Chennai Super Kings Dominate Mumbai Indians In IPL Opener

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 23 (ANI): In a thrilling opening match of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) showcased their bowling prowess against the Mumbai Indians (MI), restricting them to a total of 155 runs for 9 wickets at Chepauk Stadium. The spotlight was on Noor Ahmed, who marked his debut with an impressive four-wicket performance, and Khaleel Ahmed, who also made his presence felt in the powerplay.

After winning the toss and opting to field first, CSK's pacer Khaleel Ahmed began with a bang, immediately striking by dismissing MI’s captain Rohit Sharma without scoring. Rohit, an experienced player, attempted to flick the ball but ended up giving a catch to Shivam Dube shortly after the match commenced, putting MI in a precarious position at 0 for 1 within the first over.

Ryan Rickelton and Will Jacks tried to stabilize the innings with some boundaries, but Khaleel soon disrupted their plans. He bowled out Rickelton for just 13 runs, leaving MI at 24 for 2. This solid start set the tone for the CSK bowlers, with Noor Ahmed taking center stage next.

As MI battled to recover from the early blows, Noor Ahmed displayed his spinning capabilities, crippling the MI batting order. He dismissed skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who managed to contribute 29 runs off 26 balls, and Tilak Varma, who scored 31 runs off 25 balls. The two had previously put together a critical partnership of 51 runs for the fourth wicket, helping to bring MI back on track after they found themselves at 36 for 3.

Notably, the turning point for MI came when Noor bowled Suryakumar in the 13th over, leaving MI reeling at 96 for 6. His impressive figures of 4 wickets for just 18 runs over four overs devastated MI's lineup, effectively sealing the game in favor of CSK.

Although Naman Dhir managed to score 17 runs, contributing what he could to the MI total, Noor struck again to claim his fourth victim. Following Dhir's dismissal, MI's innings stumbled further as they lost Mitchell Santner for 11 runs, adding to their troubles.

Deepak Chahar attempted to increase MI's total in the death overs with a quick-fire 28 not out off 15 balls, but the innings ultimately ended at 155 after 20 overs. MI's performance, although respectable, fell short against a confident CSK bowling attack. Khaleel Ahmed ended with figures of 3 wickets for 29 runs, complementing Noor’s stellar performance in their opening match.

Khaleel Ahmed has been a remarkable addition to the CSK this season, having made his debut for the franchise following a successful stint with the Sunrisers Hyderabad. In his IPL career, he has taken 77 wickets across 58 matches, with an impressive average of 24.80. This season, CSK acquired Khaleel for ₹4.8 crores in the mega auction, and his recent performance demonstrates that he is indeed a worthy investment.

Fans were already talking about Khaleel, especially as he has now dismissed Rohit Sharma three times across seven IPL matches, with the MI captain struggling against him.

This opening game of IPL 2025 was not only significant for the performance of the players but also showcased the intense rivalry between CSK and MI, two of the most successful teams in the league's history. With the power of their bowling unit, CSK has set a solid foundation for the rest of the tournament, and spectators are eager to see how the season unfolds.

As the teams head into the following matches, the spotlight will continue to be on players like Noor and Khaleel, who can turn the tide for their teams with remarkable performances. CSK fans will be hoping for more of the same from their squad as they look to clinch yet another IPL title this season.