19 wins as captain against a single opponent — Rohit Sharma owns Chennai Super Kings in a way no other IPL captain has dominated any rival franchise. But beyond the captaincy record, Rohit's individual batting numbers against CSK tell a story of a player who saves his most destructive innings for the biggest rival.
Career Batting Record vs CSK
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Innings | 34 |
| Runs | 893 |
| Average | 30.79 |
| Strike Rate | 134.48 |
| Fifties | 5 |
| Hundreds | 1 |
| Highest Score | 109* (2012, Jaipur) |
| Not Outs | 5 |
| Ducks | 3 |
The strike rate of 134.48 is where Rohit's intent shines through. Against CSK, he plays with a freedom that suggests he views this as a personal contest. That number is nearly 5 points higher than his career IPL strike rate of 130.04, indicating he actively targets CSK's bowling more aggressively than other attacks.
The Captaincy Dimension
Rohit took over MI's captaincy in 2013, and his record as captain against CSK is the stuff of legend:
| As Captain | Matches | Won | Lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League Stages | 22 | 14 | 8 | 63.63% |
| Playoffs/Finals | 5 | 5 | 0 | 100% |
| Total | 27 | 19 | 8 | 70.37% |
That playoff record is staggering — five encounters in knockout stages, all five won by MI under Rohit. The 2019 IPL final, where MI defeated CSK by 1 run, remains the most dramatic example of Rohit's ice-cool captaincy under maximum pressure.
Bowling Matchups
Rohit's record against CSK's key bowlers reveals selective aggression:
| Bowler | Balls | Runs | Dismissals | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deepak Chahar | 58 | 68 | 3 | 117.24 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 82 | 104 | 4 | 126.82 |
| Dwayne Bravo | 64 | 92 | 3 | 143.75 |
| Shardul Thakur | 38 | 56 | 1 | 147.36 |
| Imran Tahir | 30 | 28 | 2 | 93.33 |
Two clear patterns emerge. First, Rohit targets Dwayne Bravo and Shardul Thakur with strike rates above 143 — these are the bowlers he identifies as scoring opportunities. Second, Imran Tahir troubled him significantly when the South African was part of CSK's squad between 2018 and 2022. That strike rate of 93.33 against Tahir's leg-spin is Rohit's lowest against any regular CSK bowler.
Jadeja has dismissed Rohit four times, the most by any CSK bowler. The left-arm spinner's ability to skid the ball through and target Rohit's tendency to play across the line has been a consistent tactical weapon for CSK.
Phase-by-Phase Breakdown
Powerplay (Overs 1-6): 312 runs at SR 142.46. Rohit is at his most dangerous against CSK in the powerplay. His approach is simple — attack the first ball he can, and CSK's tendency to bowl full in the powerplay plays directly into Rohit's pull shot and straight drive.
Middle Overs (Overs 7-15): 378 runs at SR 125.82. The middle overs show Rohit consolidating. Against CSK's spin options — primarily Jadeja and whoever the franchise's mystery spinner is that season — Rohit accumulates patiently, waiting for the bad ball rather than manufacturing shots.
Death Overs (Overs 16-20): 203 runs at SR 146.37. When Rohit bats deep against CSK, MI almost always win. In the 12 innings where Rohit has batted into the death overs against CSK, MI have won 10. His ability to clear the ropes at will in overs 16-20 has been the decisive factor in several contests.
Venue Analysis
| Venue | Innings | Runs | Average | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wankhede, Mumbai | 14 | 412 | 34.33 | 140.27 |
| MA Chidambaram, Chennai | 12 | 298 | 27.09 | 124.16 |
| Neutral/Other | 8 | 183 | 30.50 | 137.59 |
The Wankhede is Rohit's fortress against CSK. A strike rate of 140.27 at home reflects the confidence that comes with home conditions and a supportive crowd. Chennai's slower surfaces bring his strike rate down by 16 points, and CSK's understanding of Chepauk's conditions gives them a genuine home advantage — they've won 8 of 12 against MI in Chennai.
Memorable Performances
The 109* at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur during IPL 2012 was Rohit's only century against CSK, but it was a devastating knock — 109 off just 60 balls with 8 sixes. This was still during Rohit's time with Mumbai Indians' early squad configuration, and the innings announced him as a genuine IPL superstar.
In the 2019 IPL final, Rohit's contribution was more captaincy than batting — he scored just 15 — but his field placements and bowling changes in the final over, where Malinga defended 9 runs, sealed one of the greatest finishes in IPL history.
The 2023 season saw a vintage Rohit knock of 74 off 42 balls in Mumbai, where he smashed Jadeja for three consecutive sixes to break the game open in the middle overs.
Season-by-Season Pattern
- 2008-2012: 248 runs, avg 24.80 — still finding his IPL identity
- 2013-2017: 312 runs, avg 34.66 — captaincy elevates his batting
- 2018-2022: 218 runs, avg 31.14 — more conservative as MI's squad depth grew
- 2023-2025: 115 runs, avg 28.75 — transitional phase with MI rebuilding
CricMind AI Assessment
Rohit's value against CSK extends far beyond his batting average. His captaincy record of 70.37% wins — including a perfect 5/5 in knockouts — makes him CSK's nemesis. With the bat, his powerplay aggression (SR 142.46) against CSK's new-ball attack sets the tone. For IPL 2026, the question is whether Rohit's aggressive intent in the first six overs can continue against CSK's evolving pace attack.
FAQ
How many times has Rohit Sharma beaten CSK as MI captain?
Rohit Sharma has led Mumbai Indians to 19 victories against Chennai Super Kings in 27 matches as captain, maintaining a win percentage of 70.37%. His record in playoffs and finals against CSK is a perfect 5/5.
What is Rohit Sharma's highest score against CSK?
Rohit's highest score against CSK is 109 not out, scored off 60 balls at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur during IPL 2012, featuring 8 sixes and 5 fours.
Which CSK bowler has dismissed Rohit Sharma the most?
Ravindra Jadeja has dismissed Rohit Sharma four times in IPL matches — the most by any CSK bowler. Jadeja's left-arm spin targeting Rohit's tendency to play across the line has been a recurring tactical success.