Rachin Ravindra and Noor Ahmad star as CSK begin IPL 2025 campaign with 4-wicket victory

CSK beat MI by 4 wickets, begin IPL 2025 campaign on positive note

Afghanistan mystery spinner Noor Ahmad excelled on his Chennai Super Kings (CSK) debut before Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad hit sublime half-centuries to guide the team to the 156-run target set by the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium.

Noor’s four-wicket haul limited MI to a below-par total of 155/9 after the hosts put them in to bat on a slow surface. Gaikwad, batting at number three instead of opening alongside Rachin, smashed 53 off 26 balls to provide CSK with a strong start.

Rachin’s unbeaten knock of 65 ensured that the Chennai-based franchise chased down the target in 19.1 overs and kicked-off their IPL 2025 campaign with a victory.

IPL debutant Vignesh Puthur (3/32), a left-arm spinner from Kerala who has never played senior cricket, made life tough for CSK in the middle overs by getting the big wickets of Gaikwad, Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda.

It looked like the Mumbai-based franchise may be able to take the match to the final delivery, however Rachin deposited Puthur for 2 sixes in the 18th over, carrying CSK into a comfortable position.

CSK required 4 runs in the final over and Rachin hit Mitchell Santner for a maximum on the first delivery to wrap up the match for the hosts.

With the loss, MI maintained their dubious record of not wining their opening game of the IPL since 2012.