• Chennai Super Kings emerged victorious over arch-rivals Mumbai Indian in a closely fought IPL 2025 battle.

  • The match saw standout performances from Noor Ahmad with the ball and Rachin Ravindra with the bat for CSK.

IPL 2025: Rachin Ravindra, Noor Ahmad shine as CSK edge past MI at Chepauk in a thriller
CSK (Image Source: X)

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In a highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) emerged victorious over arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) in a closely fought battle. The match saw standout performances from Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad with the ball and New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra with the bat, as CSK successfully chased down MI’s 155/9 to start their campaign on a winning note.

Noor Ahmad’s magic spells doom for Mumbai Indians

Opting to bowl first, CSK’s bowling attack was relentless, putting MI under early pressure. The spotlight was firmly on Noor, CSK’s INR 10 crore acquisition, who made an instant impact with a sensational 4/18 spell that rattled the Mumbai batting lineup. The left-arm wrist spinner struck at crucial intervals, removing key batters and restricting Mumbai’s scoring options.

Khaleel Ahmed (3/29) provided excellent support, complementing Noor’s brilliance with his accurate seam bowling. Making a return to the CSK setup after nearly a decade, Ravichandran Ashwin made his presence felt as well, dismissing the dangerous Will Jacks for just 11, leaving MI struggling at 36/3.

Suryakumar Yadav (29) and Tilak Varma (31) attempted to rebuild the innings, stitching a 51-run partnership. However, the breakthrough came in vintage Dhoni style, as MS Dhoni’s lightning-quick stumping sent Suryakumar back to the pavilion. Once Tilak departed, MI’s innings collapsed, with Deepak Chahar’s late cameo barely helping them cross 150.

Also WATCH: Deepak Chahar’s pumped-up celebration after dismissing Rahul Tripathi in IPL 2025

CSK’s chase faces early setbacks

Chasing 156 for victory, CSK experimented with their batting order, promoting Impact Substitute Rahul Tripathi to open alongside Rachin. However, the move didn’t pay off as Tripathi fell for just 2 off 3 balls. Ruturaj Gaikwad, coming in at No. 3, was in scintillating form, smashing a 53 off just 26 balls, bringing up his fastest IPL half-century. However, Mumbai found hope in debutant Vignesh Puthur, who removed both Gaikwad and Shivam Dube (9 off 7) in consecutive overs to shift the momentum back in MI’s favour. Puthur continued his dream debut performance, dismissing Deepak Hooda (3 off 5) to further dent CSK’s chase. MI’s resurgence continued when Jacks cleaned up Sam Curran (4 off 9), reducing CSK to 116/5 in 15 overs, making the match hang in the balance.

Rachin Ravindra steadies the ship as CSK clinch a thriller

With CSK wobbling, Rachin took charge, anchoring the innings to perfection. Playing with maturity and calculated aggression, Rachin remained unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls, guiding CSK home with just a few deliveries to spare. Despite MI’s valiant fightback, CSK secured the win, handing Ravindra and Noor a memorable start to their IPL 2025 campaign. Puthur’s 3/32 on debut was a silver lining for Mumbai, but their batting struggles proved costly. This classic CSK-MI rivalry delivered yet another thrilling chapter, and with CSK’s new stars shining bright, the five-time champions look ready for another strong season ahead.

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Also WATCH: 43-year-old MS Dhoni does lightning-fast stumping to dismiss Suryakumar Yadav in IPL 2025

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