Out-of-form giants Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will be eager to regain momentum when they face off in the IPL on Thursday, with attention also on the potential comebacks of Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni.
Despite their combined tally of 10 IPL titles, both sides have endured an inconsistent campaign so far. Chennai's progress was hampered by a hamstring injury to young batter Ayush Mhatre, who had shown promise early on, forcing the team to rethink its batting combination and explore options like Urvil Patel. Their recent defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad exposed vulnerabilities, particularly after failing to chase down a modest 130 despite being in control. Sarfaraz Khan has contributed steadily but hasn't turned starts into big scores, while
skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has struggled for form. Sanju Samson, with 192 runs, continues to be a key figure in the lineup.
Mumbai, meanwhile, ended a four-game losing streak on the back of Tilak Varma's match-winning century, but questions remain over the performances of captain Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav. Naman Dhir has offered useful contributions in the middle order, while the return to form of Jasprit Bumrah has strengthened the bowling attack, even though inconsistency among the pacers remains a concern. The addition of Will Jacks further boosts Mumbai's options ahead of this important encounter.
MI vs CSK: What Happened the Last Time These Two Teams Met?
The last meeting between the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025 over two legs produced contrasting results, with both sides winning one game each. Chennai drew first blood at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, chasing down 156 thanks to a composed, unbeaten knock from Rachin Ravindra and a brisk start by Ruturaj Gaikwad.
However, Mumbai bounced back emphatically in the reverse fixture at Wankhede Stadium. Led by a dominant unbeaten partnership between Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, MI chased down 177 with ease, sealing a comprehensive nine-wicket win and leveling the season rivalry.
