Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Timeline:Throughout the varied and colorful history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), few rivalries have captured the passions of fans as much as the rivalry between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Popularly referred to the El Clásico of the IPL, the MI vs CSK rivalry has grown over the years to not just encompass a rivalry between two franchises, but also one between two legacies of cricket, loyalties of fans, and some of the greatest captains in cricket history.
As the most successful teams in IPL history, this fixture has hardly ever let cricket’s captivated supporters down. From last over finishes to finals, there are so many memories from the rivalry. This timeline reflects that rivalry, based on 39 high voltage cricket matches between 2008 and 2025.
The Early Years (2008-2010): A Beginning in Balancing Acts
The MI vs CSK stories began on April 23, 2008, at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, and it was tight, with CSK edging out MI by just 6 runs. Mumbai bounced back quickly in the return match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, winning by 9 wickets. The first few years had the same back and forth vibes.
In 2009, with the IPL being hosted in South Africa that season, both teams managed to obtain one win in their two matchups. Mumbai won the first match in Cape Town, while CSK won the rematch later in Port Elizabeth. The matches played early in the rivalry would initiate a growing rivalry and competitive nature.
2010, was a pivotal season as CSK defeated MI on two separate occasions during the league stage, including a memorable 24-run victory in Chennai. However, after this season was concluded, it was climaxed on April 5th, 2010, and after the Adieu Chennai on April 8th, 2010 (the final match of the IPL), CSK had one last visit to Chennai with yet another victory. And because of this occasion, CSK opened the IPL with a 22-run victory with the bragging rights of their first IPL Title. The first “major clash” in the rivalry showed a sign of what each franchise was capable of becoming in the years moving forward.
The Numbers Continue to Stack (2011-2013): Knockouts and Championships
From here on out (from the 2011 IPL Season forward), the rivalry intensified, and often made their way to the playoffs. In the 2011 IPL season, MI managed to defeat CSK during the regular league but did not play again in the playoffs. However, drama was to come a season later. MI swept the league games in 2012 but the second match was a thrilling 2-wicket win at the Wankhede. CSK was able to get some sweet revenge during the Eliminator Final and win the match by 3 runs in a nail biting, tension filled game in Bengaluru.
The 2013 season witnessed the remarkable event of four encounters between the two super powers of IPL. Mumbai won both of the league matches in style, including a 60-run victory in Mumbai, but CSK turned the tables in the first Qualifier, defeating MI by 48 runs. Just a couple of days later, MI turned the tables once again in the final, defeating CSK by 23 runs and winning their first IPL title. The season typified the uncertainty that characterizes this legendary rivalry.
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CSK’s Dominance (2014–2015): Dominance with Stiff Resistance
In the 2014 edition, CSK beat MI three straight times, be it in Dubai, Mumbai, or the Eliminator Final, CSK always got ahead of MI. Their wins were evidence of a much calmer side, led by MS Dhoni and the batsmen delivered like we had seen before.
In 2015 the pendulum swung in the opposite direction once more. Although, CSK claimed victory in their league match at the Wankhede, MI bounced back in style to win at the Chepauk, in the Qualifier, and most importantly, in the final at Eden Gardens, defeating CSK by 41 runs. The 2015 final was significant and it was MI’s second time winning the IPL final against CSK. These wins proved that MI were able to handle the pressure when it mattered most against their greatest rival.
Temporary Absence and Triumphant Return (2016–2017): The Quiet Phase
With CSK banned from IPL for two seasons (2016–2017) due to off-field controversies, the build-up of the MI vs CSK rivalry was paused. Fans missed the contest dearly (and MI’s fans were denied an opportunity to cheeer against their team’s biggest rival. MI played other rivals (RPS) but none matched the emotional stakes of going head-to-head with the CSK.
Resumption of Rivalry (2018-2019): High Drama and Back to Back Championships
As CSK returned to the fray in 2018, the MI vs CSK rivalry was rekindled in an instant. In the first match of the 2018 season, MI vs CSK delivered a classic finish: chasing, CSK managed to win by 1 wicket with a last-ball victory, made a statement of their return to the league. MI got their revenge, defeating CSK by 8 wickets later in Pune.
