A strong clinical performance by the Chennai Super Kings resulted in their victory over their long-time rivals, the Mumbai Indians, at Chepauk, establishing an early statement in IPL 2025. On a pitch that finally favored spin, CSK excelled with the ball, spearheaded by their recent addition, Noor Ahmad. This was complemented by contrasting half-centuries from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra, leading to a four-wicket triumph. Consequently, the defeat marked the 13th consecutive season in which the Mumbai Indians have failed to secure a win in their opening match of the IPL.
Noor Ahmad dismisses MI's batting order
R Ashwin made an immediate impact when he was called upon to bowl during the PowerPlay, delivering a carrom ball that Will Jacks misplayed, resulting in a catch for Shivam Dube. However, before Ashwin’s impressive return, it was Khaleel Ahmed who garnered attention early on after CSK chose to bowl first. He dismissed Rohit Sharma for a duck, with the former MI captain hitting a straightforward catch to mid-wicket.
Ryan Rickelton, making his IPL debut, showcased his talent with a few elegant shots off Sam Curran, but his promising start was abruptly ended by Khaleel, who bowled him out after the left-hander edged the ball onto his stumps. Tilak Varma then surprised everyone by executing a couple of high-risk shots off his first two deliveries, resulting in boundaries, while Suryakumar Yadav concluded the PowerPlay with a characteristic whip that cleared the boundary.
Despite Tilak hitting Ravindra Jadeja for a couple of sixes, it was Noor’s performance in the middle overs that significantly shifted the momentum in favor of CSK after the halfway point. MI was in a decent position at 82 for 3 after 10 overs, but Noor disrupted their partnership by dismissing Suryakumar Yadav, who was stumped in a flash by the 43-year-old MS Dhoni. The Afghan spinner then took two more wickets in his subsequent over, leaving Robin Minz and Tilak unable to decipher his googly. With the score at 110 for 6, MI required a remarkable effort from their lower order to set a competitive total.
As Nathan Ellis prepared to complete the innings with three overs remaining, the situation appeared dire for MI. Compounding their troubles, Noor came back for his last over and bowled Naman Dhir out. It was then up to the two former CSK players, Mitchell Santner and Deepak Chahar, to elevate their new team to a commendable score. Although Santner was dismissed lbw by Ellis, Chahar struck two sixes and two fours in the concluding two overs, helping MI surpass the 150 mark and providing them with a target to contend with.
Rachin Ravindra shines in a comfortable chase for CSK
CSK surprised everyone by selecting Rahul Tripathi to open the innings alongside Rachin. However, it wasn’t long before Gaikwad made his entrance, as Chahar provided MI with an early breakthrough by bowling a short ball that Tripathi edged to the wicketkeeper. Gaikwad quickly found his rhythm, striking Trent Boult for a couple of boundaries before launching a massive six over deep mid-wicket off Chahar. Satyanarayana Raju was introduced to the attack and was greeted with a pair of fours, while Suryakumar’s attempt to conclude the PowerPlay with a quiet over by bowling Santner was disrupted when the CSK captain hit the left-arm spinner for a six and two fours, racing to 42 runs off just 19 balls.
The highlight of the match occurred in the first over following the PowerPlay when Gaikwad effortlessly lofted a shot over extra cover for his third six, reaching his fifty in a mere 22 balls—his fastest in IPL history. It took a debutant to halt Gaikwad’s onslaught, as Vignesh Puthur made an immediate impact upon entering the attack, catching the CSK skipper off guard and leading to his dismissal near the boundary. From that point, the match gradually regained its intensity. Shivam Dube came in with purpose, hitting Jacks for a six over deep mid-wicket, but he misjudged Puthur in the following over and was caught near the boundary.
The debutant continued to shine, striking again in his third over. Although he conceded a six to Ravindra earlier in the over, the left-arm spinner managed to dismiss Deepak Hooda, creating some tension within the CSK camp. MI persisted with their spinners to tighten the grip, and Sam Curran was the next to fall, unable to break free and getting bowled by Jacks. CSK now required 37 runs from the last five overs, with five wickets remaining.
As the game intensified, CSK required a few boundaries to alleviate the pressure and secure their victory. Jadeja quickly delivered that boundary when Boult returned to bowl, but it was Rachin who effectively extinguished MI’s slim hopes by hitting two precise sixes off Puthur in the 18th over, which also marked his important half-century. Amid ongoing discussions regarding the overseas opening position, Rachin bolstered his prospects with a composed fifty. Jadeja’s run-out in the second-to-last over brought Dhoni to the crease, but this merely postponed the inevitable, as Rachin struck another six to clinch the win with five balls remaining.
SCORECARD: 155/9 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 31; Noor Ahmad 4/18, Khaleel Ahmed 3/29) lost to Chennai Super Kings 158/6 in 19.1 overs (Rachin Ravindra 65*, Ruturaj Gaikwad 53; Vignesh Puthur 3/32) by 4 wickets
