The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) kicked off their IPL 2025 campaign with a convincing 4-wicket victory over arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 23, 2025, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Known for their fierce rivalry, this match lived up to its billing as CSK chased down MI’s total of 155 with 5 balls remaining. MI, aiming to end their 13-year streak of losing season openers, faltered again, while CSK showcased their depth and composure. Here’s how the match unfolded, broken down into key moments.

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision influenced by the dew factor and the pitch’s tendency to slow down later. Due to Hardik Pandya’s suspension, MI, led by stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav, had to bat first despite preferring to chase. Both teams introduced debutants—MI with Robin Minz, Vignesh Puthur, and CSK leaning on their experienced core. Gaikwad’s call paid off, as CSK’s bowlers kept MI in check.

Mumbai Indians Innings: A Rocky Start

MI’s batting got off to a disastrous start. Former captain Rohit Sharma fell for a four-ball duck, caught at square leg off Khaleel Ahmed. Ryan Rickelton soon followed, chopping onto his stumps, and Will Jacks was dismissed by R Ashwin, leaving MI at 36 for 3 in the powerplay. A 51-run stand between Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav offered hope, but Noor Ahmad’s introduction turned the tide.

He dismissed Suryakumar with a drifting googly, stumped by MS Dhoni, and trapped Tilak LBW with a wrong’un. Noor’s spell continued, removing Robin Minz and Naman Dhir, finishing with 4 for 18. Deepak Chahar’s late 28 off 15 balls lifted MI to 155/9.

CSK’s Bowling Masterclass: Noor Ahmad Shines

CSK’s bowling was the backbone of their victory. Khaleel Ahmed struck early, finishing with 3 for 29, while R Ashwin provided control. However, debutant Noor Ahmad stole the show with his left-arm wristspin, taking 4 for 18—the best figures by a CSK spinner like Jadeja and Ashwin against MI.

His variations bamboozled MI’s batsmen with key wickets like Suryakumar and Tilak. Nathan Ellis chipped in late, ensuring MI couldn’t mount a comeback. CSK’s disciplined attack set up an achievable chase through spin bowling.

CSK vs MI, 3rd Match at Chennai, IPL, Mar 23 2025 – Full Scorecard

Mumbai Indians  (20 ovs maximum)

Batting		R	B	M	4s	6s	SR
Rohit Sharma	c Dube b Ahmed	0	4	3	0	0	0.00
Ryan Rickelton †	b Ahmed	13	7	11	3	0	185.71
Will Jacks	c Dube b Ashwin	11	7	19	2	0	157.14
Suryakumar Yadav (c)	st †Dhoni b Noor Ahmad	29	26	41	2	1	111.53
Tilak Varma	lbw b Noor Ahmad	31	25	41	2	2	124.00
Robin Minz	c Jadeja b Noor Ahmad	3	9	8	0	0	33.33
Naman Dhir	b Noor Ahmad	17	12	18	1	0	141.66
Mitchell Santner	lbw b Ellis	11	13	24	1	0	84.61
Deepak Chahar	not out	28	15	19	2	2	186.66
Trent Boult	c Gaikwad b Ahmed	1	2	4	0	0	50.00
Satyanarayana Raju	not out	1	1	4	0	0	100.00
Extras	(b 4, lb 1, nb 1, w 4)	10
Total	20 Ov (RR: 7.75)	155/9
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Rohit Sharma, 0.4 ov), 2-21 (Ryan Rickelton, 2.2 ov), 3-36 (Will Jacks, 4.4 ov), 4-87 (Suryakumar Yadav, 10.3 ov), 5-95 (Robin Minz, 12.4 ov), 6-96 (Tilak Varma, 12.6 ov), 7-118 (Naman Dhir, 16.1 ov), 8-128 (Mitchell Santner, 17.6 ov), 9-141 (Trent Boult, 18.6 ov) • DRS

Bowling	O	M	R	W	ECON	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Khaleel Ahmed	4	0	29	3	7.25	15	3	2	0	1
Sam Curran	1	0	13	0	13.00	2	3	0	0	0
Nathan Ellis	4	0	38	1	9.50	6	3	1	1	0
Ravichandran Ashwin	4	0	31	1	7.75	6	4	0	0	0
Ravindra Jadeja	3	0	21	0	7.00	8	0	2	0	0
Noor Ahmad	4	0	18	4	4.50	12	0	0	3	0

Chennai Super Kings  (T: 156 runs from 20 ovs)

