That's all we have from this El Clasico to wrap up the opening weekend of IPL 2025. First was the run-fest in Hyderabad, and then this low-scoring slightly tense game at Chepauk. MI have lots to do before the next weekend as they fly to Ahmedabad now, while CSK will be thrilled about their new recruits winning them the match tonight. Sid Monga's report is here already in case you had plans this Sunday and missed the action. And on that note, it's goodbye from me, Vishal Dikshit, and Ekanth. Join us again tomorrow, for DC vs LSG. Ciao ciao! If you're in India, I leave you all with this stunning Dhoni stumping from earlier today...

Ruturaj Gaikwad: Right after I got out (it might have been tense). There are matches that get close sometimes but happy to be on the winning side. Me batting at No. 3 is the requirement for the team, gives our new team balance and Rahul Tripathi can be aggressive at the top while I can play both sides of the game. Our spinners were right on the mark, we were really excited about them bowling in tandem at Chepauk after the auction. Khaleel has been doing well for the last 2-3 years, he's experienced. Noor is an X-factor and good to have him in the team. Dhoni is still the same, he's fitter this year and hitting more sixes in the nets this year.

Noor Ahmad is the Player of the Match: Feels great to play around the world but special to play for CSK. Sometimes I thought they weren't picking me but I was focusing on my bowling. My favourite was Surya's wicket, Mahi bhai's stumping was so electric. It's great to have Mahi bhai behind the stumps.

11.06pm The crowd can't complain that they didn't get to see Dhoni bat, although they didn't see him score tonight, having waited for this day after a year. CSK start IPL 2025 with a victory which looked a little nervy in the middle, but they were right on top when they kept MI to 155 with the help of their spinners. Remember, this means MI have not won their first match of an IPL season since 2012 now, a record that continues to haunt them. The players start to shake hands, one by one and here come Dhoni and Vignesh Puthur face to face. The 23-year-old can't believe he's shaking hands with this legend, he's just smiling ear to ear and not able to utter a word. Dhoni finally breaks the ice and gives him a few pats on the back, probably praising him for his fearless IPL debut today. Finally Puthur says something but Dhoni can't hear it because of the crowd and finally brings his ear close to the young guy to hear him.

11.20pm Time flies and all that but MI's batting made it look like it's still IPL 2024 going on. They were without their regular captain Hardik Pandya today, Bumrah is still not available and they'll hope they get things back on track soon. Their next game is also on the road, against GT in Ahmedabad before they head home whereas CSK take on RCB next at home on Friday. Can't say CSK were clinical today, but their spin bowling surely was. Noor Ahmad is their latest weapon in that department; will it make MI think if they should have played Mujeeb tonight?

Suryakumar Yadav: We were actually 15-20 runs short but the fight the boys showed was commendable. Amazing (debut from Vignesh Puthur). MI is known for that, scouring youngsters 10 months a year and they've done that, he has a bright future ahead. I kept his one over in the end in my pocket in case the game went far but it was a no-brainer in the end. There was no dew but it was a pretty sticky, Ruturaj batted very well in the second innings.

Rachin Ravindra: Mumbai made it really difficult for us, they changed the pace nicely in the middle. Chokes us in the middle over and made it difficult for us. The Chepauk wicket is definitely tricky at times, you don't know what to expect. Rutu is amazing, struck at 200 without really trying, great batsmanship. It (the bump on the head he suffered in Pakistan) has been alright, hopefully it doesn't happen again. The pitch was definitely holding a fraction, wasn't turning a mile but their lengths made it difficult of runs.

19.1
6
Santner to Ravindra, SIX, Ravindra does a Dhoni and he finishes it off in style!

Santner for the last

END OF OVER:
19 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | CSK: 152/6 (4 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.00, RRR: 4.00)

  • MS Dhoni0 (2b)
  • Rachin Ravindra59 (44b)
  • Naman Dhir3-0-12-0
  • Vignesh Puthur4-0-32-3

SKY is struggling with something there, seems like an issue with his left leg. But nothing serious

18.6
0
Naman Dhir to Dhoni, no run, goes back again to cover the stumps and Naman Dhir does well to not pitch it up. It's short and quick, forcing Dhoni to work it towards long-on but a dive from midwicket to his left saves the one

Will it be a six now?

