IPL 2025: Moeen Ali Joins KKR as They Opt to Bowl First Against CSK Led by Dhoni
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Synopsis
On April 11, Moeen Ali joined the Kolkata Knight Riders as they opted to bowl first against the Chennai Super Kings in Match 25 of IPL 2025. Captain Ajinkya Rahane made the decision after winning the toss at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Key Takeaways
- Moeen Ali replaces Spencer Johnson in KKR's lineup.
- Ajinkya Rahane is the captain for KKR.
- MS Dhoni leads CSK in place of injured Ruturaj Gaikwad.
- The match is taking place at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
- Both teams are looking to improve their standings after recent losses.
Chennai, April 11 (NationPress) Moeen Ali has been added to the lineup of the reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and decided to bowl first against the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 25 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Friday.
Currently, CSK and KKR are positioned ninth and sixth, respectively, in the points table, both entering this match after losses to Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their previous games. Following the toss, Rahane announced that all-rounder Moeen replaces left-arm fast-bowler Spencer Johnson in the squad.
The decision to include Moeen at Chepauk is a strategic one, considering CSK's left-handed batsmen like Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Shivam Dube, and Ravindra Jadeja. “There were numerous positives from the last match. We played well as a team,” stated Rahane.
“It’s about enhancing our performance in every game. This pitch appears favorable, with minimal changes expected. We have a deep batting lineup, which is why we opted to bowl first and chase the target,” added Rahane.
CSK will be captained by veteran MS Dhoni following the injury of regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is sidelined for the remainder of the tournament due to a hairline fracture in his right elbow. Dhoni, now the oldest captain in IPL history, mentioned that Rahul Tripathi will replace Gaikwad, and Anshul Kamboj comes in for Mukesh Choudhary.
“We intended to bat first. On several occasions, we've tried to chase down scores and realized that the pitch tends to slow down. Without a strong start, the middle order faces pressure. Gaikwad is a dependable batter known for his timing, so his absence is significant,” explained Dhoni.
“Every match is critical now. We've suffered too many losses, so it’s essential to focus on the fundamentals—like maintaining dot balls and securing catches. A couple of games slipped away with wide margins, but it often comes down to minor mistakes, like conceding 20 runs in an over,” he continued.
“Our batters are skilled and won’t just swing wildly. They must trust their instincts. It’s crucial to start strong, hit boundaries early, and aim for early wickets,” he elaborated.
Today’s match is set to take place on a black-soil pitch where CSK previously triumphed over Mumbai Indians (MI) in their IPL 2025 opener. The square boundaries measure 68 and 65 meters, while the distance to the straight boundary is 80 meters.
Playing XIs:
Chennai Super Kings: Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, and Khaleel Ahmed
Impact Substitutes: Matheesha Pathirana, Jamie Overton, Deepak Hooda, Shaik Rasheed, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti
Kolkata Knight Riders: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Varun Chakaravarthy
Impact Substitutes: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Luvnith Sisodia, and Anukul Roy
