No two franchises in Indian Premier League history have collided more consequentially than Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Across 18 seasons from 2008 to 2025, these two giants have met 39 times — but it is the 4 IPL finals between them that define the rivalry. No other pair of franchises has contested even 3 finals against each other. Mumbai Indians lead that finals count 3-1, yet the margins tell a richer story: a 1-run heartbreaker, a 41-run demolition, and a dynasty born at Eden Gardens.
The rivalry's arithmetic is tight. Mumbai Indians hold a 21-18 overall advantage from 39 completed matches, a win rate of 53.8 percent. In knockout cricket — finals, qualifiers, and eliminators — the two sides have met 9 times, with Mumbai Indians winning 5 to Chennai Super Kings' 4. Their first meeting took place on 23 April 2008 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, where Chennai Super Kings won by 6 runs and Matthew Hayden claimed the Player of the Match award. Their most recent encounter came on 20 April 2025 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where Mumbai Indians won by 9 wickets with Rohit Sharma earning the match honour.
IPL Finals Record — MI vs CSK
Four IPL finals. Four different host cities. One relentless pattern: whichever side batted first, won. Every single MI-CSK final has been won by the team batting first.
| Year | Venue | Winner | Margin | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai | Chennai Super Kings | 22 runs | SK Raina |
| 2013 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Mumbai Indians | 23 runs | KA Pollard |
| 2015 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Mumbai Indians | 41 runs | RG Sharma |
| 2019 | Rajiv Gandhi Intl Stadium, Hyderabad | Mumbai Indians | 1 run | JJ Bumrah |
Mumbai Indians own a 3-1 finals record against Chennai Super Kings. Both Eden Gardens finals — 2013 and 2015 — went to Mumbai, while Chennai Super Kings' lone title-match victory came in the 2010 final at the DY Patil Sports Academy. The 2019 decider in Hyderabad produced the closest finish in IPL final history: a solitary run.
The Complete Knockout Ledger
Beyond the 4 finals, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have clashed in 5 additional playoff matches — Qualifier 1 ties, eliminators, and elimination finals. These 9 knockout encounters constitute the most extensive head-to-head playoff history in the IPL.
| Year | Stage | Venue | Winner | Margin | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Final | DY Patil, Mumbai | Chennai Super Kings | 22 runs | SK Raina |
| 2012 | Elimination Final | M Chinnaswamy, Bangalore | Chennai Super Kings | 38 runs | MS Dhoni |
| 2013 | Qualifier 1 | Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi | Chennai Super Kings | 48 runs | MEK Hussey |
| 2013 | Final | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Mumbai Indians | 23 runs | KA Pollard |
| 2014 | Eliminator | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai | Chennai Super Kings | 7 wickets | SK Raina |
| 2015 | Qualifier 1 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Mumbai Indians | 25 runs | KA Pollard |
| 2015 | Final | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Mumbai Indians | 41 runs | RG Sharma |
| 2019 | Qualifier 1 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Mumbai Indians | 6 wickets | SA Yadav |
| 2019 | Final | Rajiv Gandhi Intl Stadium, Hyderabad | Mumbai Indians | 1 run | JJ Bumrah |
Chennai Super Kings won the first 4 knockouts between 2010 and 2014. Mumbai Indians responded by winning the next 5 straight — from the 2013 Final through the 2019 Final — a run that yielded 3 IPL titles.
All-Time Head-to-Head Record
| Metric | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings |
|---|---|---|
| Matches won (of 39) | 21 | 18 |
| Win percentage | 53.8% | 46.2% |
| Finals won | 3 | 1 |
| Knockout wins | 5 | 4 |
| Biggest victory (runs) | 60 (2013, Wankhede) | 48 (2013, Feroz Shah Kotla) |
| Biggest victory (wickets) | 10 (2020, Sharjah) | 7 (multiple occasions) |
The 60-run victory in 2013 — a league match at Wankhede Stadium where Mitchell Johnson earned the Player of the Match — remains the largest margin between these two teams in any format. Mumbai Indians' 10-wicket demolition in 2020, with Trent Boult the chief architect at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, is the only instance where one side dismissed the other entirely in this fixture.
Last 5 Meetings
| Date | Venue | Winner | Margin | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr 2025 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Mumbai Indians | 9 wickets | RG Sharma |
| 23 Mar 2025 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Chennai Super Kings | 4 wickets | Noor Ahmad |
| 14 Apr 2024 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Chennai Super Kings | 20 runs | M Pathirana |
| 6 May 2023 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Chennai Super Kings | 6 wickets | M Pathirana |
| 8 Apr 2023 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Chennai Super Kings | 7 wickets | RA Jadeja |
Chennai Super Kings dominated the 2023-2024 cycle, winning 3 of the 4 meetings. Matheesha Pathirana emerged as a decisive weapon, claiming Player of the Match in both the 2023 and 2024 clashes at Chepauk and Wankhede respectively. Mumbai Indians arrested that slide in April 2025 with a commanding 9-wicket victory at home.
