Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden believes that the high-octane clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) is one of the most awaited matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season. Speaking on Jio Hotstar, Hayden emphasized the depth of rivalry between the two five-time champions and highlighted how conditions at the Chepauk Stadium could make veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin a decisive factor.
“It’s such a great fixture. These two sides have so much history together. And at Chepauk, CSK has controlled the game, just like Mumbai does at Wankhede,” Hayden said. “A win there would be significant, and CSK’s spin unit—one of the best in the competition—will play a crucial role. They’ve got their old friend back, Ravichandran Ashwin, which is great to see. He could be key on a wicket that I expect to offer turn.”
Key Highlights:
Ashwin Returns to CSK After 12 Years
The 38-year-old spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who announced his retirement from international cricket in December 2024, has returned to his original franchise. Ashwin made his IPL debut with CSK in 2009 and was a major part of the team’s title-winning campaigns in 2010 and 2011. Over the years, he represented Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals.
His return to CSK in IPL 2025 adds significant strength to the spin-heavy unit, which is expected to dominate on Chennai’s turning tracks. With his experience and familiarity with Chepauk conditions, Hayden believes Ashwin’s presence could tilt the match in CSK’s favour.
Historic Rivalry Rekindled in IPL 2025
CSK and MI, the two most successful franchises in IPL history with five titles each, are set to add another chapter to their celebrated rivalry. The match will be held at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter.
This match will also see MS Dhoni, the CSK legend, nearing a personal milestone. He is just 19 runs short of becoming the highest run-scorer for CSK in IPL history, with Suresh Raina currently leading at 4687 runs.
CSK Squad for IPL 2025 Opener
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain)
- MS Dhoni
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Shivam Dube
- Matheesha Pathirana
- Noor Ahmad
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Devon Conway
- Syed Khaleel Ahmed
- Rachin Ravindra
- Rahul Tripathi
- Vijay Shankar
- Sam Curran
- Shaik Rashid
- Anshul Kamboj
- Mukesh Choudhary
- Deepak Hooda
- Gurjanpreet Singh
- Nathan Ellis
- Jamie Overton
- Kamlesh Nagarkoti
- Ramakrishnan Ghosh
- Shreyas Gopal
- Vansh Bedi
- Andre Siddarth
Mumbai Indians Squad for IPL 2025 Opener
- Rohit Sharma
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Robin Minz
- Ryan Rickleton
- Shrijith Krishnan
- Bevon Jacobs
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya
- Naman Dhir
- Will Jacks
- Mitchell Santner
- Raj Angad Bawa
- Vignesh Puthur
- Corbin Bosch
- Trent Boult
- Karn Sharma
- Deepak Chahar
- Ashwani Kumar
- Reece Topley
- Satyanarayana Penmetsa
- Arjun Tendulkar
- Mubeeb-ur-Rahman
- Jasprit Bumrah
Spin Could Decide the Match
The Chepauk pitch is expected to offer significant turn, which makes CSK’s spin strength a major advantage. Alongside Ashwin, the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad are likely to be key weapons against Mumbai’s strong batting lineup.
On the other hand, MI’s pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah, Reece Topley, and Trent Boult will aim to counter CSK’s batting core, especially in the powerplay overs.
As CSK and MI clash in the IPL 2025 opener, fans can expect a fierce battle between two historic franchises. With Matthew Hayden backing Ashwin to shine and Dhoni chasing a record, the match promises excitement and high-quality cricket. The Indian Premier League 2025 season has officially kicked off with a blockbuster fixture at Chepauk.
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