IPL 2026 CSK vs MI: Pitch report, highest score, Chepauk Stadium stats

In Match 44 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bat first against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. With both sides struggling for consistency, this encounter could significantly shape their playoff hopes. 

CSK vs MI Playing 11

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary

  Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Robin Minz, Trent Boult, Krish Bhagat, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar.

Here are the Impact substitutes for both the teams:

  Mumbai Indians Impact Subs: Raj Bawa, Raghu Sharma, Mayank Rawat, Shardul Thakur, Ashwani Kumar

  Chennai Super Kings Impact Subs: Kartik Sharma, Akeal Hosein, Sarfaraz Khan, Matthew Short, Gurjapneet Singh

 

 

  CSK currently sit sixth with three wins from eight matches, while MI are languishing in ninth with just two victories. Another defeat for either team could prove costly in the race to the playoffs.

 

CSK’s campaign has been disrupted by injuries, particularly the absence of Ayush Mhatre. Experiments with replacements have failed, and with MS Dhoni also sidelined, their balance looks unsettled. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad showed signs of form recently, offering some hope.

 

MI, meanwhile, are missing Rohit Sharma at the top. Their bowling unit, led by Jasprit Bumrah, has underperformed, making this clash a battle of survival.

MA Chidambaram Stadium: Pitch report for CSK vs MI, IPL 2026

The surface at the MA Chidambaram Stadium has evolved in recent seasons, offering a more balanced contest between bat and ball rather than being heavily spin-dominated as in the past. Batters are now able to play their shots more freely, especially once they settle in, making it a venue where competitive totals can be posted.

 

However, spin still remains a key factor. Bowlers like Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad for CSK and Allah Ghaznafar for MI can extract grip and subtle turn, particularly by mixing their pace and lengths intelligently rather than relying on sharp turn.

 

For pacers, success is likely to come through discipline rather than outright speed. Seamers who hit hard lengths, use cutters, and mix in slower balls effectively could pose a bigger threat than those relying purely on pace. Overall, variation and control will be the defining factors on this surface. 

IPL 2026: CSK win/loss record at MA Chidambaram Stadium

Chennai Super Kings have played 82 matches in the IPL at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, out of which they have won 53 matches and have been on the losing end on 28 occasions. One match ended in no contest.

IPL 2026: MI win/loss record at MA Chidambaram Stadium

Mumbai Indians have played just 16 games at this venue and have a fifty-fifty win-loss record, with 8 wins and 8 losses.

IPL 2026: CSK vs MI head-to-head at MA Chidambaram Stadium

Team 1	Team 2	Winner	Margin	Match Date
CSK	MI	CSK	4 wickets	Mar 23, 2025
CSK	MI	CSK	6 wickets	May 6, 2023
CSK	MI	MI	6 wickets	May 7, 2019
CSK	MI	MI	46 runs	Apr 26, 2019
CSK	MI	MI	6 wickets	May 8, 2015
CSK	MI	MI	9 runs	Apr 6, 2013
CSK	MI	MI	8 wickets	Apr 4, 2012
CSK	MI	MI	3 wickets	Sep 24, 2011
CSK	MI	CSK	24 runs	Apr 6, 2010
CSK	MI	CSK	6 runs	Apr 23, 2008

What happened in the last IPL match at MA Chidambaram Stadium?

The last IPL match played at MA Chidambaram Stadium was Match 37 of IPL 2026 between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT).

 

CSK batted first and posted a par total of 158 for 7 on the board, thanks to a fighting unbeaten 74-run innings from skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. In reply, GT, with the help of a brilliant 87-run innings off just 46 balls from Sai Sudharsan, chased down the target with 8 wickets and 20 balls to spare.

MA Chidambaram Stadium: Key stats

Chepauk stadium key T20 stats
Category	Stat
Total Matches	18
Matches Won Batting First	11
Matches Won Bowling First	6
Average 1st Innings Score	170
Average 2nd Innings Score	140
Highest Total Recorded	256/4 (20 Ovs) IND vs ZIM
Lowest Total Recorded	80/10 (17.5 Ovs) PAKW vs ENGW
Highest Score Chased	183/5 (17.5 Ovs) NZ vs AFG
Lowest Score Defended	103/8 (20 Ovs) WIW vs PAKW

 

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