CSK vs MI: Chennai has found the Kohi'Noor', MI rattled by spinner's 4-fer

When the action kicked off at Chepauk as the "El Clasico" took off early in IPL 2025, a quick look suggested a replay of trends from the last few seasons. MI has a penchant for losing their first fixtures in the league, and the first innings of the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 match projected a similar fate for Mumbai this year as well. Chennai enjoyed the turnout of their debutants as pacer Khaleel Ahmed and spinner Noor Ahmad ran riot through the Mumbai Indians' batting lineup. Opting against playing Matheesa Pathirana, CSK didn't look to be missing their primary seamer in their campaign opener.

CSK vs MI IPL 2025 match: Noor Ahmad registers the best figures by a spinner for CSK against MI

Seems like Chennai has found just the perfect prospect to keep their unmatched spin legacy intact for the coming seasons. Khaleel Ahmed set the tone early for his new team as he dismissed Rohit Sharma for a two-ball duck on the fourth ball of the opening innings. One brought two for the seamer as he bowled the other opener, Ryan Rickleton, on the second delivery of his second over. The game turned in Chennai's favor pretty quickly before Noor Ahmed hogged the limelight in the middle overs.

After the MI openers departed quickly and Ravi Ashwin sent Will Jacks back cheaply, skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma knitted a gritty partnership, giving a semblance of Mumbai's return into the game. However, CSK's debutant Noor Ahmad brought the breakthrough, adorned by the lightning-fast hands of MS Dhoni behind the stumps. Batting at 29, SKY was stumped out by MS Dhoni as Noor picked his first wicket for Chennai. The next three came rushing in as the spinner sent back Mumbai's young gun Robin Minz in his next over.

Blink and you MiSs it! ⚡️

pic.twitter.com/6KdX82FJvI

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 23, 2025

Lined up next for Noor was the wicket of the set batter, Tilak Varma, who fell into the LBW trap at 31 off 25. As Noor collected the wicket of Naman Dhir in the last over of his spell, the Afghanistan youngster entered the record books in his very first game for CSK. The 4-0-18-4 spell by Noor Ahmad is now the best figure by a spinner for CSK against MI. Now, with the late attack of Deepak Chahar, a CSK prospect until 2024, Mumbai's total was pushed to a fighting 155. Chennai needs 156 to take the game against MI. In their last five meet-ups, CSK has won four, with MI's last win against CSK dating back to IPL 2022.