Chennai Super Kings (CSK) off to good start in IPL 2025, registering a 4-wicket victory against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday. Batting first, Mumbai could score 155/9 in 20 overs, with Tilak Varma (31 from 25 balls) being the highest scorer. Chennai bowlers ran riot, particularly Noor Ahmed (4/18) and Khaleel Ahmed (3/29), putting the brakes on Mumbai batting order.
In reply, Rachin Ravindra (65 off 45)* and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (53 off 26) guided CSK's chase, completing the game in 19.1 overs despite a mid-innings collapse. Vignesh (3/32) was the standout among Mumbai bowlers.
Ruturaj's Aggressive Start, Rachin's Calm Finish
The chase by Chennai began on a wobbly note with Rahul Tripathi (2) dismissed early. But Ruturaj Gaikwad asserted himself, hitting boundaries and taking his half-century off 22 balls. He, along with Santner, accelerated CSK's scoring, but Vignesh, who was brought in as an impact player, knocked out Ruturaj, and the collapse began.
At 78/1, Chennai looked comfortable, but quick wickets reduced them to 116/5, making the chase tricky. Despite the pressure, Rachin Ravindra stayed composed, and alongside Ravindra Jadeja (17), guided CSK home. With 21 runs needed from the last three overs, Rachin sealed the win with two sixes in the 18th over.
Mumbai Struggles Against Chennai’s Bowlers
Mumbai Indians struggled against Chennai’s disciplined bowling attack. Noor Ahmed and Khaleel Ahmed, both playing their first game for CSK, dismantled Mumbai’s batting.
- Rohit Sharma (0) fell in the first over.
- Rickelton (13) and Will Jacks (11) failed to capitalize.
- Tilak Varma (31) and Suryakumar Yadav (29) tried to rebuild but couldn’t accelerate.
Noor Ahmed’s double strike, removing Tilak and Suryakumar, left Mumbai reeling. A stunning stumping by MS Dhoni to dismiss Suryakumar added to Mumbai’s woes.
At 128/8, Mumbai seemed set for a below-par total, but Deepak Chahar (28 off 15)* provided a late flourish, adding 27 runs in the final two overs to take Mumbai to 155/9.
Key Takeaways from the Match
- Chennai’s bowlers dominated, with Noor Ahmed (4/18) and Khaleel Ahmed (3/29) leading the attack.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad’s explosive 53 off 26 balls set up CSK’s chase.
- Rachin Ravindra’s unbeaten 65 guided Chennai to victory despite a collapse.
- As a result, Mumbai middle order struggled when it came to accelerating.
- An outstanding moment of the match was MS Dhoni's fast stumping of Suryakumar Yadav.
Chennai Super Kings' solid all-round effort guaranteed a winning IPL 2025 start, while Mumbai Indians will hope to recover in their next match.
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