IPL 2026, Match 44: Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians Match Preview

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) host the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 3 in Match 44 of the 2026 Indian Premier League.

The Chennai Super Kings return to action after a six-day break. They were beaten by the Gujarat Titans at the Chepauk by eight wickets in a game where they were playing catch-up from the start. The Super Kings lost early wickets in the powerplay courtesy of a fiery spell of fast bowling from Kagiso Rabada. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad notched up his first half-century of the season with an unbeaten 60-ball 74, which took them to 158/7 in their 20 overs. The total proved insufficient as the Titans chased it down with 20 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand.

The Mumbai Indians have been in a rut all season, and their fate was worsened after a loss to the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Ryan Rickelton scored an unbeaten 123, which took MI to 243/5 in their 20 overs. The Sunrisers were in total control of the chase, reaching the total with eight balls to spare, courtesy of a 30-ball 76 from Travis Head, an unbeaten 65 from Heinrich Klaasen and a quickfire, unbeaten 10-ball 30 from Salil Arora.

The Super Kings sit in sixth place on the table, with three wins and five losses from eight matches. They will be hoping to rack up points for a late push to the playoffs. The Mumbai Indians are reeling in ninth place, with just two wins and six losses from eight matches. They are in dire need of points to save their season from another dismal finish.

The two teams met previously on April 23 at the Wankhede Stadium. Being put into bat, the Super Kings managed a total of 207/6, carried largely by Sanju Samson's marvellous unbeaten century, his second of the season. They wreaked havoc on the MI batters, with Akeal Hosein picking up four wickets. The Mumbai Indians were eventually bowled out for 104, as the Super Kings completed a resounding 103-run victory in the first episode of this storied rivalry in 2026.

CSK vs MI Match Details

CSK vs MI: Head-to-Head record

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai: Pitch Report

The Chepauk has, over the years, gone through an identity shift. From what was a spinners' paradise, it has now become a comfortable batting wicket under lights. The wicket offers more consistent bounce, with the ball coming onto the bat much better. Despite this, there is still aid for bowlers in the form of lateral movement in the air and off the surface. The wicket is conducive to hit-the-deck bowling while also aiding bowlers who bowl cutters. Spinners also get help with grip and turn, although not as significantly as in previous years.

CSK vs MI: Predicted Playing XIs

Chennai Super Kings

Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary

Impact Player: Urvil Patel

Mumbai Indians

Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (capt), Shardul Thakur, Trent Boult, Ashwani Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar

Impact Player: Robin Minz