Chennai Tremendous Kings (CSK) kicked off its 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) marketing campaign with a nervy four-wicket victory over archrival Mumbai Indians (MI) on the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
The evening belonged to Noor Ahmad, CSK’s Rs. 10 crore recruit, who made a sensational debut for the franchise. The Afghan spinner tore by way of MI’s center order with a shocking 4/18—the perfect figures by a CSK bowler within the final two seasons.
His spell ensured MI was restricted to a modest 155 for 9, organising what appeared like a simple chase for the host.
MI’s opening-day curse continues
For MI, historical past repeated itself within the worst doable method. The five-time champion slumped to its thirteenth consecutive opening-match defeat, extending an undesirable report that has now lasted over a decade.
The night started with an early setback. Rohit Sharma’s struggles towards left-arm tempo continued as he miscued a slower ball from Khaleel Ahmed within the very first over, providing a easy catch to Shivam Dube at midwicket. It marked his ninth dismissal to a left-arm seamer since IPL 2022—a obtrusive weak point that CSK capitalised on.
Ryan Rickelton regarded threatening, placing a number of crisp boundaries initially, however he too fell to Khaleel, dragging a full supply onto his stumps. MI’s troubles deepened when Ravichandran Ashwin, again in yellow at Chepauk after 9 years, bamboozled Will Jacks with a carrom ball.
At 36 for 3, MI was in serious trouble. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma staged a short restoration with a 50-run stand, however simply as MI appeared to be regaining momentum, MS Dhoni rolled again the years with a lightning-fast stumping. Noor tossed one up outdoors off, drawing Suryakumar ahead, and earlier than the MI skipper may blink—0.12 seconds to be exact—the bails had been off.
Noor wasn’t completed. In the identical over, he dismissed debutant Robin Minz and the well-set Tilak (31 off 25), leaving MI gasping for runs. A late 15-ball 28 from Deepak Chahar supplied some resistance, however the customer had clearly fallen in need of a aggressive complete.
CSK’s aggressive begin and middle-order troubles
Chasing 156, CSK got here out with a brand-new intent. Final season, it averaged 8.72 runs per over within the PowerPlay, however this time, it went all weapons blazing, smashing 62 runs within the first six overs.
Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad led the cost, adopting a fearless strategy. In a tactical transfer, he dropped down the order as Affect Participant Rahul Tripathi was promoted to open alongside Rachin Ravindra. The experiment backfired, with Tripathi lasting simply three balls for 2 runs.
CSK’s attacking mindset got here at a price. It misplaced three wickets for simply 29 runs, however Gaikwad’s blistering 26-ball 53 stored it forward of the required run fee.
Nonetheless, MI discovered hope by way of debutant Vignesh Puthur, a 24-year-old left-arm wrist spinner, who impressed with figures of three for 32 in his 4 overs.
On the different finish, Ravindra supplied stability. The Kiwi all-rounder, persevering with his fantastic kind, anchored the chase as wickets tumbled round him. Regardless of a number of tense moments, he ensured CSK was in management for the big a part of the chase.
The 30,000-strong Chepauk crowd had a second to savour when a mix-up between Ravindra Jadeja and Ravindra briefly introduced Dhoni to the crease. Nonetheless, Ravindra sealed the victory off the primary ball of the ultimate over, ending unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls, with two fours and 4 sixes.