Defining Moments
The 1-Run Final — Hyderabad, 12 May 2019
The 2019 IPL Final at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad is the closest finish in IPL final history. Mumbai Indians, batting first, posted 149 for 8. Chennai Super Kings' chase came down to the final delivery: needing 2 runs to win, Shardul Thakur was run out attempting the second run. Jasprit Bumrah finished with figures that earned him the Player of the Match, but it was Lasith Malinga's final over — conceding just 7 runs — that sealed the title. The 1-run margin remains the thinnest in any IPL final.
The Eden Gardens Double — 2013 and 2015
Eden Gardens in Kolkata hosted the IPL final in both 2013 and 2015. On both occasions, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings met. On both occasions, Mumbai Indians won. In 2013, Kieron Pollard produced a match-winning all-round performance, earning Player of the Match as Mumbai Indians secured their maiden IPL title by 23 runs. Two years later, Rohit Sharma captained a 41-run annihilation — the widest margin in any MI-CSK final — to claim Mumbai Indians' second title. These two nights at Eden Gardens transformed Mumbai Indians from perennial underachievers into a T20 dynasty.
CSK's First-Final Triumph — DY Patil, 25 April 2010
Before Mumbai Indians' three-final winning streak, Chennai Super Kings drew first blood. The 2010 IPL Final at the DY Patil Sports Academy saw Suresh Raina deliver a vintage knock, earning the Player of the Match award as Chennai Super Kings posted a total beyond Mumbai Indians' reach. The 22-run victory gave Chennai Super Kings their first IPL title and set the tone for what would become the most contested bilateral final record in the tournament's history.
Venue Split
The rivalry's geography spans 3 continents, but two venues anchor the story: Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
| Venue | Meetings | MI Wins | CSK Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (combined) | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (combined) | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Dubai International Cricket Stadium | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Other neutral venues | 9 | 5 | 4 |
Mumbai Indians hold a clear home advantage at the Wankhede, winning 8 of 13 meetings. More surprising is their record at Chepauk: 5 wins from 9 visits, a 55.6 percent away win rate that defies conventional home-ground logic. Chennai Super Kings' best venue in this fixture is the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where they won both meetings during the UAE-hosted seasons of 2014 and 2021. Eden Gardens is exclusively Mumbai territory — both matches played there were IPL finals, and both ended in Mumbai Indians victories.
The 2012–2015 Golden Window
Between 2012 and 2015, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings met in at least one knockout match every single season — 4 consecutive years of elimination-stakes cricket. This unbroken run of playoff encounters is unprecedented in IPL history.
In 2012, Chennai Super Kings won the Elimination Final by 38 runs at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. In 2013, they won Qualifier 1 by 48 runs before Mumbai Indians reversed the outcome in the Final at Eden Gardens. In 2014, Chennai Super Kings prevailed in the Eliminator by 7 wickets at Brabourne Stadium. And in 2015, Mumbai Indians swept both the Qualifier 1 (by 25 runs at Wankhede) and the Final (by 41 runs at Eden Gardens). Across these 4 seasons, the two teams played 12 matches against each other — 8 in the league stage and 4 in the knockouts — more than any other pair of franchises in the same span.
The Rivalry's Place in IPL History
Across 39 meetings, 4 finals, and 9 total knockout clashes, the Mumbai Indians-Chennai Super Kings rivalry stands as the single most consequential bilateral relationship in IPL history. Combined, these two franchises have won 10 IPL titles between them — 5 apiece. They have appeared in a combined 13 finals across 18 seasons, and 4 of those finals were against each other. No other pairing — not Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians, not Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru — comes within reaching distance of that knockout frequency. The rivalry will continue to define the IPL's biggest moments every season it takes place, measured not just in league-stage meetings but in the knockout stages where legacies are built.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall head-to-head record between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL?
Mumbai Indians lead the head-to-head record 21-18 from 39 completed IPL matches across the 2008 to 2025 seasons.
How many IPL finals have Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings played against each other?
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have played 4 IPL finals against each other — in 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2019. Mumbai Indians have won 3 of those finals, with Chennai Super Kings winning the 2010 edition.
What was the closest IPL final between MI and CSK?
The 2019 IPL Final at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad was decided by just 1 run — the closest finish in IPL final history. Jasprit Bumrah earned the Player of the Match.
Which venue has hosted the most MI vs CSK matches?
Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai has hosted 13 MI-CSK encounters, more than any other ground. Mumbai Indians have won 8 of those 13 matches.
Who has won the most Player of the Match awards in MI vs CSK matches?
Kieron Pollard has earned 2 Player of the Match awards in MI-CSK knockout matches — both in IPL finals (2013 Qualifier 1 note: his 2013 was actually the Final, and 2015 Qualifier 1). Suresh Raina also earned 2 awards across the 2010 Final and 2014 Eliminator.
Where can fans watch Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings matches live?
All IPL matches between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are broadcast live on JioStar across all IPL seasons, with streaming available on JioCinema in India.
How many IPL titles have Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings won in total?
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have won 5 IPL titles each, for a combined 10 titles — making them the two most successful franchises in IPL history as of the 2025 season.