CSK vs MI, IPL 2025 Highlights: Mumbai Indians lose their first opening match in 13 years after Chennai Super Kings beat them by 4 wickets

Chennai Super Kings are at a point where one big over will tip the scales in their favour entirely. Not to say that Mumbai Indians are not in the hunt anymore. Saving wickets is also important for the home team. With three more overs to go, CSK need 21 runs off 18 balls.

Ruturaj Gaikwad's half-century knock came to an end in Vignesh Puthur's over. This was young bowlers first wicket of the IPL and a big one at that! What a dream start for the young left-arm wristspinner on IPL debut! Yet to play senior cricket for Kerala, he’s announced himself in style, striking in his very first over. After keeping things tidy with four well-pitched deliveries for just four runs, he tempts Gaikwad with a fuller one. The CSK skipper goes for the glory shot down the ground but only manages the toe-end, holing out to long-off. Gone for a blistering 53 off 26, but his knock might have already sealed the deal for Chennai. CSK 92/2 (9)

1w-1-4-4-1-1-1 – A nervy first over for debutant S Raju in the chase! The young pacer offers too much width, and Ruturaj Gaikwad happily pounces, stroking back-to-back boundaries. CSK ticking along nicely at 48 for 1 after five overs.

CSK skipper gets to business from the first ball of Trent's over and sends the first two deliveries for boundaries. Good timing there and lovely placement. The next delivery could have been another boundary but good fielding there by Tilak Varma. Saves them 2 runs. CSK 24/1 (3)

Rachin Ravindra and Rahul Tripathi are on the crease to begin the chase. Chennai decided to use the Impact Player early on as Ruturaj sits for now. Trent Boult comes to ball. They start off with a double. The first over brings five runs. CSK 5/0 (1)

Chahar starts Khaleel's over with a boundary and then a sixer. These are some valuable runs needed for a decent total. Mumbai is aiming to reach 150-160 from here to set a good chasing target for Chennai Super Kings. But Khaleel comes back on the last ball and sends Trent Boult back to pavilion. Last over remains. MI 141/9 (19)

After a wicket in his kitty in the last over, Noor Ahmad is back again. And he does it, again. He takes down Robin Minz on the fourth delivery. Naman Dhir walks in to play. But the spinner isn't done yet. He sends hitter Tilak Varma back to pavilion on the last ball. MI 96/6 (13)

Jadeja comes in to ball this over. The fourth delivery goes for a sixer. Sam Curran misjudged the ball and walked ahead. Had he been near the fence, the result might have been different. MI 59/3 (7)

Here comes R Ashwin. SKY sends the second ball for a boundary. The batters need to make the best from the Powerplay. But the spinner is experienced and knows how to take control. He sends Will Jacks back to pavilion on the fourth ball. Tilak Verma walks in to play. Verma is a top batsman and he shows that by hitting two back-to-back boundaries. He means business! MI 44/3 (5)

Khaleel Ahmed to Rickelton and the first delivery slapped for a boundary. But Khaleel comes back in style and sends Rickelton packing. Looks like the pacer has started with a mission to keep the opposition in control early on. Suryakumar Yadav walks in. And on the very first delivery he faces, it comes close for a catch. A very good over from Ahmed. MI 21/2 (3)

Khaleel Ahmed to Rohit Sharma and a length ball to start. The first three are dots and the fourth one turns fatal for Sharma. The hitman walks back to pavilion with no run on the scoreboard yet. That's some way to start. Will Jacks walk in to play next. He sends the last ball for a boundary. MI 4/1 (1)

Mumbai Indians XI: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Will Jacks, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Naman Dhir, 7 Robin Minz, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Satyanarayana Raju

MI Impact player options: Vignesh Puthur, Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Karn Sharma

Dhoni's tally of 161 runs last season might seem modest, but the numbers don’t tell the full story. Dhoni spent most of his time lurking below No.7, almost playing the role of a specialist finisher — or, at times, a last-over enforcer. Despite limited opportunities, he made every ball count, smashing those 161 runs in just 11 innings at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 220.54 and an average of 53.66. Vintage Dhoni — low on volume, high on impact!

MI may hold a 20-17 edge in the overall head-to-head, but recent history tells a different story. CSK have dominated this rivalry of late, winning five of the last six encounters — including three on the bounce. Momentum, it seems, is firmly in the Yellow Brigade’s corner!

Chepauk has long been a fortress for spinners, with its pitches offering plenty of grip and turn—something Chennai Super Kings have mastered to their advantage. As the game progresses, the surface tends to slow down, making strokeplay trickier and spin even more potent.

But there’s a curveball—dew in the evening. It can neutralise the spinners' grip, change the ball’s behavior, and throw a wrench into well-laid bowling plans. Teams must strike a balance, adapting to both Chepauk’s spin-friendly nature and the unpredictability of dew, making every match here a battle of tactics as much as talent.