Chennai Super Kings handed Mumbai Indians their 13th successive opening game defeat in the Indian Premier League. The two most successful sides in the tournament’s history faced off for their first match of the IPL 2025 and CSK, studded with some of their most iconic players over the last two decades and aided by a few newcomers bossed the game in their own den on Sunday.
MI’s Unbroken Jinx in IPL
Ironically, the last time MI won their first game of any IPL edition was back in 2012, also against CSK in a low-scoring thriller. Since then, MI lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore (2013), Kolkata Knight Riders (2014 and 2015), Rising Pune Supergiant (2016 and 2017), CSK (2018), Delhi Capitals (2019), CSK (2020), RCB (2021), DC (2022), RCB (2023) and then to Gujarat Titans in 2024.
RACHIN RAVINDRA FINISHES OFF IN STYLE AT THE CHEPAUK.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 23, 2025pic.twitter.com/xVt0gzWhE6
However, in all those years, despite their opening games woes, Mumbai Indians won the IPL five times – in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. This MI side will be under more pressure, though. They have been far from their best the last few years and are getting used to life under a new captain, who missed the Sunday game because of a ban resulting from a slow over rate last year.
MI’s 1st Match Losses
- 2013: Lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru
2014: Lost to Kolkata Knight Riders
2015: Lost to Kolkata Knight Riders
2016: Lost to Rising Pune Supergiants
2017: Lost to Rising Pune Supergiants
2018: Lost to Chennai Super Kings
2019: Lost to Delhi Capitals
2020: Lost to Chennai Super Kings
2021: Lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru
2022: Lost to Delhi Capitals
2023: Lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru
2024: Lost to Gujarat Titans
2025: Lost to Chennai Super Kings
CSK vs MI, As it Happened
Like with all CSK-MI games, this one too lived up to its El Clasico bidding. Mumbai Indians were put under early pressure by Khaleel Ahmed, who dismissed Rohit Sharma for a duck and then removed IPL debutant Ryan Rickelton soon after. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav could not be faulted for their efforts but their partnership could not haul MI over to the safe zone, thanks to Noor Ahmad, one of several debutants for CSK.
Noor Ahmad ripped open the MI batting line-up with the wickets of Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Minz, Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir to put CSK on top. These blows came after R Ashwin struck in his first over after returning to the Super Kings after 10 years. It was a clinical performance by the CSK bowling line-up.
THE FORTRESS, CHEPAUK
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 23, 2025pic.twitter.com/uROYa1TdNO
Vignesh Puthur Solid, But Rachin Ravindra Takes CSK Home
There was a bit of an eyebrow-raising moment when Rahul Tripathi, the Impact Sub, walked in to open alongside Rachin Ravindra, ahead of skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. Out of form, Tripathi failed and Gaikwad slammed his fastest IPL fifty off 22 balls to put the Chennai chase on track. It was Vignesh Puthur, the MI Impact Sub, who created the first jitters in the CSK ranks.
The left-arm wrist-spinner snared Gaikwad, Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda in a stunning 3-over spell before Will Jacks really tried to barge open the door for MI with the wicket of Sam Curran. But the two Ravindras – Rachin and Jadeja saw CSK through even as Ravi Shastri questioned MI’s decision to hold Puthur back in a tense chase.
Rachin Ravindra got to his half-century with a six on his IPL debut and then followed it up with another six to shut the door on MI.
