There are rivalries, and then there is Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings. A lot of factors have contributed to the evolution of this captivating duel, the 23rd round of which will be contested at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday evening. MI going into the 2018 Vivo IPL season-opener with a 12-10 advantage over their adversaries and, more importantly, a three-match head-to-head winning run dating back to May 8, 2015. Here are the five best matches that have made MI-CSK the most engaging rivalry in the history of the league.

1) First of all

CSK won by 6 runs in Chennai (April 23, 2008)

Matthew Hayden was at his belligerent best during the course of a 46-ball 81 as CSK posted an imposing 208/5 in their first home game. The Aussie almost carried the bat, falling only at the end of the 19th over. In the 102 minutes he was at the crease, Hayden forged a 104-run partnership with fellow southpaw Suresh Raina, whose 53 comprised three sixes and as many fours, and a further 51 with MS Dhoni, who made 30 off just 16. Harbhajan Singh used as many as eight bowlers (including himself) after asking CSK to take first strike but none rose to the occasion. Sanath Jayasuriya, Robin Uthappa, Shaun Pollock and Dwayne Bravo all got starts, but with 62 needed off the last four overs the visitors were in a spot of bother. And, then, the unthinkable happened. Batting at No. 6, the hitherto unknown Abhishek Nayar starred in a stunning cameo worth 45, off just 20. Harbhajan, who bowled just two overs, turned on the style with three sixes in a a 14-ball 28. MI needed 19 off the final over bowled by World T20 hero Joginder Sharma. Nayar hit him for two fours before Sharma bowled a no-ball. But a single off that ball brought Ashish Nehra to strike. Nayar could only watch in dismay as Sharma kept his cool to take CSK home in this heart-stopper of a game.

2) Final flourish

CSK win by 22 runs in Navi Mumbai (April 25, 2010)

MI did well to restrict CSK to 68/3 in 12 overs. Then, MS Dhoni got into the act. As many as 100 runs came off the last eight, with top-scorer Suresh Raina making the most of two drops en route to an unbeaten 57 off 35. Dhoni 15-ball 22 was more about intent than anything else. By the time he was dismissed in the beginning of the 18th over, CSK were 71 runs richer. Dhoni’s presence allowed Raina to bat freely. MI’s chase began on an indifferent note, with Shikhar Dhawan playing out a maiden over. Sachin Tendulkar, who played with a split webbing, could only labour his way to a 45-ball 48. Three other batsmen — Abhishek Nayar, Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard — got starts but MI left things too late. When the fifth wicket feel, MI 69 needed off 31. That became 55 off 18. Pollard, who batted at No. 7, smashed Dougie Bollinger for 22 runs in the 18th over. Then, Albie Morkel induced Pollard to hit the last ball of the 19th over straight to Matthew Hayden, who was stationed at an unorthodox straightish mid-off up in the circle. CSK went on to win their first title and took a 4-3 lead over MI.

3) MI have 60 reasons to smile

MI win by 60 runs in Mumbai (May 5, 2013)

CSK went into this game on a seven-match win streak. But MI, who had all their bases covered, came up trumps and how! Choosing to bat in this Sunday afternoon fixture, MI posted a below-par 139/5, with skipper Rohit Sharma making an unbeaten 39. Harbhajan Singh, too, struck some telling blows in his 11-ball 25 as MI collected 19 off the last over. Bowled by Ben Laughlin. MI may have finished with 50 fewer than the average first-innings score at the Wankhede that season, but their total turned out to be more than enough. Every bowler Sharma employed succeeded, with Mitchell Johnson and Pragyan Ojha picking up three each. Apart from Michael Hussey, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, no CSK batsman got into double figures. Johnson broke CSK’s back by dismissing three of the top four batsmen in the space of just five deliveries. CSK never quite recovered from that jolt, and kept losing wickets in a hurry. The visitors eventually crashed to 79 all out in the 16th over, their lowest total.

4) MI end title drought in style

MI win by 23 runs in Kolkata (May 26, 2013)

MI won the toss and chose to bat, but were left ruing that decision as early as the fourth over with the scoreboard reading 16/3. Dinesh Karthik and Ambati Rayudu then steadied the ship but when the former fell in the 10th over, Mumbai had barely crossed the 50-run mark. In walked Kieron Pollard. The manner in which he ‘defended’ the first delivery he faced for four only meant he was batting on a different plane. Sweet timing, brilliant placement. And the runs just flew off his bat. In all, he smashed seven fours and three sixes, including off the last two balls of the innings, to finish with 60 off 32. MI happily took the 148/9 they ended up with because the momentum had clearly shifted. Lasith Malinga then rose to the occasion by claiming Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina off consecutive deliveries. Mitchell Johnson then got rid of S Badrinath to make it a scarcely-believable 3/3. A brief partnership helped CSK recover but three more quick wickets left them reeling. There was no way MI would let this one slip. Not with the scoreboard reading 39/6. MS Dhoni fought a lonely battle alright, but he put the long handle to use very late in the innings, so much so that it gave MI enough room to begin their victory celebrations even while the match was still on! His unbeaten 63 (off 45 balls) meant he ended up scoring one run more than his teammates put together. But the night belonged to MI. Their title drought was finally over. Also, the demons of 2010 were finally put to rest.

5) Bottom of the table to top of the pile

MI win by 41 runs in Kolkata (May 24, 2015)

MI fashioned one of the most memorable turnarounds in the eight-year history of the Vivo IPL by going from the bottom of the table to lifting the cup in astonishing style. After losing the 2013 final at the same venue (Eden Gardens), CSK went on to enjoy a four-match winning streak over MI, including three in the 2014 season. And, in the process, they took a 10-9 lead in the head-to-head record. MI lost to CSK in their first match-up of the 2015 season at home but won the return leg as well as Qualifier 1 to open up a 11-9 advantage. And when the final came about, MI buried CSK in an avalanche of runs. Lendl Simmons smashed a 45-ball 68, besides adding 119 with skipper Rohit Sharma who pulverized the CSK bowlers with a 26-ball 50. Kieron Pollard and Ambati Rayudu the contributed 36 runs each, with the former striking at 200. CSK needed a dream start but opener Dwayne Smith struggled to get his timing right. He did top-score with 57 but his 48-ball effort was more laboured than anything. Harbhajan Singh removed him in the 12th over before having Suresh Raina stumped in the 14th. Lasith Malinga and Mitchell McClenaghan picked up two and three wickets respectively as MI romped home with a 41-run victory.