Chennai Super Kings Edge Past Mumbai Indians in Thrilling El Clásico by 4 Wickets

With lots of entertainment, a thrilling run chase, and a grand entry from MS Dhoni, another El Clásico of the Indian Premier League (IPL) between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) lived up to the hype. Playing at their fortress, Chepauk, CSK registered a 4-wicket victory over MI, chasing down 156 with five balls to spare.

MI’s Struggle to 155/9

Mumbai Indians were put in to bat first after losing the toss, and their innings never gained full momentum. They lost their opener Rohit Sharma (0 off 4) in the very first over to Khaleel Ahmed, while Ryan Rickelton (13 off 7) fell soon after. Will Jacks (11 off 7) also departed early, leaving MI struggling at 36/3 in 4.4 overs. In the middle overs, MI Captain, Suryakumar Yadav (29 off 26) along with Tilak Varma (31 off 25) tried to stabilise the innings with a 51-run stand, but a quick stumping from MS Dhoni saw the end of this partnership. At the other end, Tilak Varma follows as soon as he is trapped in front of Noor Ahmad.

MI kept losing wickets regularly as Naman Dhir (17 off 12) along with Robin Minz (3 off 9) couldn’t make an impact, and Mitchell Santner (11 off 13) also departed cheaply. But Deepak Chahar’s explosive cameo of 28* off 15 balls, including two fours and two sixes, propelled MI to a competitive 155/9 in 20 overs. His aggressive knock seemed to be a statement against CSK for not retaining him. 

CSK’s Chase and Rachin Ravindra’s Brilliance

While Chasing 156, CSK failed to have a good start as Rahul Tripathi being the impact sub was caught out for just 2 runs off 3 balls. With this wicket, it was time for Ruturaj Gaikwad to take over as he played an attacking innings of 53 runs off just 26 balls. He reached his fifty by smashing 6 fours and 3 sixes. His opening partner, Rachin Ravindra (65 off 45), played cautiously while Gaikwad took charge. Gaikwad’s fireworks saw CSK race to 74/1 in the first 7 overs. However, MI struck back through their debutant Vignesh Puthur, who removed Gaikwad at 78/2.

Shivam Dube (9 off 7) and Deepak Hooda (3 off 5) followed soon, both falling to Puthur, as CSK’s scoring slowed in the middle overs. After 16 overs, CSK needed 31 off 24 balls, making the game more intense. With the required run rate increasing, Ravindra Jadeja (17 off 18) and Rachin Ravindra built a crucial partnership. In the 17th over, Jadeja hit a key boundary while in the 18th over, Rachin Ravindra smashed two sixes to bring the game back in CSK’s control. 

But in the 19th over, a miscommunication saw Ravindra Jadeja being run out, leading to a deafening roar at Chepauk as MS Dhoni walked in to bat! With 4 needed off 6 balls, the fans hoped for a signature Dhoni finish. However, Rachin Ravindra ended the match in style, smashing Mitchell Santner’s first ball of the 20th over for a six, taking CSK to 158/6 in 19.1 overs.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

For fans, the biggest moment of the game was seeing MS Dhoni back on the field. Their emotions soared during the 11th over of Mumbai Indians’ innings when Chennai Super Kings’ Noor Ahmad was bowling, and MI captain Suryakumar Yadav was at the crease. On the third delivery of the over, Noor bowled a delivery that drifted away from the batsman. Suryakumar Yadav, looking to play it down the ground, stepped out of his crease. However, he misjudged the ball and completely missed his shot. MS Dhoni, always sharp behind the stumps, reacted instantly. 

He grabbed the ball cleanly and removed the bails in a flash. The decision was referred to the third umpire, but there was no doubt as Suryakumar was well short of his crease and had to depart after scoring 29 runs off 26 balls. At 43 years old and without playing regularly, Dhoni once again showed why he is considered one of the best wicket-keeper ever. His lightning-fast stumping left fans in awe, proving that age is just a number when it comes to true greatness. Witnessing such brilliance from the legend was a special moment for everyone.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

In Game 3 of IPL 2025, Ruturaj Gaikwad was undoubtedly the TCNI Hero of the Day, leading Chennai Super Kings (CSK) brilliantly with both his captaincy and batting. In the first innings, Gaikwad rotated his bowlers smartly, ensuring that Noor Ahmad got the opportunity to pitch the ball up and strike at crucial moments. This strategy paid off as Noor picked up key wickets in the middle overs, putting Mumbai Indians (MI) under immense pressure. As a result, MI struggled to build partnerships and were bowled out for a below-par 155 runs.

Chasing 156, CSK had an early setback when Rahul Tripathi was dismissed cheaply, leaving them at 11/1. However, Gaikwad stayed calm under pressure and took control of the chase. He played an aggressive yet composed knock, smashing 53 runs off just 26 balls during the powerplay. His innings included six boundaries and three sixes, ensuring that the required run rate never became a concern. Thanks to his brilliant start, the rest of the CSK batsmen played pressure-free cricket and comfortably chased the target. With such leadership and an explosive knock, Gaikwad has shown that he could play a crucial role for CSK in IPL 2025.