However, recent trends indicate the fixture, often regarded as the IPL’s biggest rivalry, may be losing its traditional high-stakes appeal.

MI enter the home match buoyed by a strong bowling display and a century from Tilak Varma under pressure against the Gujarat Titans (GT), securing their second win of the season. CSK, meanwhile, aim to return to winning ways following a 10-run defeat by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), marking their fourth loss this season.

Both franchises’ performances over the past two seasons, however, may have dampened fan enthusiasm. Since the start of 2024, MI and CSK have each lost 21 matches, the highest number among the league’s top 10 teams, while recording only 15 and 13 wins respectively.

In terms of win percentage, both teams sit in the bottom half of the table, with MI placed ninth and CSK at the bottom. During this period, teams such as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), last year's champions; Punjab Kings (PBKS), last year's runners-up; Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), finalists in 2024, have risen in prominence.

Both MI and CSK have at times finished last in the standings, with MI ending bottom in 2023 and CSK in the last position in 2025. These results have prompted team transitions and investments in young talent including Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Sanju Samson, and Ayush Mhatre.

According to Cricbuzz statistics since 2024, MI have lost the most matches while chasing (12), followed by CSK with 10 losses in the same situation. Despite their strong batting line-ups, both sides have struggled with run chases recently.

CSK have won two IPL titles this decade but endured three underwhelming seasons with second-last finishes in 2020 and 2022, and a wooden spoon last year. MI have claimed one title in 2020 but have suffered wooden spoons in 2022 and 2024, with playoff qualifications achieved in 2023 and 2025.

Squads:

Mumbai Indians: Quinton de Kock (wk), Danish Malewar, Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Krish Bhagat, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Mayank Rawat, Raghu Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Shardul Thakur, Will Jacks, Mayank Markande, Ryan Rickelton, Robin Minz, Mohammed Salahuddin Izhar.

Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Matthew Short, Sarfaraz Khan, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Matt Henry, MS Dhoni, Akeal Hosein, Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Chahar, Spencer Johnson, Urvil Patel, Aman Khan, Zakary Foulkes.