IPL 2026: Without Dhoni and Rohit, CSK and MI Face Off in a Fight for Survival

Key facts

• MS Dhoni has not played in IPL 2026 due to a calf injury; Rohit Sharma is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
• Mumbai Indians are ninth with 2 wins and 6 losses; CSK are sixth with 3 wins and 5 losses.
• CSK defeated MI by 103 runs in their first meeting this season at Wankhede Stadium.
• MI's bowling attack has the worst economy rate in the league at 10.83 runs per over.
• CSK's Sanju Samson has been the team's primary run-scorer, leading to overdependence.
• MI handed a debut to 33-year-old leg-spinner Raghu Sharma in the match.
• Trent Boult has dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad three times in six IPL innings for 34 runs.

A Rivalry Renewed Under Pressure

When Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings walk onto the field at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday, they will do so without the two icons who defined their historic rivalry. MS Dhoni, the former CSK captain, has been sidelined all season with a calf injury, while Rohit Sharma, the ex-MI captain, has not played since a hamstring injury sustained during MI’s home game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Both franchises, each with five IPL titles, are in desperate need of a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive. Mumbai Indians languish in ninth place with just two wins from eight matches, while Chennai Super Kings sit sixth with three wins and five losses. Another defeat for MI could mathematically end their campaign.

Hardik Pandya’s Call to Arms

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya, who won the toss and elected to bat, acknowledged the must-win nature of the contest. “We are professionals. We are supposed to play good cricket. We are supposed to turn up every time. So yeah, the mood has been good. It’s been challenging, but we have a lot to play for, as you said, six games, make sure that we give the best opportunity for ourselves to qualify,” he said. Pandya also stressed the importance of playing for pride. “You play the sport to enjoy, you play the sport to win. So yeah, these are the all things which we have kind of spoken about and kind of focusing on,” he added. His team, however, comes into the match after a shocking loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, where they scored 243 runs but conceded the target with six wickets to spare.

Team Changes and Key Absences

Both teams made changes to their playing XIs for the second ‘El Clasico’ of the season, but neither included Dhoni or Rohit. Mumbai Indians handed a debut to 33-year-old Punjab leg-spinner Raghu Sharma and brought Krish Bhagat back in place of left-arm quick Ashwani Kumar. Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, brought all-rounder Ramakrishna Ghosh in for Gurjapneet Singh, while Akeal Hosein made way for Prashant Veer. CSK’s lineup features Sanju Samson as wicketkeeper and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, along with overseas players Dewald Brevis, Jamie Overton, and Noor Ahmad. MI’s XI includes Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah, with Trent Boult leading the pace attack.

Statistical Edge and Weaknesses

CSK have won five of their last six matches against MI since 2023, including a dominant 103-run victory at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium earlier this season. However, MI’s Trent Boult holds a strong head-to-head record against both CSK openers: he has dismissed Gaikwad three times in six IPL innings, limiting him to 34 runs off 31 balls, and has dismissed Samson three times in eight innings, conceding just 32 runs off 27 balls. Suryakumar Yadav, MI’s batting linchpin, has struggled this season, scoring only 162 runs in eight innings at an average of 20.25 and a strike rate of 140.86 — his lowest since 2019. MI’s bowling attack has been the most expensive in the league, conceding at 10.83 runs per over, while CSK’s bowlers have fared better at 9.37 runs per over.

Former Cricketer Weighs In

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes MI hold a slight edge on paper due to their squad depth. “On paper, the Mumbai Indians look stronger than the Chennai Super Kings because they have a lot of match winners and experienced campaigners in their side,” Kaif told Jio Hotstar. However, he noted that MI’s inability to convert games into wins could be a drawback. “But when you look at recent form, a lot of questions get raised because MI haven't been winning many games. That said, on their day, if they play a dominant brand of cricket, they can be very hard to stop,” he added. Turning to CSK, Kaif highlighted their overdependence on opener Sanju Samson. “Chennai, on the other hand, have only had Sanju Samson firing so far. They are relying heavily on his performances to win games,” he observed. CSK return to action after a six-day break, having lost to Gujarat Titans by eight wickets at Chepauk, where their batters managed only 158 runs.

Playoff Race Tightens

With both teams in the bottom half of the table, every match is now a virtual knockout. Mumbai Indians, with just two wins, need to win almost all of their remaining six games to have a realistic chance of qualifying. Chennai Super Kings, with three wins, have slightly more breathing room but cannot afford further slip-ups. The absence of Dhoni and Rohit — the two players who have defined this rivalry for over a decade — adds a poignant note to the contest. Their replacements have yet to fill the void, and the pressure is mounting on the current captains, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Hardik Pandya, to steer their teams through the crisis.

The bottom line

• MS Dhoni (calf) and Rohit Sharma (hamstring) remain absent from IPL 2026, with no return date announced.
• Mumbai Indians are ninth with 2 wins, 6 losses; CSK are sixth with 3 wins, 5 losses.
• CSK won the first 'El Clasico' by 103 runs; MI have lost 5 of last 6 against CSK since 2023.
• MI's bowling economy of 10.83 is the worst in the league; CSK's is 9.37.
• Sanju Samson is CSK's primary run-scorer, leading to overdependence; Suryakumar Yadav is struggling with a strike rate of 140.86.
• Both teams made changes: MI debuted Raghu Sharma; CSK brought in Ramakrishna Ghosh and Prashant Veer.