TATA IPL 2025 Match 03 , CSK v MI – Match Report
Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Chennai Super Kings kicked off their TATA IPL 2025 campaign in style, securing a commanding four-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The foundation was laid by the brilliance of Player of the Match Noor Ahmad, whose sensational spell of 4/18 stifled MI to 155/9. The chase was then anchored by skipper Gaikwad’s fluent 52 off 26 and Rachin Ravindra’s composed, unbeaten 65 off 45, ensuring a winning start for the five-time champions.
Chasing 156, CSK suffered an early jolt as Deepak Chahar struck in the very first over, dismissing IPL debutant Rahul Tripathi. However, Gaikwad and Ravindra took charge, capitalizing on the powerplay. The CSK skipper played with elegance and authority, rotating the strike effectively while piercing the gaps with finesse. By the end of the powerplay, Chennai had raced to 62/1, with Gaikwad blazing his way to 42 off just 19 balls.
Gaikwad then brought up his fastest IPL fifty off just 22 deliveries, playing a delightful inside-out drive over extra cover off Will Jacks. However, his classy knock was cut short at 53 off 26 by young Vignesh Puthur, who made an instant impact on his IPL debut.
What followed was a tense middle phase as Puthur (3/32) ran riot, dismissing Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda in quick succession, sparking an MI fightback. With CSK needing 31 off 24, the game hung in the balance.
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Amidst the pressure, Rachin Ravindra stood tall, anchoring the chase with maturity. He brought up his half-century with a glorious slog sweep and followed it up with a towering six at the end of the 18th over, calming CSK nerves. Ravindra Jadeja (17 off 15) provided valuable support, edging CSK closer to victory.
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A dramatic moment unfolded with four runs required, as Jadeja was run out. But instead of disappointment, the Chepauk crowd erupted in sheer delight—MS Dhoni was walking out to bat. Though the crowd longed for a signature Dhoni finish, it was Rachin who fittingly sealed the victory with a six, remaining unbeaten on 65, guiding CSK to a famous triumph.Electing to field, Chennai Super Kings got off to a dream start in front of a roaring Chepauk crowd. Khaleel Ahmed struck in the very first over, removing Rohit Sharma to set the tone. The left-arm seamer was at it again in the third over, dismissing Ryan Rickelton as MI found themselves reeling early.
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The homecoming of Ravichandran Ashwin in CSK colors after a decade turned into an instant spectacle. The veteran off-spinner struck with his very first ball, dismissing Will Jacks as Shivam Dube pouched a sharp catch. With MI in trouble, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma led a brief fightback, adding 51 runs for the third wicket to steady the ship.
However, as the powerplay ended, Ruturaj Gaikwad unleashed Noor Ahmad, and the Afghan spinner weaved magic. He first removed the stand-in MI captain Suryakumar Yadav (29 off 26), thanks to a lightning-fast stumping from MS Dhoni that sent the Chennai crowd into a frenzy. Noor then trapped Tilak Varma (31 off 25) in front, dismantling MI’s resistance.
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CSK’s stranglehold never loosened as Noor finished with sensational figures of 4/18, while Khaleel wrapped up with 3/29. A late flourish from Deepak Chahar (28* off 15) pushed MI to a respectable 155/9, but the visitors were left playing catch-up after CSK’s relentless bowling display.
The full scorecard and match details can be found here.
