3 turning points in the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 campaign opener

And the tradition continues. It has been 12 years since Mumbai Indians won their campaign opener in the IPL. From 2013 till now, Mumbai has religiously lost their first match of the season, a tradition that Chennai helped them continue in the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 match. Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, claimed their fifth win in a row over their arch-rivals. Mumbai's last win against CSK dates back to 2022, with the head-to-head now recorded at 5-0 in their last five meet-ups in the league. For a moment in the second innings, MI looked poised to snatch back the momentum they lost early in the game at Chepauk. However, a gritty charge by Rachin Ravindra, coupled with a fiery leader's knock by Ruturaj Gaikwad, ensured that CSK kept up their domination in the El Clasico.

The El Clasico of IPL: Key moments from the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 match

From the turn-up in the IPL 2025 opener, Chennai Super Kings would be thoroughly impressed by their mega auction picks. The debutants, the 'Ahmed' duo, shined the brightest in the yellow pride as CSK imposed their prowess on MI early in the match. Winning the toss, Ruturaj Gaikwad opted to bowl first at his den, a move that played in their favor. A late charge by Deepak Chahar against his ex-team helped MI reach a fighting total of 155. Ensuring that the fight counted, Mumbai's young scout Vignesh Puthur stunned CSK with three wickets as the match came down to the wire.

Fiery start by Khaleel Ahmed, Ashwin's contribution to snatch the momentum right in the powerplay

A lot of eyebrows were raised when CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad announced that Matheesa Pathirana would sit out of the IPL 2025 opener. The retained seamer was perched as their primary prospect for the pace department. However, Khaleel Ahmed, on his debut for CSK, made sure that neither the team nor the fans missed anyone. The pacer struck early as he dismissed Rohit Sharma in the very first over of the game.

The former MI captain departed for a two-ball duck before Ahmed dismissed the other opener, Ryan Rickleton, in his next over. Ravi Ashwin, back to where it all started, appeared especially chirpy when he added a third wicket in the powerplay itself, dismissing Will Jacks for 11 off 7. The powerplay never played in MI's favor as the tone for CSK's victory was set by the early brilliance of Khaleel Ahmed and Ravi Ashwin.

Noor Ahmad sets the stage on fire with a 4-fer on CSK debut

Khaleel impressed, but Noor Ahmad made sure he shined the brightest on his debut in yellow. The spinner, aided by the lightning-fast hands of MS Dhoni behind the stumps, drew first blood as he dismissed MI skipper Suryakumar Yadav. MS Dhoni reacted in just 0.12 seconds as Noor Ahmad lured Suryakumar Yadav out of the crease. Looking set at the crease, the danger posed by SKY was mitigated early as the skipper departed for 29 off 26.

Tilak Varma, yet another set batter, fell victim to Noor's brilliance on the Chepauk turf, as the spinner trapped him LBW for 31. Before Varma, Noor tackled Robin Minz, who struggled at 3 off 9 before handing a catch to Ravindra Jadeja. The four-fer was completed when the Afghan spinner bowled Naman Dhir out. In a scintillating spin display, none of the Mumbai batters managed to hit Noor for a boundary. The 4-0-18-4 figures by Noor Ahmad in the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 opener are now the best numbers by a spinner for CSK against MI.

Vignesh Puthur shined, but Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad made sure CSK sailed through

Ruturaj Gaikwad demoted himself in the order as Rachin Ravindra and Rahul Tripathi opened the chase for CSK. The impact sub for CSK, however, made little to no impact for his team, as Tripathi departed for just 2 off 3 against Deepak Chahar. However, then began the onslaught of Ruturaj Gaikwad. While Rachin maintained a patient knock from the other end, the CSK captain unleashed a spectrum of picturesque shots. The captain raced to his half-century at a swift rate of 200, bringing the chase into CSK's clasp. However, MI was up for a fight, headlined by Vignesh Puthur.

The young gun, scouted by MI from league cricket, dismantled the CSK middle order, dismissing Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda in quick succession. A breakthrough spell by the MI youngster hung the game in the balance before Rachin settled in. Losing his partners cheaply at the other end, Rachin Ravindra maintained his composure, leading the chase patiently. After the quick dismissals of Dube, Hooda, and Sam Curran, Rachin found a reliable partner in all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja as the scorecard read "Ravindra & Jadeja."

Matching the tone set by Rachin, Jadeja clocked in 18 off 17 as the uphill run for CSK became easier. Rachin Ravindra then sent Vignesh Puthur into the stands with back-to-back sixes as Chennai ensured the victory. A mix-up in the middle between Rachin and Jadeja conspired to bring MS Dhoni to the crease in the closing moments, much to the delight of the Chepauk crowd. Dhoni came in with CSK needing 4 to win, but the closing shot came off Rachin's bat as he hit another sixer to take the game home, or, as one might say, "to keep the victory at home."