 match between MI and CSK scheduled?
The IPL 2026 match between MI and CSK is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026.
What time does the IPL 2026 match between MI and CSK scheduled to start?
The IPL 2026 match between MI and CSK will start at 7:30 PM IST.
Where is the IPL 2026 match between MI and CSK scheduled to take place?
The IPL 2026 match between MI and CSK is scheduled to be played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Which TV channel will broadcast the IPL 2026 match between MI and CSK?
The IPL 2026 match between MI and CSK will be broadcast on Star Sports Network.
Where can one catch the live streaming of the IPL 2026 match between MI and CSK?
The live streaming of the IPL 2026 match between MI and CSK will be available on JioHotstar.
