IPL 2025: CSK Chooses to Bowl First Against MI in Epic Showdown
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Synopsis
Chennai Super Kings opted to bowl first after winning the toss against Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025's second match of the double-header at MA Chidambaram Stadium. This game showcases key players from both teams and highlights the historical rivalry between two cricketing giants.
Key Takeaways
- CSK chose to bowl first after winning the toss.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad leads CSK's strategy with three pacers and three spinners.
- Suryakumar Yadav captains MI in Hardik Pandya's absence.
- The match marks Ashwin's return to CSK after nearly a decade.
- Chepauk's square boundaries are nearly identical in length.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) emerged victorious at the toss, opting to bowl first against their rivals, Mumbai Indians, who are also five-time champions, in the second match of the initial double-header of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium today.
The historical record shows MI with a slight advantage, leading CSK 20-17 in their 37 encounters. After winning the toss, CSK's captain Ruturaj Gaikwad announced a strategy featuring three pacers and three spinners, including Noor Ahmad, Nathan Ellis, Rachin Ravindra, and Sam Curran as their overseas selections.
“It’s our first time playing on this pitch, so we are unsure of its behavior. We aim to adjust our strategy and chase as needed. The wicket appears favorable for batting. Our preparation has been solid. We had our young wicket-keeper (in a playful nod to MS Dhoni) returning to camp early,” he remarked.
For MI, Suryakumar Yadav takes the helm in the absence of Hardik Pandya, who is serving a one-match suspension due to a slow over-rate violation from last season. Suryakumar highlighted that Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, Trent Boult, and Mitchell Santner are their overseas contributors, with promising bowler Satyanarayana Raju receiving his debut IPL cap. “I'm comfortable batting first. We had an excellent camp back home and arrived here 2-3 days early. Both teams are remarkable franchises with impressive records. I'm confident it will be an exciting match,” he stated.
The dimensions of the square boundaries at Chepauk are almost identical, measuring 72m on one side and 75m on the opposite side. Notably, this match marks Ravichandran Ashwin's return to the CSK lineup after nearly ten years.
Playing XIs:
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hooda, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Nathan Ellis, Khaleel Ahmed
Impact Substitutes: Rahul Tripathi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Vijay Shankar, Jamie Overton, Shaik Rasheed
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton(w), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, and Satyanarayana Raju
Impact Substitutes: Vignesh Puthur, Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Karn Sharma
