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Indian Premier League 2026

Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians Prediction & Preview – IPL 2026 44th Match

Our verdict

Chennai Super Kings

CSK need the points to stay in the playoff hunt and have home conditions that suit their spinners, while Mumbai are already out of contention.

Toss pick: Mumbai Indians

Indian Premier League 2026Chennai Super KingsMumbai IndiansMA Chidambaram Stadium

Chennai Super Kings welcome Mumbai Indians to Chepauk with their season on the line. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side have won just three of eight and were beaten by eight wickets by Gujarat Titans last time, a game that again exposed their bowling. This is effectively a must-win fixture.

Gaikwad made 74 in that defeat and will look to open again with Sanju Samson, while Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube need to improve on a quiet middle-order display. Jamie Overton and Kartik Sharma add late hitting. In the attack, Akeal Hosein and Anshul Kamboj must find early wickets, with Overton and Noor Ahmad holding the middle overs.

Mumbai are already out of the playoff race after a six-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, in which they could not defend 243. Ryan Rickelton hit 123 in that game and will want a quick start alongside Will Jacks, with Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir and Hardik Pandya hoping to rediscover form. Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult must be sharper with the new ball, and AM Ghazanfar’s variations could be important.

Probable XIs

Chennai Super Kings

  1. Sanju Samson (wk)
  2. Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
  3. Urvil Patel
  4. Dewald Brevis
  5. Shivam Dube
  6. Kartik Sharma
  7. Jamie Overton
  8. Akeal Hosein
  9. Noor Ahmad
  10. Anshul Kamboj
  11. Gurjapneet Singh

Mumbai Indians

  1. Quinton de Kock (wk)
  2. Naman Dhir
  3. Suryakumar Yadav
  4. Hardik Pandya (c)
  5. Tilak Varma
  6. Sherfane Rutherford
  7. Mitchell Santner
  8. Jasprit Bumrah
  9. Krish Bhagat
  10. AM Ghazanfar
  11. Ashwani Kumar

Pitch report

Chepauk is traditionally slow and dry, and the surface grips and turns more as the game goes on. Batting is easier early, but strokeplay gets harder later, and spinners control the middle overs. Seamers do best with cutters and variations rather than raw pace. Totals of 150–170 are usually competitive, and many teams prefer to bat first.

Weather

Around 7:30 pm in Chennai the evening is expected to be warm and humid, with temperatures of 29–31°C and mostly clear skies. The chance of rain is very small. A sea breeze may give slight relief, and some dew could develop later on.

Frequently asked questions

Who is favoured to win CSK vs MI?

Our preview picks Chennai Super Kings, who play at home and still have playoff hopes to protect.

What is the venue for CSK vs MI in IPL 2026?

The 44th match is at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on 2 May 2026 with a 7:30 pm local start.

Will spin matter at Chepauk?

Yes. The surface tends to slow and turn, so spinners such as Noor Ahmad are likely to shape the middle overs.

About Indian Premier League 2026

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