Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
4 Reasons Why Mumbai Indians edge Chennai Super Kings | MI vs CSK rivalry: Why MI win plenty of matches against CSK | MI record vs CSK
Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, a rivalry that would find its place at the top of sporting rivalries, never fails to stop the nation.
The top two teams in IPL history have an extraordinary seven titles between them. Termed as the “El Clássico” of IPL, the contest between these two most successful teams in franchise cricket is a guaranteed nail-biter.
The likes of MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Jasprit Bumrah going face-to-face is the contest millions of cricket fans crave to see.
MI vs CSK
CSK has qualified for the playoffs in every season. They’ve played eight finals (the most) and won three times. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, have played five finals, winning four, with three against CSK.
Here is the head-to-head records of both sides:
In this incredible rivalry, it is MI who have the wood over their nemesis: 18-12. The margin increased in IPL 2019 as MI finished on top in all four meetings against CSK.
But, incredibly, both these teams are so evenly matched that their average and average run-rate are almost the same against each other:
- Average score of MI: 160
- Average score of CSK: 156
- Average Run-Rate of MI: 8.18
- Average Run-Rate of CSK: 8.00
So, why do MI have the wood on CSK?
If the head-to-head statistics are so similar, then why are CSK unable to get past Mumbai in the IPL?
Here, we will explore four key reasons why this is the case:
1. Countering the Spin Attack
CSK’s most important weapon and strength is their spin bowling, particularly on the slow Chepauk wicket; the fortress of MS Dhoni’s CSK side. Mumbai has been very successful in countering that. In fact, CSK has been below par against MI in their home ground.
Here is the head to head records of all teams against CSK at Chepauk:
You can see how dominant CSK at Chepauk. However, MI has been very successful against the men in yellow, winning six games out of eight played while no other team has won even three. In fact, MI is the only team to win more games than they have lost at Chepauk.
Players like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya and Keiron Pollard are excellent players of spin, and they have been very successful in countering CSK’s spin attack. In fact, MI have scored at a run rate of 7.42 in the middle overs vs CSK, which is the fourth highest among active teams:
This is one of the main reasons why they are so successful against the Chennai Super Kings.
CSK’s Poor Death Bowling and MI’s Finishers
Death bowling has always been the area where CSK have struggled. When it comes to conceding runs in the death overs in recent seasons, CSK are up there.
On the other hand, Mumbai have some absolutely destructive finishers in Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard, who can go bonkers on their day. Interestingly, MI score most of their runs in overs 19 and 20 against CSK with a strike-rate of 191. They’ve hit most of their sixes too against CSK in the same period.
This shows that MI is very consistent against CSK whether it is in the middle or death overs, which plays a vital role in their dominance against CSK.
Bumrah Neutralising the “Dhoni Effect”
MS Dhoni is the backbone of CSK’s batting and we know how dangerous he is in the death overs. His numbers are remarkable: 2939 runs in overs 16-20 in IPL with a strike rate of 173.3.
He has won many impossible looking games single-handedly for CSK. But, MI has been very successful in stopping Dhoni from doing heavy damage in the death overs.
Why? Jasprit Bumrah.
Dhoni’s strike rate goes down significantly against Bumrah when compared with other bowlers:
As you can see, Dhoni just demolishes other bowlers but hasn’t been able to get going against Bumrah. This shows the impact of Bumrah, as Dhoni has a strike rate of 125 against him in overs 16-20, to go with three dismissals. Also, Dhoni has hit him for only two sixes and a four in this period.
This is arguably the most important thing in favour of Mumbai Indians over the Chennai Super Kings.
Also read: If IPL 2020 goes ahead, can CSK be successful again?
Rohit Sharma: The Captain
Rohit Sharma has to be the most important players for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. After all, he is the only skipper to win the title four times, which is incredible considering he was appointed captain in 2013.
A key reason for Rohit’s success as captain has been his tactical nous. He benches his overseas pace bowler to play an extra spinner on the slow wicket of Chepauk and it has given him results.
More impressive is the fact that Rohit has beaten CSK three times out of three in IPL Finals (2013, 2015 and 2019). Rohit has an incredible record of 12 wins and only five losses in 17 games against CSK as a skipper since 2013.
So it is clear that Rohit Sharma, the captain, plays a crucial role in MI’s prominence over CSK.
Although it’s very difficult to separate these sides statistically as they are undoubtedly the top two teams in franchise cricket, MI have some key edges over CSK that will continue to hold them in good stead.
Thanks for reading!
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter
Also read: Should IPL go ahead in 2020, who are the leading Purple and Orange Cap contenders?
