Last Updated:
Irfan Pathan says Mumbai Indians edge Chennai Super Kings as greatest IPL team, despite both winning the same number of titles.
Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are fierce rivals.
Irfan Pathan believes the Mumbai Indians (MI) edge out the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as the ‘greatest team in IPL history’, despite both winning the same number of titles. Pathan reasoned that MI’s ‘contribution to Indian cricket’ has been greater than CSK, with several excellent talents who have played for the country.
That can be attributed to a combination of MI’s scouting department and the difference in their team strategy from CSK. While MI have often focused on a combination of prime-age players and some unknown talents picked up from domestic cricket, CSK, until 2026, relied on experienced and proven performers.
“CSK started winning the IPL title from 2010 onwards. They won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011 and were the first team to do so. But when Mumbai Indians started winning from 2013, they kept winning after every alternate year. Then they won the IPL trophy back-to-back in 2019 and 2020.”
“What I like about Mumbai is their contribution to Indian cricket. The number of match winners they have produced for the Indian team is absolutely tremendous. How do you achieve that? First, you make your franchise big. Second, you deliver results with the team you have. Even now, Mumbai Indians had a great squad last season that could have easily won the trophy, but they couldn’t for different reasons.”
However, while MI will take credit for finding Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma for India, CSK will boast that they groomed Ravichandran Ashwin, Murali Vijay, and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
“CSK don’t have four Indian captains, Mumbai Indians do. In that respect, assembling a team and contributing to a bigger cause, I think Mumbai Indians are the greatest IPL team. I know CSK will always say they are also the greatest, having won five trophies too. There is no doubt. There will always be a debate and it is a fair debate. But I think Mumbai Indians take the edge because they have given so many wonderful cricketers and young talents to Indian cricket,” Pathan concluded.
March 21, 2026, 20:28 IST
Read More
