Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians meet at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday, May 2, with both sides battling to keep their faltering seasons alive. CSK are seventh on the IPL 2026 points table with six points, while MI are second from bottom with just four from eight matches, making this a must-win fixture for both the five-time champions to keep their faint playoff hopes alive.
CSK come into this game on the back of a humbling eight-wicket defeat at home to Gujarat Titans. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad finally seemed to have found some form, with an unbeaten 74* helping CSK post 158/7. However, that total was too small to trouble GT, who chased it down with 20 balls to spare.
MI on the other hand, come into this game on the back of a high-scoring defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Ryan Rickelton stepped in as a last-minute replacement for Quinton de Kock and slammed his maiden IPL century, remaining unbeaten on 123* as Mumbai posted a solid 243/5.
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But, the MI bowlers failed to defend that target, with SRH's lethal opening pair along with Heinrich Klaasen completing a record-chase at the Wankhede with eight balls to spare.
Both these teams met recently on April 23 in what ended up being a one-sided affair. CSK, riding on Sanju Samson's second century this season (101*) posted 207/6 at the Wankhede Stadium. Akeal Hosein (4/17) then ripped through the MI line-up as CSK bowled them out for 104, registering a 103-run win, which was Mumbai Indians' heaviest defeat by runs in IPL history.
MI will still be licking their wounds from that result and will want to make a strong statement at the home of their arch-rivals.
However, both teams are likely to be without their talismanic figures, with MS Dhoni still sidelined due to a calf injury, while Rohit Sharma remains doubtful as he continues to recover from a hamstring issue.
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Players To Watch
Sanju Samson: Has been CSK's most consistent batter this season, having already smashed two centuries for his new franchise this season. Samson is CSK's leading scorer with 304 runs from eight matches.
Allah Ghazanfar: The young Afghanistan off-spinner has emerged as a high-impact option for MI in an otherwise inconsistent season. Ghazanfar is Mumbai's leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps in six matches and on a Chepauk surface that offers grip, his role through the middle overs could be decisive.
Venue And Match Timing
The Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians match is scheduled to be played at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, from 7:30 PM IST.
Predicted Playing XIs
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Sarfaraz Khan, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Gurjapneet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary, Anshul Kamboj
Mumbai Indians: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Robin Minz, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar, Shardul Thakur
Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
The Chepauk surface has been relatively flatter this season, allowing stroke play early, but it is expected to slow down as the match progresses. Spinners are likely to play a role through the middle overs.
Hot and humid conditions are expected in Chennai, with temperatures around 31°C and high humidity levels. Dew is likely to influence the second innings, making chasing the preferred option.
How To Watch Live Telecast
The Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network.
How To Watch Live Streaming
The CSK vs MI match will be available for live streaming on JioHotstar.
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