IPL 2025 | Match 38: MI vs CSK | Preview and Predictions

Two IPL titan teams go up against each other 

Match 38 of the 2025 Indian Premier League season brings us a clash between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 20.

For the game, here are our preview and predictions.

Indian Premier League 2025 | Match 38: Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings | 19:30 IST, April 20

Two of the IPL’s most successful teams take on each other in what is generally one of the most anticipated games of the season but both teams enter this encounter trying to salvage their season after disastrous starts to their respective campaigns. 

Hosts Mumbai Indians (MI) have finally found some form, winning back-to-back games as they have moved off the bottom of the points table. The batting unit and bowling unit have both come together in the final two games with Ryan Rickelton, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Will Jacks all finding some runs. Their former captain Rohit Sharma remains the only worrying concern to the Mumbai team as the T20 World Cup winning captain for India is yet to put up a substantial knock this season. With Jasprit Bumrah returning to the bowling attack after an injury layoff, the bowling lineup is beginning to look like a finished unit, with Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult complementing each other well in the Powerplay. The Wankhede pitch was unusually slow but it put Will Jacks’ offspin on display as the British batter put in a match-turning spell and now provides captain Hardik Pandya with another handy option. 

Like Mumbai Indians, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) come into this game off the back of a win after picking up a five wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants to arrest a freefall the five-time champions were in. With Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra not working out at the top, the Chennai team handed Shaik Rasheed a game and the youngster from Andhra Pradesh impressed, scoring at a quick rate, which bodes well with the likes of Ravindra and Rahul Tripathi at top. Tripathi’s form would be cause for concern for Dhoni and co. but with Vijay Shankar and Shivam Dube getting some runs under their belt, it will be a positive sign. Another big positive for the CSK team will be their captain MS Dhoni’s form with the bat, with Dhoni showcasing some vintage finishing skills to get his squad over the line against the Super Giants. 

CSK also put up a different bowling unit, one which Dhoni himself looks like a ‘better attack.’ Anshul Kamboj has been impressive up top while Jadeja and Noor Ahmad have been choking the run-flow in the middle overs. With the quality and experience of Ravichandran Ashwin available to them as well, CSK’s bowling unit looks like it might finally be coming together.

The Wankhede pitch took everyone by surprise in the previous game played between the hosts and Sunrisers Hyderabad and should it be another slow and turning pitch, it will play into the hands of a spin-heavy Chennai squad who hold a slight edge as favourites on a strip where they should be more comfortable.

Fantasy XI: Rachind Ravindra, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Vijay Shankar, Will Jacks, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Noor Ahmad, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah

Venue: Wankhede, Mumbai

Winners Prediction: Chennai Super Kings