The second high-voltage clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in will unfold this Sunday, 20 April, at the Wankhede Stadium.
The pressure is high on CSK, led by MS Dhoni, who are struggling to stay in the playoff race.
Dhoni’s Injury Raises Concerns
All eyes are once again on Dhoni, who appeared to be limping after reaching Mumbai. His long-standing knee troubles seem to have flared up again. This has raised fresh doubts about his fitness ahead of this crucial game.
Chennai Super Kings have had a difficult campaign so far. Although they ended a five-match losing streak with a win over Lucknow Super Giants, their position remains shaky. CSK have collected just 4 points from 7 matches, and their Net Run Rate (NRR) of -1.276 is the worst among all teams.
To reach the playoffs, teams usually need at least 16 points. CSK can reach 18 if they win all of their remaining matches, but that will be a steep climb. Up next is a red-hot MI side, and that won’t make things any easier.
MI Gathering Steam Under Pandya
On the other hand, Mumbai Indians have bounced back strongly. After winning only one of their first five matches, they’ve now notched up two wins in a row. Hardik Pandya is leading from the front with both the bat and ball.
Pandya currently shares second place on the wicket-takers list with 11 wickets. He is also batting with a strike rate close to 170. His all-round form makes him a serious threat. CSK will have to come up with something special to contain him.
Wankhede Woes for CSK
Despite a strong overall record against MI, CSK haven’t had much luck at Wankhede. This venue is known as MI’s stronghold. Recently, MI crushed the powerful Sunrisers Hyderabad lineup here.
So far, CSK have played 12 matches against MI at this ground, winning 5 and losing 7. However, the last time they met here, CSK won by 20 runs and posted their highest score of 206 at Wankhede. That said, MI were in poor form that season, finishing at the bottom of the table. This year, things are different.
Batting Struggles Continue for CSK
The Wankhede pitch usually favors batters, but CSK’s batting lineup has not lived up to expectations. They haven’t chased a total of 180 or more since 2019. Their top-order woes have deepened with the loss of captain Ruturaj Gaikwad due to injury.
Gaikwad has been a consistent performer for CSK. His absence leaves a major gap. The middle-order, including Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube, and Ravindra Jadeja, has also struggled this season.
Overall Rivalry: MI Hold the Edge
Out of 40 encounters, MI have won 21 matches, while CSK have claimed victory in 19. The rivalry remains close, but MI maintain a slight advantage. Even so, Dhoni’s presence brings hope. He has looked solid with the bat this season, scoring 130 runs in 7 innings at a strike rate close to 160. In the recent match against LSG, he played a match-winning cameo-26 runs off 11 balls with a strike rate of 236.
Momentum with Mumbai
However, momentum is firmly on Mumbai’s side. In their last outing, Pandya finished the match with a blistering 29 off just 9 balls at a strike rate of 233.33. If CSK fail to fix their batting issues, particularly during the powerplay, they could be in serious trouble again at Wankhede.