Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings: The seasoned season openers

When Mumbai Indians take on Chennai Super Kings on Saturday, it will be the fourth occasion of the two teams playing each other in an IPL season opener. The two teams have previously locked horns in the openers of the IPL 2009, 2012 and 2018.

Out of the 12 seasons, these teams have been a part of eight seasons openers, with MI and CSK playing a total of six and five such games respectively. The only other team to rival them in this aspect is Kolkata Knight Riders, who have also been a part of six such games.

This is pretty much a testimony to the amount of success and popularity these two teams have enjoyed over the years as the first match of the IPL includes the participation of the champion side. The exception to this being IPL 2009, where the first match was played between MI and CSK, while Rajasthan Royals were the defending champions.

MI and CSK have garnered huge fan bases as they have been homes to some of the biggest names in Indian cricket such as Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.

MI, however, have lived up to their reputation of being the slow starters. They have only managed to win two of the six matches they have played in the IPL openers with both their victories coming against CSK. This is far less than their win percentage of 57.22.

CSK fare a little better. They have three victories in the five season openers that they have been a part of, which is almost equal to their lifetime win percentage of 60.61.

In head to head encounters, MI is in the lead, winning two of the three matches played. The MS Dhoni-led side would be eager to extend their winning streak of inaugural matches. They come on the back of victories in openers of both IPL 2018 and 2019. While an injured Kedar Jadhav's last over heroics gave them a one-wicket in 2018, their bowlers destroyed the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2019, bundling them for 70, CSK chased calmly.

KKR has been the most successful side in season openers, winning five out of the six games they have played, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have had the worst luck, losing all three games they have played.

MI would be eager to fight their reputation of being slow starters, CSK would also want to start on a high note, alongside improving their head-to-head stats against the Mumbai-based franchise.

MI vs CSK, with their rivalry and popularity, seems to be a perfect start to the COVID-affected Indian cricket season.