Chennai Super Kings began their 2025 Indian Premier League season with an exhilarating four-wicket win against their formidable rivals, the Mumbai Indians. This thrilling encounter took place at the iconic M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
The spotlight of the match shone brightly on Noor Ahmad, the Afghan spinner who was acquired for Rs. 10 crore. In his debut appearance for CSK, Ahmad delivered a remarkable performance, claiming four wickets for just 18 runs. These figures represent the best bowling performance by a CSK player in the past two IPL seasons, demonstrating Ahmad's potential to alter the course of a game.
His outstanding bowling performance played a pivotal role in restricting the Mumbai Indians to a total of 155 runs for the loss of nine wickets. This modest total set the stage for what appeared to be a straightforward chase for the host team.
Mumbai Indians, known for their history of success, faced a familiar and unfortunate fate in this match. The team encountered their 13th consecutive loss in an opening match, a record that has plagued them for over a decade. This latest defeat illustrates the ongoing struggles of the five-time IPL champions in starting their campaigns on a positive note.
The match began with an early challenge for the Mumbai Indians. Rohit Sharma, the team's captain, fell victim to a left-arm pace attack once again, misplaying a slower delivery from Khaleel Ahmed in the first over. His dismissal was a stark reminder of the weaknesses he has shown against left-arm seamers since IPL 2022, a pattern that CSK expertly exploited.
Although Ryan Rickelton appeared dangerous with some early boundaries, he soon joined Rohit back in the dugout after being bowled by Khaleel. The situation worsened for MI when veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, making a return to CSK after nine years, dismissed Will Jacks with an expertly delivered carrom ball.
With the score at 36 for three, the Mumbai Indians found themselves in a precarious position. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma attempted to resurrect the innings with a partnership that yielded 50 runs. Yet, just as MI began to regain momentum, MS Dhoni showcased his unparalleled skills behind the stumps with a rapid stumping. Noor Ahmad's delivery tempted Suryakumar into a forward stride, and in a flash, the bails were sent flying.
Ahmad's exceptional spell did not end there. In the same over, he dismissed debutant Robin Minz and crucially, Tilak Varma, who had top-scored with 31 runs off 25 balls. This left MI reeling, struggling to set a competitive total. Despite Deepak Chahar's late boost of 28 runs from 15 balls, the Mumbai side's performance was merely insufficient in the face of the pressing CSK bowling attack.
As CSK began their chase of 156 runs, they displayed a renewed sense of urgency and focus. In the previous season, their PowerPlay average had been a modest 8.72 runs per over, but this time, they came out with an aggressive mindset, amassing 62 runs in the initial six overs.
Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad spearheaded this initiative, adopting an audacious approach to leading his team. In an unexpected strategy, he opted to drop down the batting order, promoting Rahul Tripathi to open alongside Rachin Ravindra. However, the decision did not yield the intended results, as Tripathi fell for only two runs after facing merely three deliveries.
Despite the aggressive intent, CSK suffered a setback as they lost three wickets for just 29 runs. Fortunately for the home team, Gaikwad's explosive knock of 53 runs off 26 balls kept the chase on track, ensuring they remained above the required run rate even amidst the wickets tumbling around him.
The Mumbai Indians' bowling unit found a glimmer of hope in Vignesh Puthur, a 24-year-old left-arm wrist spinner who shone brightly on debut, recording impressive bowling figures of three wickets for 32 runs in his four overs. His performance provided a much-needed lift to MI as they sought to halt CSK's momentum.
At the other end of the crease, Ravindra anchored the innings, showcasing his ability to maintain composure and stability. As wickets continued to fall, Ravindra's determined batting ensured that CSK remained largely in control. The excitement in the stands peaked when a momentary mix-up between Ravindra Jadeja and Ravindra brought Dhoni to the crease, eliciting roars of nostalgia from the enthusiastic crowd.
Ultimately, Ravindra sealed the victory for CSK on the very first delivery of the final over, finishing the match with a commendable unbeaten score of 65 runs off 45 balls, striking two fours and four sixes along the way. This victory marked a promising start for CSK in the 2025 IPL season, reaffirming their intent to vie for the title once more.