WATCH: MS Dhoni playfully chases Deepak Chahar with bat in hand ahead of MI vs CSK game on Sunday

Cricket fans are set to witness an exciting encounter on Sunday in match 38 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to face each other for the second time this season at the Wankhede Stadium. The last time these two sides met was in Chennai, which the home team went on to win by four wickets. 

Making merry with Namma Cherry! 💛✨#MIvCSK #WhistlePodu 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/Ooevfs9Img

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 19, 2025

CSK skipper MS Dhoni and Mumbai Indians pacer Deepak Chahar share a special bond. The duo had shared the same dressing room for Rising Pune Supergiants and CSK before Chahar eventually moved to MI for the 2025 season. Chennai’s social media team put out a short video where Chahar could be seen approaching CSK’s veteran skipper. 

It was at this moment that Dhoni picked up his bat and playfully ran towards Chahar. The moment brought a smile onto the faces of other players who were standing close by and undergoing their net session. In the same video, Chahar and Dhoni could be seen chatting, with the latter putting on his gloves and getting ready to bat. 

Huge points up for grabs in key encounter on Sunday

Hardik Pandya and his Mumbai Indians side have won their last two encounters to post six points from seven games. Chennai, on the other hand, has won just two games and is still bottom of the table. A loss for Mumbai will make their next games very interesting, considering they visit Hyderabad next for their return fixture against Pat Cummins’ side. 

Chennai Super Kings haven’t lost to Mumbai in their last five games and will want to keep the record going. If MS Dhoni and his men lose the game on Sunday, then qualification for the playoffs will be very difficult. In fact, CSK could be looking at an early exit from the tournament just after the halfway stage of the season. 

Former Mi batter Dewald Brevis has joined CSK for the rest of the season as a replacement for pacer Gurjapneet Singh. The young batter had been in great form with the bat in the SA20 league and was a key part of the title-winning MI Cape Town side. MI will hope that former CSK players Chahar and Mitchell Santner can help the home team end their winless streak against their arch rivals on Sunday.