Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, April 19: The storied rivalry between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) returns to the spotlight this Sunday at the Wankhede Stadium, as both teams enter a pivotal phase in their IPL 2025 campaigns.

Though CSK’s inconsistent form has slightly dimmed the intensity of this classic clash, the stakes remain sky-high. For MI, currently placed seventh, it's a chance to extend their resurgence following crucial back-to-back wins over Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Their disciplined bowling effort, especially on the tricky Wankhede pitch that surprisingly assisted spin and slower deliveries, proved vital in their most recent outing. However, this approach will face a sterner test against CSK’s potent spin attack.

Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad, the Afghan wrist-spinner who dismantled MI with a three-wicket haul earlier this season, will be central to CSK’s game plan. Ahmad, with 12 wickets in seven matches, has been a consistent threat in the middle overs. CSK have also bolstered their squad by bringing in young talents Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre, though it’s unclear if they will make the starting XI.

CSK snapped their four-match losing streak with a tense five-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants. While the win brought temporary relief, questions still loom over their momentum. The return of MS Dhoni to the Wankhede adds an emotional twist. Dhoni’s blistering cameo last season—20 runs off 4 balls, including three sixes off Hardik Pandya—is still fresh in the memory of fans.

Back leading the side, Dhoni now shoulders the dual task of reigniting CSK’s campaign and closing innings with his trademark flair, all while managing a lingering knee concern.

On the other side, MI will look to ride the form of Ryan Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav at the top, with Tilak Varma and Will Jacks handling the finishing duties. Their bowling, finally finding its rhythm, will once again be spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult—both of whom will play key roles in choking CSK’s power hitters at the death.

While Mumbai still have some room to maneuver in the tightly contested mid-table race, another loss could seriously dent their playoff hopes. For CSK, this is more than just a marquee matchup—it’s an opportunity to revive belief and momentum in what’s been a faltering season.

Match Details:
• Match: Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings
• Date: Sunday
• Time: 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
• Live Telecast: Star Sports Network
• Live Streaming: JioCinema & Disney+ Hotstar

Chennai Super Kings Squad:

Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Shaik Rasheed, Vansh Bedi (wk), C Andre Siddharth, Rachin Ravindra, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Anshul Kamboj, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Dewald Brevis, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Matheesha Pathirana.

Mumbai Indians Squad:

Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Minz, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Shrijith Krishnan (wk), Bevon Jacobs, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Raj Angad Bawa, Vignesh Puthur, Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult, Karn Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley, VS Penmetsa, Arjun Tendulkar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah.