Chennai Super Kings (CSK) kicked off their IPL 2025 campaign with an exhilarating 4-wicket victory over arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The match, often referred to as the “El Clásico” of Indian cricket, showcased a thrilling contest between two of the league’s most successful franchises.
On March 23, 2025, CSK faced MI in the opening match of the IPL season. CSK, led by captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that paid off handsomely. Mumbai struggled to find their footing and managed to post a modest total of 155 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
The MI innings started poorly as they lost their captain Rohit Sharma for a duck on just the fourth ball of the match, caught by Shivam Dube off Khaleel Ahmed’s bowling. MI’s batting woes continued as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Will Jacks, who came in at number three, was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin after scoring just seven runs.
Despite a brief partnership between Tilak Varma (31 runs) and Suryakumar Yadav (29 runs), MI’s innings faltered under pressure from CSK’s bowlers. The turning point came when MS Dhoni executed a lightning-quick stumping to dismiss Suryakumar, marking his milestone of 3000 IPL runs for MI.
Noor Ahmad was the standout bowler for CSK, claiming four wickets for just 16 runs in his four overs, effectively dismantling MI’s middle order. Khaleel Ahmed also contributed significantly with three wickets for 29 runs.
Chasing a target of 156 runs, CSK began their innings with confidence. Rachin Ravindra, who was preferred over Devon Conway in the playing XI, anchored the innings with a stellar performance, scoring 65 runs off 45 balls. His innings included six fours and three sixes, showcasing his ability to handle pressure.
Ruturaj Gaikwad supported Ravindra well with a brisk 53 runs from just 26 balls. The pair’s partnership laid a solid foundation for CSK’s chase. Despite losing wickets towards the end, CSK managed to reach their target in 19.1 overs, finishing at 158 for six.
Vignesh Puthur made an impressive debut for MI with figures of 3/32 in four overs but could not prevent CSK from clinching victory.
Key Performers
CSK Batting:
- Rachin Ravindra: 65 runs off 45 balls
- Ruturaj Gaikwad: 53 runs off 26 balls
- MI Bowling:
- Vignesh Puthur: 3 wickets for 32 runs
- Deepak Chahar: 1 wicket for 18 runs
- CSK Bowling:
- Noor Ahmad: 4 wickets for 16 runs
- Khaleel Ahmed: 3 wickets for 29 runs
The match not only marked a successful start for CSK in IPL 2025 but also highlighted their depth in bowling and batting. With key players like MS Dhoni continuing to shine and new talents emerging, CSK looks poised for another exciting season.
Key Highlights:
- CSK defeated MI by four wickets in their IPL season opener.
- Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad were instrumental in CSK’s chase.
- Noor Ahmad shone with a four-wicket haul against MI.
- The match showcased intense competition between two of IPL’s most successful franchises.