Mumbai without Hardik and Bumrah
Mumbai arguably have the best batting line-up after Sunrisers Hyderabad, but Hardik’s absence will put added pressure on Rohit Sharma, who is expected to continue his aggressive approach. Tilak Varma provides some stability, but the match could ultimately be decided by the bowlers.
CSK’s all-round depth a major advantage
Mahendra Singh Dhoni continues to be the heartbeat of Chennai despite handing over the reins to Ruturaj Gaikwad. The return of hometown hero Ravichandran Ashwin and the presence of 11 all-rounders—including Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, and Sam Curran—give the team remarkable flexibility.
Mumbai will bank on their two New Zealanders, Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner. Santner, who was part of the Chennai setup until last year’s mega auction in Jeddah, will now be looking to make an impact for Mumbai.
Head-to-head battle favours Mumbai
The two teams have met 39 times, including two Champions League T20 clashes, with Mumbai holding a slight edge with 21 wins. However, Chennai enter this match with confidence, having won the last meeting in Mumbai.
In that encounter, Chennai posted 206 for four, powered by Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 69 and Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 66. Despite Rohit Sharma’s valiant century, Mumbai fell short by 20 runs, undone by Sri Lankan slinger Matheesha Pathirana’s match-winning four-wicket haul.
With Chennai narrowly missing the playoffs last season on net run rate, they will be eager to start their campaign with a statement win against their fiercest rivals.
