MI vs CSK and Beyond: The IPL's Biggest Rivalries
Four finals, a southern derby and the fixture that started it all. The match-ups fans circle first on the calendar.
The IPL is only 18 seasons old, but some fixtures already feel like classics. These are the match-ups that sell out stadiums, fill social media for days and get circled first when the schedule comes out.
Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings
Fans call it the El Clásico of the IPL, and the name fits. Mumbai and Chennai are the league's two most successful teams, with five titles each, and between them they have won ten of the first eighteen seasons.
They have met in four finals. Chennai won the first, in 2010. Mumbai won the next three, in 2013, 2015 and 2019, and the last of those was decided by a single run when Lasith Malinga won an lbw off the final ball. The contrast in style adds to it: Mumbai built around pace, power and a deep batting order, Chennai around experience and MS Dhoni's calm.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings
The Southern Derby pits Bengaluru against Chennai, two cities a few hours apart with huge, passionate fan bases. Chennai have the better record in the head-to-head, including victory in the 2011 final.
The most memorable recent chapter came in May 2024. The two sides met in the last league game at the Chinnaswamy with a playoff place at stake. RCB needed not just to win but to win by a big enough margin to overtake Chennai on net run rate. They did it, and Chennai went home. The following season RCB went on to win their first title.
In 2024, RCB didn't just need to beat Chennai. They needed to beat them by enough to pass them on net run rate.
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
This is where the IPL began. On 18 April 2008, Kolkata played Bengaluru in the league's first match, and Brendon McCullum's 158 not out set the tone for everything that followed. Read the story of that night.
The fixture produced another famous night in April 2017, when Kolkata bowled RCB out for 49 at Eden Gardens, still the lowest total in IPL history. For RCB fans, the rivalry is a reminder of some painful evenings. For Kolkata fans, it is a source of lasting pride.
Rivalries of the new era
Newer franchises are building their own stories. Gujarat Titans and Chennai met in the 2023 final, which Chennai won off the last ball on a rain-soaked reserve day. Punjab Kings and RCB contested the 2025 final, and both sides will be looking for a rematch.
Head-to-head records change every season. Check the official scorecards for the latest numbers.
Got a story tip?
We don't list a phone or email. Leave your name and number and the newsroom will call you back.
