Struggling former champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will look for much-needed consistency as they await the return of their former captains Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni when they meet in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.

Rohit, recovering from a hamstring issue, and Dhoni, dealing with a calf strain, are both on the comeback trail. However, it remains uncertain whether either will feature at the iconic Wankhede Stadium for what has long been one of the league’s marquee clashes.

Rohit skipped training during Tuesday’s optional session, while Dhoni—yet to play this season—went through practice drills, hinting he could return as an Impact Substitute.

Still, the narrative extends beyond the two veterans. Both sides, who share 10 IPL titles between them, continue to grapple with several issues across departments.

CSK began their campaign searching for the right form and balance, and just as things seemed to settle, a hamstring injury to local talent Ayush Mhatre—who had scored 201 runs—dealt a significant setback. The team now finds itself reworking combinations, with Gujarat wicketkeeper-batter Urvil Patel among the potential replacements.

They will also hope for a stronger collective batting effort after a disappointing defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad. In that match, CSK failed to chase down 130 despite needing just 90 runs with eight wickets in hand, as a lack of urgency in the middle order allowed SRH to snatch victory.

While Sarfaraz Khan has shown consistency with 147 runs, he has yet to convert his starts into a big score. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has also struggled, managing just 82 runs so far. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson, with 192 runs, will carry significant responsibility, especially as he returns to a venue where he previously delivered in a T20 World Cup semifinal.

CSK will also aim to halt a two-match losing streak, drawing confidence from their recent dominance over MI, having won four of their last five meetings.
Both teams currently sit on four points, with only net run rate separating seventh-placed MI (0.067) and eighth-placed CSK (-0.780), while several in-form sides have already surged ahead with eight or more points.

Also read: Venus Williams, 45, eyes the French Open after 10th straight loss

For Mumbai, Tilak Varma’s brilliance in Ahmedabad helped end a four-match losing run. His recent century could provide the spark the five-time champions need to revive their campaign, given their history of bouncing back in the IPL.

However, concerns remain over the form of India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav and MI captain Hardik Pandya. Suryakumar has registered just one half-century this season, while Pandya has struggled to finish innings or stabilize the middle order. In their absence, Naman Dhir has stepped up admirably.

The return to form of Jasprit Bumrah, who picked up key wickets in a commanding 99-run win, has boosted MI. Ashwani Kumar’s four-wicket haul in the same match also helped ease pressure, especially with Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, and Pandya yet to deliver consistently with the new ball.

Meanwhile, England all-rounder Will Jacks has joined the MI camp and trained at Wankhede ahead of Thursday’s clash, with expectations that he will further strengthen the line-up. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm IST.