 "Rachin Ravindra smashed a six to finish the chase for CSK. Image: BCCI")
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) started their IPL 2025 campaign on a winning note, defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) by four wickets at Chepauk on Sunday. The game saw several key moments that shifted the momentum in CSK’s favour, ensuring their dominant performance over MI in their season opener. Here are the major turning points from the match:
Khaleel Ahmed’s early breakthroughs
Mumbai Indians suffered a major setback in the powerplay as Khaleel Ahmed dismissed both openers, Rohit Sharma (0) and Ryan Rickelton (13), in quick succession. Rohit’s dismissal for a duck added to his struggles in recent IPL seasons, while Rickelton, making his debut for MI, failed to convert a promising start.
Noor Ahmad’s dream debut for CSK
Afghanistan’s young mystery spinner Noor Ahmad produced a match-winning spell on his CSK debut. He ran through MI’s middle order, finishing with figures of 4/18. His crucial twin strikes, dismissing Tilak Varma and Robin Minz in the same over, broke MI’s backbone and restricted them to a below-par total of 155/9.
MS Dhoni’s lightning-fast stumping
The CSK legend showed he still has the fastest hands behind the stumps. Dhoni’s quick work sent MI’s stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav (29) back to the pavilion, just as he was looking set to accelerate. The stumping off Noor Ahmad’s bowling came at a crucial juncture, shifting momentum firmly in CSK’s favour.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s blistering knock
Leading CSK, Ruturaj Gaikwad played a captain’s knock. Batting at No. 3 instead of opening, Gaikwad smashed a quickfire 53 off 26 balls, setting the foundation for CSK’s successful chase. His aggressive approach in the powerplay took the pressure off the rest of the batting lineup and allowed Rachin Ravindra to take his time.
Vignesh Puthur’s stunning IPL bebut
Mumbai Indians’ surprise debutant, Vignesh Puthur, nearly turned the game around with his left-arm spin. The Kerala-born spinner dismissed Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda in quick succession, giving MI a glimmer of hope. His figures of 3/32 made CSK’s chase more challenging than expected.
Rachin Ravindra’s finishing touch
Despite losing wickets in the middle overs, CSK remained composed, thanks to Rachin Ravindra’s calculated innings. The New Zealand all-rounder remained unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls, ensuring CSK crossed the finish line in style. His massive six off Mitchell Santner’s bowling in the final over sealed the victory for Chennai.