Batting		R	B	M	4s	6s	SR
Rachin Ravindra	not out	65	45	91	2	4	144.44
Rahul Tripathi	c †Rickelton b Chahar	2	3	9	0	0	66.66
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)	c Jacks b Puthur	53	26	31	6	3	203.84
Shivam Dube	c Tilak Varma b Puthur	9	7	8	0	1	128.57
Deepak Hooda	c Raju b Puthur	3	5	8	0	0	60.00
Sam Curran	b Jacks	4	9	9	0	0	44.44
Ravindra Jadeja	run out (Chahar/†Rickelton)	17	18	24	1	0	94.44
MS Dhoni †	not out	0	2	2	0	0	0.00
Extras	(w 5)	5
Total	19.1 Ov (RR: 8.24)	158/6
Did not bat:  Ravichandran Ashwin,  Noor Ahmad,  Nathan Ellis
Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Rahul Tripathi, 1.4 ov), 2-78 (Ruturaj Gaikwad, 7.5 ov), 3-95 (Shivam Dube, 9.4 ov), 4-107 (Deepak Hooda, 11.4 ov), 5-116 (Sam Curran, 14.1 ov), 6-152 (Ravindra Jadeja, 18.4 ov) • DRS

Bowling	O	M	R	W	ECON	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Trent Boult	3	0	27	0	9.00	4	3	0	1	0
Deepak Chahar	2	0	18	1	9.00	5	2	1	0	0
Satyanarayana Raju	1	0	13	0	13.00	0	2	0	1	0
Mitchell Santner	2.1	0	24	0	11.07	5	2	2	0	0
Will Jacks	4	0	32	1	8.00	7	0	2	1	0
Vignesh Puthur	4	0	32	3	8.00	9	0	3	0	0
Naman Dhir	3	0	12	0	4.00	7	0	0	0	0

MI Batting: Tilak and Suryakumar’s Efforts

MI’s batting struggled for fluency. Tilak Varma top-scored with 31, and Suryakumar Yadav made 29, their 51-run partnership being the only highlight. Deepak Chahar’s 28 off 15 balls, including two sixes, gave MI’s total some respectability at 155/9. Without it, they might not have crossed 130. Other batsmen, like Naman Dhir and Mitchell Santner, failed to contribute, exposing MI’s vulnerability against spin, unlike Ishan Kishan’s superb century in SRH vs RR.

CSK’s Chase: Steady and Assured

Chasing 156, CSK started steadily. After an early wicket, Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad built a 67-run stand. Gaikwad smashed 53 off 26 balls, including five sixes, before falling to Vignesh Puthur, triggering a mini-collapse. Ravindra stayed composed, finishing unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls, sealing the win with a six. The crowd erupted when MS Dhoni walked out, but he faced just two dot balls. Gaikwad later reflected, “There are matches that get close sometimes, but happy to be on the winning side.”

Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad Lead the Way

Rachin Ravindra’s unbeaten 65 off 45 balls was a chasing masterclass, blending caution with aggression—his two sixes off Puthur in the 18th over clinched the game. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s explosive 53 off 26 balls set the tone, his five sixes showcasing CSK’s attacking intent. Their partnership ensured the required rate stayed manageable, making CSK’s victory look comfortable despite the late hiccups.

MI’s Bowling: Puthur’s Debut to Remember

MI’s bowling had a bright spot in debutant Vignesh Puthur, who took 3 for 32. His left-arm wristspin troubled CSK, dismissing Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda in quick succession. However, lack of support from Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, and an expensive Will Jacks meant MI couldn’t defend 155. Puthur’s spell gave MI hope, but it wasn’t enough.

Conclusion

CSK won by 4 wickets with 5 balls remaining, starting IPL 2025 with a bang. After winning the toss and bowling first, CSK restricted MI to 155/9, thanks to Noor Ahmad’s 4 for 18 and Khaleel Ahmed’s 3 for 29. MI’s innings crumbled early with Rohit Sharma’s duck, though Tilak Varma (31), Suryakumar Yadav (29), and Deepak Chahar (28) fought back. In reply, CSK chased 156 methodically. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 53 off 26 balls provided the spark, and Rachin Ravindra’s unbeaten 65 off 45 balls finished the job despite Vignesh Puthur’s 3 for 32 causing a scare. MI’s loss extended their season-opener woes since 2012, while CSK’s balanced performance signaled their intent for the season.