Chennai Super Kings’ batter Rachin Ravindra celebrates his half century during the IPL 2025 cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Sunday, March 23, 2025
| Photo Credit: PTI
At the mega auction last year, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians fought hard for Noor Ahmad’s services, and the former won the battle at ₹5 crore. Noor’s former team, Gujarat Titans, used its Right to Match card, but CSK had no hesitation in doubling its bid to ₹10 crore to get the Afghanistan tweaker eventually.
On Sunday (March 23, 2025), the 20-year-old gave a glimpse of why he was the Super Kings’ costliest buy, delivering a brilliant spell (4-0-18-4) to set up a four-wicket win against Mumbai Indians in their IPL league match at the MAC Stadium.
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Electing to field, CSK’s bowlers, led by the spinners, were on top of their game, picking wickets at regular intervals to restrict the Mumbai side to 155 for nine.
In pursuit of 156, Ruturaj Gaikwad led the way for the hosts, smashing a quickfire 53 (26b, 6×4, 3×6). The CSK skipper got going with his trademark cover drives off Trent Boult. He then smashed Mitchell Santner for a six and two boundaries as CSK made 62 for one in the PowerPlay.
Suryakumar Yadav’s men fought back when debutant left-arm wrist spinner Vignesh Puthur took three wickets in his first three overs to put the brakes on the chase.
However, opener Rachin Ravindra continued, stroking a well-paced unbeaten half-century (65 n.o., 45b, 2×4, 4×6) and getting the home side off to a winning start.
Earlier, after losing three early wickets, Tilak Varma (31) and Suryakumar counter-attacked to set a good foundation for the visitors, adding 51 for the fourth wicket.
Just when the partnership looked threatening, Noor showed his class, striking thrice in two overs to leave Mumbai tottering at 96 for six in the 13th. First, he beat Suryakumar with a wrong ‘un that spun sharply past the India T20 skipper, who had walked out of the crease, and M.S. Dhoni was on to the bails in a flash.
In his next over, the left-arm wrist spinner had Robin Minz caught in the deep and, two balls later, trapped Tilak in front. Deepak Chahar (28 n.o.) inflicted some pain on his former team, smashing a few sixes, but it was not enough in the end.
Published – March 23, 2025 09:17 pm IST