🏏IPL 2026: CSK vs Mumbai Indians, 44th Match, Chennai🏏 - Page 4

Two of the most well-supported and successful franchises in the Indian Premier League, with 10 combined titles to their name, both of whom are not having the seasons they would have liked to see. Mumbai Indians are struggling on four points after just two wins, while Chennai Super Kings are just ahead with three wins to their name.

Already, it is looking like a situation where neither team can truly afford to lose. 14 points likely won't be enough to qualify from this stage, so a seventh loss tonight could well and truly end MI's campaign with five matches to spare. CSK could just about stay alive, on par with Delhi Capitals after their own win last night, and in position to take advantage of any slip ups higher up the the table.

Two icons of each team, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, aren't expected to feature in this match either as injury keeps them out for extended periods of time through this IPL season. Fans won't enjoy the wait of having to see these legendary players, but equally will be anxious for names like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya to come good as they struggle for form themselves.

There are problems aplenty with both teams, but they will each want to focus on the strengths they possess – MI's batting finally seemed to come to the party as they hammered a big score against SRH, but it was the bowling which struggled to contain their opposition.

CSK finally seemed to have a combination that was working with their dual overseas spinners and a strong domestic batting, but it has been a story of hot and cold for the five-time champions. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad hasn't been able to lead from the front, and will need to find a way to explode with the bat at the top and set the tone for the remainder of the team.

Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis in particular are hunting for form in the middle order, not able to leave their mark on the tournament. The same applies for the MI middle order of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya – while Tilak Varma finally seems to be finding some rhythm, he needs some support from the numbers around him.

CSK trying to play catch-up

CSK vs MI LIVE Score: CSK have a decent team on many fronts but haven't quite been able to make it click – a similar story to MI. While Sanju Samson has impressed on his debut CSK season and the spinners have looked in good rhythm, not everything has clicked just yet. They are still a fair ways off the playoff spots, but know that a win today puts them in range to try and catch up, and subsequently cause some flutters in the team hanging on to the top four at the moment.

Is it too late for MI if they lose tonight?

CSK vs MI LIVE Score: How top heavy the IPL is this season – four teams already on 12+ points – it seems like the amount of wins needed to make the cut-off for the playoffs will likely be 16, or 8 wins.

MI already have 8 defeats, which essentially means they cannot afford to lose another game. They have to take it one game at a time and be perfect from here in, which means no missteps can be afforded tonight.

Chennai Super Kings sit in seventh place in the table on six points, just ahead of Mumbai Indians in ninth place on four points. MI are ahead of only LSG, while CSK are staring up at the playoff teams and hoping to join the pack which is chasing down a spot in the postseason.

Simon Doull on why Hardik's captaincy is not working

Former New Zealand cricketer and broadcaster Simon Doull opined that the responsibility for the poor performances has to be taken right from the top of the food chain. He explained why Hardik’s captaincy has worked at the Gujarat Titans when he won in the 2022 season and has not worked at the Mumbai Indians. “When they were in their pomp before the new teams came in, it was like a pride of lions, and Hardik was like a cub. He was a cub who played the role in the pride of lions that went away, and did a great job at GT with a franchise which he could own and control. He came back, basically tried to fight the king of the pride for the reigning job…for the king’s job, and it did not work,” Doull said on Cricbuzz after the loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

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Guys did u hear this?

Why Shivam Dube is struggling at CSK in IPL 2026

In this season of the IPL, there has been a rather unfamiliar but regular sight when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have put up the nets and started their batting drills. Shivam Dube, who reinvented his career since joining the franchise in 2022 as a spin-hitter and has gone on to replicate the role successfully with India in consecutive T20 World Cup triumphs, is now prepping up for the role of a finisher – one which Dube couldn’t master during his stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, but one he has done admirably well in India colours. But in yellow, it has so far resulted in the Aaru Saamy disappearing from the scene this season, with just 6 sixes to show in 8 outings

Hussey spills the beans on Dhoni's return

“He’s such a team-orientated guy, MS Dhoni. He always wants what’s best for the team and he was worried that if he came, there’d be a bit too much of a distraction. Obviously, the cameras would be on him a lot. The crowd would be cheering for him and things like that. And he really wanted the team to just be able to go about their job, do our thing. Whether that’s right or wrong, that’s not my decision to sort of make, but that’s the thinking behind with Dhoni not wanting to come to the matches,” Hussey said.

Rohit's fitness update

In a big boost, former captain Rohit Sharma batted at the nets in Chennai on Friday. Having suffered a hamstring injury, he has played only four matches and missing four. And Jayawardene said the medical team would take a call on his participation on Saturday. “It’s progressed well. He’s like working really hard to get back at it. So for us with the medical team, it’s daily. We see how he feels, how he pulls up the next day. So we’ll make a decision. We’ll see him practising today as well. So let’s see how he feels tomorrow and what the medical team will tell us,” coach Jayawardene said.

After SKY requested group name suggestion from public, BCCI has now finally shortlisted the most suitable name for the WA group of the trio "MSD-Rohit-SKY"(according to BCCI)

https://x.com/BCCI/status/2050492971326603773

P.S- jo bhi bolo, DRS would've been even better

Originally posted by: rac1

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Guys did u hear this?

Sad and disappointing. This was definitely not the good solution but IPL already messed it up with their cheerleaders policy. When Vijay Mallya used to be owner of RCB it used to be worst because the cheerleaders used to perform in bikinis and looked vulgar.