Once again, Mumbai Indians have faltered at the start of the IPL season. The team has now lost 14 first encounters in the league, with their last win coming in 2012. This time around in IPL 2025, they lost by four wickets to a very-strong Chennai Super Kings led by Ruturaj Gaikwad. It was one of those matches where MI looked constantly on the back foot after scoring 155/9 in their 20 overs, but then were given a chance by 24-year-old bowler Vignesh Puthur.
Largely, it was a disappointing show by the team that missed senior pros Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah. Stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav failed big time, and so did veteran Rohit Sharma. So, it becomes imperative to look at MI’s report card.
MI Player Ratings vs CSK
Rohit Sharma (0.5/10): The former MI captain Rohit Sharma was out for a duck by Khaleel Ahmed, and was later subbed in the second innings for spinner Vignesh Puthur. That just shows, the team believes in the younger lot, maybe more than him.
Ryan Rickelton (2/10): Playing his first ever IPL match, the South African did show early promise and scored 13 from 7, including three fours, but that just wasn’t enough, as he was removed by Khaleel.
Will Jacks (3/10): 11 from 7 on the day wasn’t good enough by the Englishman. He became R Ashwin’s first wicket at CSK after 10-year gap. MI top-order needs more from him. He gets additional points for picking up a wicket.
Suryakumar Yadav (4/10): Form concerns still remain for Surya. In 2025 in T20Is, he averages 5, and here, he went on to score 29 from 26 but a lot more was needed from him when he walked in at 36/3.
Tilak Varma (6/10): He was undoubtedly MI’s best batter on the day as he scored 31 from 25. Yes, he failed to pick Noor Ahmad, but then he looked solid before that. Maybe he deserves to open the innings for MI now.
Robin Minz (0/10): In the absence of Hardik, came in, more of as a forced change. But then he could only score 3 from 9 deliveries, and looked shoddy against Noor. He might not any more chance this year.
Naman Dhir (4/10): He batted well for 17 from 12 and put down three overs for 12 runs only. He could be an asset to the team in the future.
Vignesh Puthur (8/10): This 24-year-old kid from Kerala can bowl. Without any domestic experience, he showed that he has the skillset to be at the highest level. He returned with figures of 3/32 in his four overs.
Deepak Chahar (7/10): The former CSK lad had a good match overall. With the bat he scored 28 from 15 and then went on to bag 1/18 in his two overs. He could have bowled more in the match.
Mitchell Santner (3/10): It was an off day for the Kiwi all-rounder. With the bat he scored 11 from 13 and then returned with figures of 0/24 in 2.1 overs.
Trent Boult (2/10): When you have Boult in the line up, you expect wickets straightaway. But that was not the case on Sunday, and he returned wicketless and leaked 27 runs in his three overs.
