The "El Clásico" of the IPL returns today as the Mumbai Indians (MI) host Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a high-stakes Match 33 of the 2026 season. Both five-time champions find themselves in an unusual position—the bottom half of the table—making this clash at the Wankhede Stadium a must-win for survival.

IPL 2026 Match 33: MI vs CSK – Battle for Survival at Wankhede

Match Overview

• Match: Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings (Match 33)

• Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

• Date & Time: Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM)

• Broadcast: Star Sports Network (TV)

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar (App & Website)

The "Legendary" Return?

The biggest storyline heading into tonight is the potential return of the veterans.

• Rohit Sharma (MI): Resumed training after missing two games with a hamstring injury. He is expected to replace Danish Malewar if fully fit.

• MS Dhoni (CSK): Yet to play this season due to a calf strain, but was seen practicing wicket-keeping and power-hitting. He might feature as an Impact Player.

Current Standings & Form

Both teams have struggled for consistency this season, currently locked at 4 points each.

• Mumbai Indians (7th): 2 Wins, 4 Losses (NRR: +0.067). They are coming off a massive 99-run victory over Gujarat Titans.

• Chennai Super Kings (8th): 2 Wins, 4 Losses (NRR: -0.780). They recently suffered a narrow 10-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

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Head-to-Head Record

Pitch & Conditions

The Wankhede pitch remains a "batting paradise" with a firm red-soil base.

• Average 1st Innings (IPL 2026): 218 runs.

• Winning Strategy: Captains winning the toss are expected to bowl first, as dew is likely to play a massive role in the second innings, making the ball difficult for spinners to grip.

Probable Playing XIs

• Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma/Danish Malewar, Quinton de Kock (wk), Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Tilak Varma, Will Jacks/Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar.

• Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sarfaraz Khan, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Noor Ahmad, Tushar Deshpande, MS Dhoni (Impact Sub).