Which is the greatest rivalry in the history of the IPL?

When it comes to rivalries in Indian cricket, Mumbai features prominently in the list. In the Ranji Trophy, Mumbai had fierce rivalries with Delhi and Karnataka in the 1970s and 1980s. Mumbai are the 41-time Ranji champions. In the IPL, it was no surprise that a Mumbai franchise would have a good rivalry with another one. In the beginning, the rivalry was one-sided. Then, it became an equal rivalry but now it has tilted to one franchise effectively.

In the IPL, the contests between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings is the greatest rivalry in the tournament. The reasons are many. In the beginning, it was a contest between Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni. The presence of the two superstars made Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings a marquee clash.

One can argue that Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore is also an epic encounter. It is the battle between Dhoni and Virat Kohli. It is also the Kaveri Derby. There is also a rivalry between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The head-to-head record is reflective of this. Neither Sunrisers Hyderabad or Kolkata Knight Riders winning more than two games consistently.

However, for sheer passion and for the star power, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings is the ultimate rivalry. The numbers in this contest make this rivalry incredibly interesting.

Mumbai now dominant

When Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings started playing each other, it was Dhoni’s team that held the initiative. By the year 2011, Chennai Super Kings had won two titles. They had a 4-3 head-to-head advantage against Mumbai Indians. However, all that changed from 2012.

Mumbai Indians won four games on the trot. With the arrival of Rohit Sharma, the rivalry swung decisively in favour of Mumbai Indians. From 2013 onwards till 2020, Mumbai Indians surpassed Chennai Super Kings title tally. They also dominated the side unlike any other franchise. In 11 matches, ever since 2015, Mumbai Indians have won nine and lost only two games. More importantly, Mumbai Indians have won three out of their five IPL titles by beating Chennai Super Kings. Dhoni’s team made it to eight finals, but losing five of them does not make for good reading. On the other hand, Mumbai Indians have lost only one final and that was 10 years ago.

Chennai falling behind

Mumbai Indians now have an inflated 18-12 head-to-head record against them. Dhoni’s team has a negative head-to-head record only against the Mumbai Indians. Chennai Super Kings have always come out second-best and have seen their dominance been erased. This is due to the Mumbai Indians’ superior depth in batting and bowling.

A rivalry should see-saw and come out with something new every single time. With RCB vs CSK clashes, there is a lack of one particular aspect that makes the contest sometimes one-sided. However, with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, these two teams keep the spirit of the contest alive.