Images from the IPL 2025 match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians at the M A Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai, on Sunday.
Afghanistan mystery spinner Noor Ahmad excelled on his Chennai Super Kings debut before Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad stuck sublime half-centuries to set up a four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 match in Chennai on Sunday.
Ahmad's four-wicket haul to restrict Mumbai Indians to a below-par 155/9 after the hosts elected to bowl on a slow surface.
Gaikwad, batting at No 3 instead of opening alongside Ravindra, smashed 53 off 26 balls before the Kiwi took over to ensure CSK got over the line in 19.1 overs.
Ravindra, who made 65 not out from 45 balls, finished off the match in grand style as he slogged Mitchell Santner for a six over midwicket in the final over.
IPL debutant Vignesh Puthur (3/32), a left-arm spinner from Kerala who has never played senior cricket, made life tough for CSK. who eventually found a way to start their 2025 campaign with a win.
The 24-year-old Puthur removed Gaikwad, Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda in quick succession with all three failing to dispatch the rookie spinner into the stands.
Ravindra deposited Puthur for couple of sixes towards the end to keep the crowd going. The deafening roar came when the legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni walked into the middle with four runs needed for the win but it was Ravindra, who ended up hitting the winning six.
With the loss, Mumbai Indians maintained their dubious record of not wining their opening game of the IPL since 2012.
Earlier, Ahmad (4/18) ran through the Mumbai Indians middle-order after Khaleel Ahmed (3/29) removed openers Rohit Sharma (0 off 4) and Ryan Rickelton (13 off 7) in the Powerplay.
On a typical Chepauk surface, CSK got the early breakthroughs after putting the opposition in to bat.
Rohit was the first one to depart, flicking straight into the hands of Shivam Dube at mid-wicket off Khaleel.
Playing his first game for Mumbai Indians, Rickelton looked good in his brief cameo which ended when he played on to give Khaleel his second wicket.
Ravichandran Ashwin, returning to CSK after 10 years, struck in his first over to leave MI reeling on 36/3 as Will Jacks offered a simple catch to Dube at mid-off.
Surykumar Yadav (29 off 26) and the in-form Tilak Varma (31 off 25) forged a 51-run partnership to take the innings forward before the Mahendra Singh Dhoni effected a lightening quick stumping off Ahmad to send back Mumbai Indians stand-in captain.
Dhoni showed he remains as sharp as ever behind the stumps with bails being dislodged even before Suryakumar could complete his bat swing.
Suryakumar led the side in the absence of Hardik Pandya, who could not play due to an over rate ban imposed last season.
What broke the back of Mumbai Indians batting was twin strike from Ahmad in his following over. He trapped Tilak with a googly two balls after getting rid of Robin Minz.
His fourth wicket was Naman Dhir who played around his stumps to be bowled.
Deepak Chahar, switching to Mumbai Indians from CSK, came up with a much needed 28 not out off 15 balls to take the team past 150.
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