Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are two of the most successful franchises in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). CSK and MI share nine out of those fifteen titles and are always the favourites whenever the IPL season starts.

Whenever they face each other, it is always a feisty affair and one that each IPL fan wants to witness in the stadium. However, this has not been the case this time around. Both Chennai and Mumbai languish at the bottom of the points table after a horrible start to IPL 2020. 

While Mumbai are yet to open their account, Chennai have managed to win only one game in six appearances. Nonetheless, the excitement around this game is never less. Today, we will be looking at the top three battles between the two most dominating franchises in IPL history.

Top 3 iconic clashes between CSK and MI

3. CSK vs MI, (Delhi 2021)

One of the highest-scoring MI vs CSK games ever in the IPL history and one of the most exciting run chases ever seen in the history of T20 cricket. Ambati Rayudu, Faf Du Plessis and Moeen Ali all scored individual fifties as CSK scored a mammoth total of 218 to chase for the Mumbai Indians.

MI were struggling as a flurry of wickets halted their run chase. Kieron Pollard entered in the 10th over at the loss of the third wicket. They still needed more than 120 runs in 10 overs at a required run rate of 12 runs per over.

The giant West Indian seemed to make everything possible that day as all his shots were timed beautifully and even had luck on his hands as he saw his catch dropped by du Plessis on the boundary. MI defeated CSK in a thriller of a clash with no balls to spare. This was one of the most exciting run chases we had seen in a long time.

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2. MI vs CSK  (Mumbai 2018)

The opening match of the 2018 IPL saw two mega giants clash to start their campaign on a winning note. CSK returned after they had served their two-year ban from the IPL due to alleged match-fixing and were hungrier for success than ever.

This hunger was shown in their drive to win the game. MI scored an above-par total of 165 and CSK needed 166 to win from 20 overs to register the first points on the IPL standings.  But their chase was halted by wickets from Hardik Pandya and young leg spinner Mayank Markande who scalped three wickets each in the innings to give their side the upper hand in the first 10 overs of the chase.

Dwayne Bravo stepped up in a situation his side needed him the most for and scored runs fearlessly putting CSK right back in the contest. Bravo lost his wicket to Bumrah on the last ball of the penultimate over, which meant Kedhar Jadhav who had been retired hurt had to come back and produce something miraculous to dig a win for his side.

He did the unthinkable and played shots which we didn’t know him for and got his side out of a hole and grabbed those two points out of the jaws of Mumbai Indians. 

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1) MI vs CSK (Hyderabad, 2019 IPL final)

It was yet another CSK vs MI final in the IPL and this was the match everyone had been dreaming of since the start of the tournament. Mumbai won the toss and decided to bat first which they are known for doing in their recent IPL finals. Rohit Sharma and Co. scored a below-par total of 148 in 20 overs but IPL fans knew Mumbai and defending low scores in finals had become a thing by then.

But they were up against a formidable CSK side whose run chase was carried by veteran Shane Watson. The former Australian all-rounder was doing the all-round task for CSK in their chase and didn’t give up even when his knee was bleeding. He scored a valuable 80 out of 59 balls and got out on the fourth ball of the last over.

It was in CSK’s hands when the final over started but Mumbai brought Lasith Malinga for the final over of the tournament. Chennai needed four runs off two balls and after they ran a double, only two were required on the final delivery. The former Sri Lankan produced a brilliant last ball to help Mumbai win their fourth cup in style and what a way to do it against their arch-rivals.

Today, Mumbai and Chennai face off again and fans would be hoping for another match of these intensities to make their evening better. 

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