Mumbai Indians’ season-opening curse continued as they slumped to their 13th consecutive opening match loss in the IPL 2025, falling to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by four wickets at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 156, CSK were in control for most of the innings. Rachin Ravindra anchored the chase with a calm and unbeaten fifty, finishing the match with the winning runs. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad gave the innings a fiery start with his fastest IPL fifty, scoring 53 off just 22 balls, setting the tone for a dominant performance.
Key Highlights:
Vignesh Puthur’s Brief Resistance
Vignesh Puthur, the 24-year-old debutant and left-arm wrist spinner, offered Mumbai Indians (MI) a brief glimmer of hope. He picked up three quick wickets, momentarily putting pressure on the CSK middle order. But the target proved too small, and Ravindra calmly led the team home.
CSK Bowlers Set the Tone
Earlier in the day, MI’s innings never quite took off. Khaleel Ahmed struck early blows, removing Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton in quick succession. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma tried to rebuild, but it was Noor Ahmad, making his debut for CSK, who dismantled the middle order with a devastating 4-wicket haul.
Though Deepak Chahar chipped in with a late cameo, Mumbai finished at a modest 155/9 in 20 overs, well below a par score on the Chepauk surface.
Mumbai’s Opening Match Woes Continue
Mumbai Indians, despite being five-time IPL champions, have not won their first match of a season since 2012. This latest loss extends their streak to 13 straight defeats in season openers, making it one of the most puzzling records in IPL history.
With impactful bowling spells from Noor Ahmad and Khaleel Ahmed, and composed batting from Rachin Ravindra, CSK began their IPL 2025 campaign with a confident win, while Mumbai Indians continue to search for answers to their early-season struggles.
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