IPL 2025: Chennai Super Kings Triumph Over Mumbai Indians by 4 wickets
On March 23, 2025, the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai reverberated with the roars of the Yellow Army as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinched a nail-biting four-wicket victory over arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) in the third match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. This clash—often dubbed the “El Clasico” of the IPL—lived up to its billing, delivering a rollercoaster of emotions, standout performances, and a fitting start to CSK’s campaign on home soil. With MI posting 155 for 9 and CSK chasing it down at 158 for 6 in 19.1 overs, the match showcased the resilience of the hosts and extended MI’s unwanted streak of losing their season opener, a drought that now stretches back to 2012.
The CSK-MI rivalry is the stuff of IPL legend. With five titles each, these two franchises have dominated the league’s history, facing off 37 times prior to this encounter, with MI holding a slight edge at 20-17. The stakes were high as the 2025 season kicked off, with both teams eager to shake off the disappointment of missing the playoffs in 2024—CSK finishing fifth and MI languishing at the bottom. For CSK, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, it was a chance to assert dominance at Chepauk. For MI, under stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav—filling in for the suspended Hardik Pandya—it was an opportunity to break their opening-match curse.
The pre-match buzz was palpable. CSK fans unfurled tifos to the tune of “The Final Countdown,” while a light show and a mini-concert by Anirudh set the stage. MI, missing Pandya (serving a one-match ban for an over-rate offense) and Jasprit Bumrah (sidelined by injury until April), leaned on a mix of experience and youth, including debutants Vignesh Puthur and Satyanarayana Raju. CSK, meanwhile, debuted Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad and welcomed back stalwarts like MS Dhoni, whose every move electrified the crowd.
Gaikwad won the toss and elected to bowl, a decision rooted in Chepauk’s history of favoring chasing sides. MI’s innings started with a jolt—Rohit Sharma, the former captain, fell for a four-ball duck to Khaleel Ahmed, caught at square leg off a flick gone awry. It was Rohit’s 18th IPL duck, tying him with Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell for the most in the tournament’s history. Ryan Rickelton (13) followed soon after, nicking Khaleel to Dhoni, leaving MI at 21 for 2 in 2.2 overs.
Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma steadied the ship with a 51-run stand, taking MI to 76 for 3 by the ninth over. Suryakumar (29 off 24) showed flashes of his 360-degree brilliance, while Tilak (31 off 25) attacked the spinners. But the introduction of Noor Ahmad turned the game on its head. The 20-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner, acquired for a hefty sum in the auction, struck gold with his deceptive googlies and sliders. He dismissed Suryakumar, caught at long-off, and followed it with Tilak, trapped lbw after a failed review, finishing with figures of 4 for 18—his best in the IPL and the finest by a CSK spinner against MI.
Khaleel Ahmed (3 for 29) complemented Noor’s brilliance, picking off Will Jacks (12) early and later removing Trent Boult in the 19th over. Ravindra Jadeja (1 for 23) and R Ashwin (0 for 18) tightened the screws in the middle overs, while Nathan Ellis (1 for 30) accounted for Mitchell Santner via an lbw upheld on review. Deepak Chahar provided a late flourish with an entertaining 29 off 15, including a six off Ellis, but MI’s collapse from 87 for 3 to 155 for 9 reflected CSK’s bowling dominance. Noor’s spell, hailed as a “game-changer” on X, earned him the Player of the Match award and set a modest yet tricky target of 156.
CSK’s reply began with a surprise—Rachin Ravindra opened with Rahul Tripathi (introduced as an Impact Player) instead of Gaikwad, who dropped to No. 3. The move paid off briefly as Ravindra and Tripathi put on 11 before Boult struck, dismissing Tripathi (4) in the second over. Gaikwad’s arrival at 11 for 1 ignited the chase. The CSK captain was in imperious form, racing to a 22-ball fifty—his fastest in the IPL—with a barrage of cover drives, lofted shots, and three sixes. His assault on Santner in the sixth over—six, four, four—pushed CSK to 62 for 1 in the powerplay, reducing the required run rate to a stroll.
At 78 for 1 in 7.5 overs, Gaikwad looked set to finish the game single-handedly, but MI debutant Vignesh Puthur had other ideas. The 23-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner, hailing from Kerala and yet to play senior state cricket, made an instant impact as an Impact Player. He lured Gaikwad (53 off 26) into a lofted shot, caught by Will Jacks at long-off, sparking a mini-wobble. Puthur’s dream debut continued as he dismissed Shivam Dube (9) and Deepak Hooda (11) in quick succession, finishing with 3 for 32 and offering MI a glimmer of hope.
With CSK at 116 for 5 in 14.1 overs after Sam Curran’s exit (6), the tension mounted. Ravindra, however, stood firm. The New Zealander, blending aggression with composure, reached a 42-ball fifty with a towering six off Puthur and guided CSK through the nervy middle phase. Jadeja (17 off 19) played a supporting role until a mix-up led to his run-out in the 19th over, bringing Dhoni to the crease with four runs needed. The Chepauk crowd erupted as their icon strode out, but it was Ravindra who sealed the deal, smashing a six off Santner to finish unbeaten on 65 off 45 (four fours, four sixes). CSK crossed the line at 158 for 6 in 19.1 overs, sparking wild celebrations.
Noor Ahmad’s Spell: The Afghan spinner’s 4 for 18 dismantled MI’s middle order, turning a promising start into a below-par total.
Gaikwad’s Blitz: His 53 off 26 shifted the chase’s momentum decisively, reducing the target to a formality before his exit.
Puthur’s Debut: The rookie’s three wickets injected drama, proving MI’s scouting system remains a force despite the loss.
Ravindra’s Anchor: His unbeaten 65 ensured CSK didn’t falter, showcasing his potential as a long-term asset.
Gaikwad, elated with the win, said, “It got a bit tense after I got out, but Rachin was amazing. Noor and Khaleel set it up beautifully. Batting at three gives us balance—happy to be on the winning side.” Suryakumar, gracious in defeat, reflected, “We were 15-20 runs short. Ruturaj took it away, but Vignesh showed what our youngsters can do. It’s a long season ahead.”
For CSK, the victory was a perfect homecoming, reinforcing their dominance over MI—now five wins in their last six meetings since 2021. Noor Ahmad’s debut heroics and Ravindra’s composure signal a bright future, while Gaikwad’s form bodes well for leadership and batting stability. Dhoni, though scoreless off two balls, remains the emotional heartbeat, with fans cherishing every moment of his 19th IPL season.
MI’s 13th consecutive opening loss stings, but Puthur’s emergence and Chahar’s late cameo offer silver linings. With Pandya and Bumrah set to return soon, Suryakumar’s men will regroup for their next outing against Gujarat Titans on March 29. The batting, particularly Rohit’s early exit and Suryakumar’s lean patch (29 off 24 here, no fifty in his last nine T20 innings), needs addressing.
This CSK-MI clash wasn’t the highest-scoring affair—unlike SRH’s 286 the previous day—but it encapsulated the IPL’s essence: drama, debutants, and Dhoni. From Noor’s spin wizardry to Ravindra’s finishing flair, and Puthur’s spirited fightback, the match had it all. As IPL 2025 unfolds over the next two months, CSK’s four-wicket triumph on March 23 will stand as an early benchmark—a reminder that at Chepauk, the Yellow Army reigns supreme, especially against their fiercest foes.