18.5
0
Naman Dhir to Dhoni, no run, flat and turning in from outside off, he goes. back to help it to leg

The crowd is loving it though because it's MS Dhoni wielding his bat, waiting beyond the rope to walk in. Just waiting for the confirmation which batter is out. Deafening noise now, absolutely raucous. if yellow has a sound, this is it

18.4
W
Naman Dhir to Jadeja, OUT, a horrible mix up and CSK lose one more! this was flicked to midwicket and Jadeja went for it, Ravindra said no but Jadeja came a long way down and seeing that Ravindra ventured out too, almost crossing each other. The bails are taken off at the keeper's end, both batters almost face to face halfway down the pitch but it's confirmed they didn't cross and Jadeja is gone

RA Jadeja run out 17 (24m 18b 1x4 0x6) SR: 94.44

18.3
0
Naman Dhir to Jadeja, no run, tries the reverse sweep again, middles it too but finds short third
18.2
0
Naman Dhir to Jadeja, no run, full and slow on middle, pushes it back gently

The fans in yellow have started to get on their feet, including Ashwin's wife

18.1
2
Naman Dhir to Jadeja, 2 runs, Jadeja reverse paddles that one fine on the off side and they get two quick runs

Just six from 12 now

END OF OVER:
18 | 15 Runs | CSK: 150/5 (6 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.33, RRR: 3.00)

  • Rachin Ravindra59 (44b)
  • Ravindra Jadeja15 (14b)
  • Vignesh Puthur4-0-32-3
  • Trent Boult3-0-27-0

Did MI make a mistake by holding back Puthur's last over for the end?

17.6
6
Puthur to Ravindra, SIX, smoked over long-on this time, what a shot from Ravindra! Hardly pitched up but Ravindra charges down again, takes it on the full and absolutely smashes that on the leg side. And that could be the game
17.5
1
Puthur to Jadeja, 1 run, he comes down, Puthur replies with a short and quick one and Jadeja taps it to off for one
17.4
1
Puthur to Ravindra, 1 run, sweeps with hard hands over the square leg umpire for one more
17.3
6
Puthur to Ravindra, SIX, into the stands that's a sea of yellow! Ravindra dances down, makes it a low full toss on the leg side and sends that sailing over the midwicket boundary to reach his half-century
17.2
1
Puthur to Jadeja, 1 run, way outside leg now and flicked away nicely for one
17.1
0
Puthur to Jadeja, no run, legbreak on middle and leg, Ravindra lunges forward and chips it back. Could have been a catch but hardly carried

21 from 18, Rohit is biting his nails in the dugout. Vignesh Puthur for his last

END OF OVER:
17 | 10 Runs | CSK: 135/5 (21 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.94, RRR: 7.00)

  • Ravindra Jadeja13 (11b)
  • Rachin Ravindra46 (41b)
  • Trent Boult3-0-27-0
  • Naman Dhir2-0-10-0
16.6
1
Boult to Jadeja, 1 run, 137.7kmh, pace on the ball and width this time for the short of length ball and he dabs it late to deep third for one. He wanted a second too and turns around, but he's sent back while the ball was thrown to the keeper's end so no damage done for CSK
16.5
1
Boult to Ravindra, 1 run, short ball, quite slow and Ravindra pulls it away with some power for one. That's one for the over
16.4
1
Boult to Jadeja, 1 run, run out chance and Jadeja survives! Pulls to midwicket half-heartedly, takes off for the single and takes on the fielder who can only see one stump and goes for it but misses. Touch and go if he had hit
16.3
2
Boult to Jadeja, 2 runs, he bangs it in short while taking the pace off, Jadeja pulls and they come back for a second after Vignesh puts in a dive at deep square leg to save the boundary

26 off 22, lots of pressure off CSK

16.2
4
Boult to Jadeja, FOUR, there comes the boundary and it's from Ravindra Jadeja! Short and wide, swinging away too and all he had to do was steer it late wide of short third with decent timing and he does that perfectly

CSK 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st11RA TripathiR Ravindra
2nd67R RavindraRD Gaikwad
3rd17S DubeR Ravindra
4th12DJ HoodaR Ravindra
5th9SM CurranR Ravindra
6th36RA JadejaR Ravindra
7th6MS DhoniR Ravindra