IPL 2025 Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad Shine as CSK Triumph Over Mumbai Indians

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IPL 2025 Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad Shine as CSK Triumph Over Mumbai Indians

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) began their IPL 2025 campaign on a winning note, securing a thrilling four-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. The match saw stellar performances from Rachin Ravindra (65 not out) and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (53), who played pivotal roles in the chase of 156 runs after CSK’s bowlers, led by Noor Ahmad (4/18) and Khaleel Ahmed (3/29), restricted Mumbai to 155/9. IPL 2025 Rachin Ravindra

Mumbai Indians Innings: A Struggle Against CSK’s Bowling Brilliance

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Mumbai Indians had a shaky start as CSK’s bowlers displayed disciplined bowling in front of their home crowd. IPL 2025 Rachin Ravindra

  1. Early Setbacks for MI:
    • Khaleel Ahmed provided CSK with an early breakthrough as he dismissed opener Ishan Kishan cheaply.
    • Suryakumar Yadav (29) and Tilak Varma (31) looked to stabilize the innings but struggled against Noor Ahmad’s spin.
  2. Noor Ahmad’s Impactful Spell:
    • The Afghan spinner turned the game on its head, taking crucial wickets, including Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya, ensuring that MI never gained full momentum.
    • MI found themselves in trouble at 110/7 in 16 overs.
  3. Lower-Order Fightback:
    • A quick-fire 28 off 15 balls from Deepak Chahar, batting down the order, helped Mumbai cross the 150-run mark.
    • Eventually, MI finished at 155/9 in 20 overs, a modest total considering the batting-friendly conditions.

CSK’s Chase: Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Blazing Start & Rachin Ravindra’s Calm Finish

Chasing 156, CSK got off to a slightly shaky start but soon picked up pace, thanks to their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. IPL 2025 Rachin Ravindra

Gaikwad’s Explosive Half-Century:

  • After the early dismissal of Rahul Tripathi (1) by Deepak Chahar, Ruturaj Gaikwad took charge.
  • The CSK skipper played a dazzling knock, smashing six fours and three sixes.
  • He reached his fifty in just 22 balls, making it his fastest IPL half-century.
  • However, his aggressive knock ended at 53 runs when he tried to clear long-off against debutant spinner Vignesh Puthur but mistimed his shot.

Vignesh Puthur’s Dream Debut for MI:

  • The Mumbai Indians debutant, Vignesh Puthur, turned heads with his exceptional spell, claiming 3/32 in four overs.
  • He not only removed Gaikwad but also dismissed Shivam Dube (9) and Deepak Hooda (7), slowing down CSK’s chase.

Rachin Ravindra Takes Control:

  • With CSK losing wickets at regular intervals, Rachin Ravindra took it upon himself to anchor the innings.
  • The left-handed batter shifted gears at the right time, hitting two fours and four sixes in his unbeaten knock of 65 off 45 balls.
  • His key moment came when he smashed two massive sixes off Puthur, ensuring CSK stayed in the hunt.

Nervy Final Overs & Dhoni’s Presence:

  • With 31 runs needed off the last four overs, Ravindra Jadeja (17) played a crucial supporting role before getting run out.
  • The home crowd erupted as MS Dhoni walked in to bat, though he didn’t face a delivery.
  • In the final over, Ravindra finished in style, pulling Mitchell Santner for six, sealing a four-wicket win for CSK with four balls to spare. IPL 2025 Rachin Ravindra

Match Summary:

Mumbai Indians – 155/9 (20 overs)

  • Tilak Varma – 31 (27) | Suryakumar Yadav – 29 (22)
  • Noor Ahmad – 4/18 | Khaleel Ahmed – 3/29

Chennai Super Kings – 156/6 (19.2 overs)

  • Rachin Ravindra – 65 (45) | Ruturaj Gaikwad – 53 (22)*
  • Vignesh Puthur – 3/32 | Deepak Chahar – 1/25

Key Takeaways:

  1. Mumbai Indians’ Season-Opener Curse Continues:
    • MI haven’t won their opening match in the IPL since 2012. This loss extends their unwanted record.
  2. CSK’s Balanced Performance:
    • Both the bowlers and batters stepped up when needed, showing why CSK is one of the most consistent IPL teams.
  3. Rachin Ravindra’s Maturity in Chase:
    • Playing a measured yet aggressive knock, Ravindra proved to be CSK’s match-winner on the night.
  4. Noor Ahmad’s Game-Changing Spell:
    • The Afghan spinner was the standout performer with the ball, proving his worth in CSK’s squad.
  5. Vignesh Puthur – A Future Star?
    • Though MI lost, Puthur’s impressive spell of 3/32 on debut was a silver lining, showing great promise.

Conclusion:

Chennai Super Kings started IPL 2025 on a winning note, successfully chasing 156 and putting in a solid all-round performance. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, will need to bounce back strongly in their next match to avoid early struggles in the tournament. IPL 2025 Rachin Ravindra

Up Next:

  • CSK’s next match: Against Rajasthan Royals
  • MI’s next match: Against Delhi Capitals

Stay tuned for more IPL 2025 updates

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