2019 was another year that showcased the sheer unpredictability of this rivalry. Mumbai managed to win all four encounters that year; including two unexpected and major wins in Chennai, a venue where visiting teams often have difficulty winning. The most memorable match came in the 2019 final at Hyderabad: MI edged CSK by just 1 run, in one of the most nail-biting finals in IPL history to win MI’s fourth title and yet another heartbreaker for CSK at the hands of their arch-rivals.
Pandemic Era and Changing of the Guard (2020- 2021)
The pandemic-affected 2020 season in UAE was a mixed bag. CSK opened the season with a 5 wicket victory against MI in Abu Dhabi, but they responded resoundingly by defeating CSK by the unusual 10-wicket margin in Sharjah—the ultimate T20 humiliation.
In 2021, Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Timeline both sides clashed in New Delhi and Dubai. MI won the first encounter by 4 wickets, CSK overcame them in the return fixture at Dubai by a tidy 20 runs. Due to COVID protocols and limited crowds, the restaurants and atmospheres lacked some of the usual fanfare. However, not much in the fierce rivalry was tempered.
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A See-Saw Battle (2022-2023): No Ballpark Favourite
The rivalry split again in the 2022 season. CSK eked out an exciting 3-wicket win at DY Patil, only to face a renewed MI at Wankhede, who made it 5-wicket win in Mumbai City. Neither side was able to emphatically garner an advantage over the past three years.
However, in 2023, CSK undertook a new sequence of dominance, having won both torture sessions in 2023. CSK hammered MI at Wankhede by 7 wickets in one comprehensive, and handled MI at home, winning by 6 wickets. More importantly, it suggested that Dhoni’s CSK squad still had MI’s number, and the Yellow Army had re-ordered their winning formula when it came to MI.
The Newest Clashes (2024-2025): Same Places, New Fight
The 2024 match at Wankhede saw CSK take charge again, defending a total, winning by 20 runs. The Chennai-based franchise and its core, experienced players continued to show why they are a force even in the later parts of IPL.
The two teams met early in the 2025 season, in another close match, with CSK winning by 4 wickets. MI would again level the score in the return fixture at Wankhede, defeating CSK in 2025 by a fair 9 wickets, showing that the blue brigade could still be top dog when it really counted.
The Rivalry in Numbers
In the total of 39 encounters from 2008 through to 2025, the distribution of wins and losses is remarkably balanced. Both have had success in the league and play-offs, there have been finals shared between the two teams. The win-loss ratios ebb and flow from season to season, demonstrating that neither team can rightly be said to dominate the other for any extended period.
Mumbai have the advantage when it comes to high-pressure matches; they have beaten CSK in three IPL finals – 2013, 2015 and 2019; whereas, CSK have been more consistent in league matches in the recent years, winning crucial matches in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
More Than Just Numbers: The Emotional and Cultural Impact
The Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Timeline rivalry is not purely about stats. It’s about Dhoni vs Rohit (and of late, up-and-coming captains the likes of Hardik Pandya). It’s about a full stadium in Chennai or Mumbai, fans decked out in yellow and blue, roaring, cheering, and sometimes weeping. It’s about two teams representing two Indian cities with cricketing legends behind them.
Whereas Mumbai is power, flamboyance, and a never-say-die attitude, Chennai stands for calmness, discipline and layers of tactics. These contrasting personalities reflect on their fans and the way the teams play and their respective captaincy styles. The contrast only adds to the emotional essence of the rivalry.
Conclusion: A Legacy That Lives On
As the IPL continues to evolve over the years, with players coming and going, new forms of the shortest format of the game developing, and the arrival of franchises from here and abroad, the MI vs CSK rivalry will always lie at the beating heart of the IPL. A rivalry built on finals, sprinkled with blockbuster thrillers, and developed through legacy and loyalty.
From their first encounter in 2008 to their most recent meeting in 2025, MI vs CSK has delivered drama, intrigue, comebacks, collapses, and everything else cricket can offer. It will continue for as long as the IPL exists, proving to be the stuff of imagination, exciting millions, and summing up the most-watched cricket experience in India.
