The Indian Premier League has, over the years, grown and developed its own rivalries, but, just like anything, the clashes no longer seem that charming. During World War 2 America showed what change looks like, Germany changed its tactics but history remembered them. Like that, La Liga has found its great rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid. IPL found their first rivalry in the very first match and that still feels fresh and charismatic, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders. Though, fewer heroes and fewer trophies in the first few years of IPL led to a change in the marketing and they gave the tag of El Clásico to MI vs CSK and why not they dominated the first 15 years of IPL, sharing 10 trophies and facing in numerous close contests.
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Cricket has evolved, and the legendary teams are taking time with their team. In 2024, the Mumbai Indians ended up in last place and in 2025 CSK ended up in the same place. RCB and PBKS are turning the tables with outstanding performances, where legacy teams like Chennai and Mumbai are going through a transition.
What's happening with MI and CSK?
Most of the teams try to stay firm with their success formula, MI always believed in trying with new players, on the other page CSK wrote their own script which believed success needs experience. Both of the teams stick with their captains for a long time who gave them success. Chennai Super Kings defended their trophy in 2011 defeating the Mumbai Indians and Rohit Sharma who became the mid-season captain replacing Ricky Ponting brought the first trophy to the MI dressing room taking revenge on the Chennai Super Kings in 2013. Success created a formula and they stuck with that, Dhoni handed over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad in 2024 and MI replaced Rohit with Hardik as the successor of the team.
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MI at least remained able to find their core but CSK won’t. In fast-moving cricket, both teams are trying to find that rhythm of success again. For the last few years, the rivalry didn't really spark but history does not forget things too soon. The rivalry between MI and CSK is beyond cricket, which does not limit itself to the field; it was always there in their heads, in tactics, in our minds, in our friend circle. Dhoni’s great planning for Pollard, Rohit’s run after Malinga’s superb last over. History will remember the clash for a long time.
