CSK Triumphs Over MI in IPL 2025 Opener
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad winning the toss and opting to field first, a decision that reflected the team’s confidence in their bowling attack and their familiarity with the Chepauk conditions. Mumbai Indians, led by stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav in the absence of Hardik Pandya, who was serving a one-match suspension from IPL 2024 due to an over-rate offense, and without the services of Jasprit Bumrah, who was sidelined by injury, faced an uphill battle from the outset.
The MI batting lineup, featuring stalwarts like Rohit Sharma alongside debutants like Ryan Rickelton, got off to a shaky start. Khaleel Ahmed struck early, dismissing Sharma for a duck in a moment that silenced the MI faithful. Trying to flick a delivery, the former MI skipper could only lob it to Shivam Dube at mid-on. Ahmed wasn’t done yet, as he soon sent Rickelton packing, the South African playing a ball onto his stumps, leaving MI reeling.
Despite the early setbacks, MI found some resistance through Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav, who stitched together a partnership to steady the ship. Varma’s aggressive 31 and Yadav’s composed 29 hinted at a recovery, but CSK’s spinners soon took control. Noor Ahmad, the Afghan wrist-spinner acquired for a hefty ₹10 crore, proved his worth with a match-defining spell of 4 for 18.
His victims included Varma, Yadav, Naman Dhir (17), and Robin Minz (3), as he tore through the MI middle order with guile and precision. Ravichandran Ashwin, back in CSK colors, added to MI’s woes by dismissing Will Jacks, while Deepak Chahar, now donning MI blue, provided a late cameo of 29 off 15 balls to push his team to a total of 155 for 9. It was a fighting effort, but one that seemed modest on a pitch known for favoring spinners yet offering runs to disciplined batters.
Chasing 156, CSK’s innings began with a surprise twist as they tweaked their opening combination, sending impact substitute Rahul Tripathi alongside Rachin Ravindra instead of the usual Gaikwad. The experiment didn’t last long, with Chahar striking to remove Tripathi for a brief 2 off 3 balls, caught by Rickelton off a faint edge. Gaikwad then walked in at No. 3 and immediately took charge, unleashing a barrage of strokes that showcased why he’s regarded as one of the IPL’s premier batsmen.
His 53 off just 26 balls, including six fours and three sixes, was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Starting with elegant cover drives off Trent Boult, he then took Mitchell Santner apart with a six and two boundaries in the powerplay, propelling CSK to 62 for 1 after six overs. It was his fastest IPL fifty, achieved in just 22 balls, and it set the tone for what seemed like a comfortable chase.
However, MI weren’t ready to roll over just yet. Debutant Vignesh Puthur, a 23-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner from Kerala making his IPL bow as an impact substitute for Sharma, injected drama into the contest.
Replacing a legend like Rohit, Puthur’s inclusion raised eyebrows, but he quickly silenced doubters. In his first over, he dismissed Gaikwad, who miscued a lofted shot to Will Jacks at long-off. Puthur wasn’t done, striking again to remove Shivam Dube (9 off 7), caught by Tilak Varma near the boundary, and then Deepak Hooda (3 off 5), brilliantly pouched by Satyanarayana Raju in the deep. Suddenly, CSK were wobbling, and the Chepauk crowd, usually a sea of unrelenting noise, held its breath as the required runs ticked closer to the balls remaining.
Amid the chaos, Rachin Ravindra stood tall. The New Zealand youngster, opening his IPL 2025 account with CSK, played an innings of remarkable composure. While wickets fell around him, Ravindra kept his cool, mixing caution with calculated aggression. His unbeaten 65 off 45 balls included two massive sixes off Puthur in the 18th over, one of which brought up his fifty in 42 balls, tilting the game firmly back in CSK’s favor.
With Ravindra Jadeja (17 off 18) providing support at the other end, CSK needed just six runs off the last two overs. A mix-up led to Jadeja’s run-out in the 19th over, sparking a deafening roar as MS Dhoni walked out with five runs still required. The crowd erupted, sensing a fairytale finish from their “Thala,” but Dhoni faced only two balls, blocking them both as Ravindra took strike in the final over. Fittingly, it was Ravindra who sealed the win, smashing a six off Naman Dhir to finish on a high, guiding CSK to 159 for 6 with five balls to spare.
The victory marked CSK’s fifth consecutive win over MI in IPL encounters, a streak that underscored their recent dominance in this storied rivalry despite MI’s historical 20-17 edge in 37 meetings. For CSK, the win was a statement of intent, driven by their spin-heavy attack—Ahmad, Ashwin, and Jadeja—perfectly suited to Chepauk’s turning track, and a batting lineup that blended experience with youthful exuberance. Gaikwad’s explosive start and Ravindra’s match-winning knock highlighted the depth in their ranks, while Noor Ahmad’s spell signaled a new weapon in their arsenal. MI, meanwhile, showed fight through Puthur’s spirited debut and Chahar’s all-round contribution, but the absence of Pandya and Bumrah left them vulnerable against a well-oiled CSK unit.
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As the dust settled on this IPL 2025 curtain-raiser, the match reaffirmed why CSK vs. MI remains the IPL’s marquee fixture. Broadcast live on Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar, it drew millions of viewers, each witnessing a contest that had it all—early breakthroughs, a captain’s charge, a debutant’s dream spell, and a tense finish capped by a rising star.
For CSK fans draped in yellow, it was a night to savor at their fortress, while MI’s faithful, despite the loss, could take heart from the glimpses of resilience in a depleted side. With the IPL 2025 season just beginning, this clash set the stage for what promises to be another enthralling chapter in one of cricket’s greatest rivalries.
