🔥 CSK Roars at Chepauk! Gaikwad & Ravindra Power a Thrilling Win Over MI

March 23, 2025 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

The Chennai Super Kings kicked off their TATA IPL 2025 campaign in roaring fashion, defeating arch-rivals Mumbai Indians by 4 wickets in a high-voltage clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. In front of a sea of yellow, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s CSK delivered a memorable performance, combining sharp bowling with a confident chase to seal a thrilling win.

✨ Noor Ahmad Spins Web, MI Restricted to 155/9 at IPL 2025

Opting to bowl first, CSK struck gold early. Khaleel Ahmed drew first blood, dismissing Rohit Sharma in the opening over. He followed it up by removing Ryan Rickelton, putting MI on the back foot.

The big moment came with Ravichandran Ashwin’s emotional homecoming in CSK yellow after a decade—and he made it count, striking with his very first ball to dismiss Will Jacks.

But the real star was Noor Ahmad, who turned the game on its head. The Afghan spinner tore through MI’s middle order with a spellbinding 4/18, earning him the Player of the Match award. His victims included Suryakumar Yadav (thanks to a lightning-quick MS Dhoni stumping) and Tilak Varma, halting any MI momentum.

A late cameo from Deepak Chahar (28 off 15)* helped MI scrape to 155/9, but it never looked like enough against a hungry CSK unit.

💥 Gaikwad Leads the Charge, Ravindra Finishes in Style

Chasing 156, CSK had a minor hiccup as debutant Rahul Tripathi was dismissed early. But captain Ruturaj Gaikwad led from the front, playing with authority and elegance. He raced to a fiery 53 off 26 balls, including a flurry of boundaries and a stunning inside-out six over extra cover.

By the end of the powerplay, CSK were cruising at 62/1. However, MI’s debutant Vignesh Puthur made things interesting, removing Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda in a fiery spell of 3/32.

Just when the match seemed to tilt, Rachin Ravindra showcased nerves of steel, anchoring the innings with a mature, unbeaten 65 off 45 balls. His calculated acceleration, including a stunning slog sweep to bring up his fifty, ensured CSK never lost control.

🦁 MS Dhoni’s Entry, Chepauk’s Euphoria

With 4 runs needed, Ravindra Jadeja (17 off 15) was run out, triggering a moment Chepauk will never forget—MS Dhoni walked out to bat. The stadium erupted in joy, dreaming of a trademark Dhoni finish. But fittingly, it was Rachin Ravindra who had the final say, finishing the match with a towering six to take CSK home with 6 balls to spare.

🟡 CSK’s Perfect Start

• Player of the Match: Noor Ahmad (4/18)
• Top Scorers: Rachin Ravindra 65* (45), Ruturaj Gaikwad 53 (26)
• Top Bowlers: Noor Ahmad 4/18, Khaleel Ahmed 3/29, Vignesh Puthur 3/32

The Ruturaj Gaikwad era has officially begun with a statement win, and CSK fans couldn’t have asked for a better start. With the perfect mix of youth and experience, the Men in Yellow look poised for another golden run this season.

View the highlights of the match at https://www.iplt20.com/video/58946/ipl-2025-m03-csk-vs-mi—match-highlights?utm_source=video&utm_medium=onebox&utm_campaign=ipl2025