IPL 2026: The 44th match of IPL 2026 between CSK vs MI will be played between the two most successful teams in IPL history, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) on Saturday evening at 7:30 PM. Both the teams have won the title 5-5 times in the history of IPL, but the current season has been full of ups and downs for both. In this match, while Chennai will try to maintain its dominance on its home ground, Mumbai Indians will take the field with the intention of avenging the previous defeat.

The path to playoffs became difficult for both teams

The performance of both the teams in the current season has not been as per expectations. Chennai Super Kings have won 3 out of 8 matches played so far and are placed seventh in the points table with 6 points. To remain in the race for the playoffs, CSK will have to win at least 5 of its remaining 6 matches.

On the other hand, the situation of Mumbai Indians is even more critical. MI are placed ninth in the points table with just 2 wins from 8 matches. However, the Mumbai team has already managed to overcome such difficult circumstances and reach the playoffs, but this time the team will have to win all its remaining 6 matches to make it to the last four. They will have to start this difficult journey with a win against Chennai.

Doubt over the fitness of Dhoni and Rohit

Before this blockbuster match, there is some disappointing news for the fans of both the teams. Doubts remain over the fitness of former Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni (shin injury) and former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma (hamstring injury). According to information received from CSK head coach Stephen Fleming, Dhoni’s chances of playing are very less due to a strain in his calf injury.

At the same time, there is less hope of Rohit Sharma taking the field on Saturday. In such a situation, the new captains of both the teams, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Hardik Pandya, will have a huge responsibility to lead the team to victory.

How is the head-to-head record of both the teams?

When it comes to the CSK and MI rivalry in the IPL, the statistics have always been extremely exciting. A total of 40 matches have been played between the two teams so far. In these matches, Mumbai Indians have won 21 times, while Chennai Super Kings have won 19 matches. In the first match of this season, Chennai had defeated Mumbai at its home ground Wankhede Stadium, for which the Mumbai team will be desperate to take revenge.

Pitch and weather conditions

This match will be played on pitch number 5 of Chepauk. The batsmen are expected to get good pace and bounce on this pitch. On this pitch, in the beginning of April, Punjab Kings had easily achieved the big target of 210 runs against Chennai. The average score here in the last five matches has been 192 runs, which shows that the pitch has now become completely batting friendly.

Anyway, it is being said that the weather will be clear and sunny in Chennai on Saturday. The temperature is expected to be around 35 degrees Celsius and the chance of rain is only 2 percent.

Playing 11 of CSK and MI

Chennai Super Kings team: 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 3 Sarfaraz Khan/Urvil Patel, 4 Dewald Brewis, 5 Shivam Dubey, 6 Karthik Sharma, 7 Jamie Overton, 8 Akil Hussain, 9 Anshul Kamboj, 10 Mukesh Chaudhary/Ramakrishna Ghosh, 11 Gurjapaneet Singh, 12 Noor Ahmed

Mumbai Indians team: 1 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 2 Will Jacques, 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Naman Dheer, 5 Hardik Pandya (captain), 6 Tilak Verma, 7 Robin Minze, 8 Shardul Thakur/Kris Bhagat, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 AM Ghazanfar, 12 Ashwini Kumar