Australian all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive player of this auction. KKR and CSK’s bidding battle increases the price of Green. KKR bought him for ₹25.20 crore.

Chennai Super Kings made headlines by spending big on uncapped Indians. CSK bought  Parshant Veer, a 20-year-old left-arm spinner, and Kartik Sharma, a 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, for  ₹14.20 crore each. Both are the highest-paid uncapped Indian players ever in the auction.

Auqib Nabi Dar was sold to the Delhi Capitals for ₹8.40 crore. He was the most discussed fast bowler in domestic cricket, who had a good performance. 

Several well-known players went unsold, like Devon Conway, Jamie Smith, Jonny Bairstow, JFM, and Gurbaz. 

Some popular Indian and foreign players also went unsold in the first round. Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan, and Liam Livingstone. Sarfaraz Khan was sold for the base price to CSK. Prithvi Shaw was bought by the Delhi Capitals at the base price. Liam Livingstone was sold to SRH for ₹13 crore.

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CSK Batting IPL 2025: Ruturaj and Shivam Dube Anchor the Innings

After winning the toss, CSK chose to bat first. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad gave CSK a steady start, scoring 48 off 36 balls. Shivam Dube played a fiery knock, smashing 52 runs in just 29 balls, including 4 sixes. CSK posted a decent total of 176/5 in 20 overs.

However, MI bowlers did well in the last five overs, especially Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee, who slowed down the scoring rate and took key wickets.

MI’s Batting IPL 2025: Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma Steal the Show

MI’s opening duo, Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma, came out aggressively. Kishan scored a quick 68 off 34 balls, while Rohit anchored the innings with an unbeaten 76 off 51 balls. The pair added 120 runs for the first wicket.

MI chased down the target of 177 in just 15.4 overs, losing only one wicket. The CSK bowlers looked helpless against the clean hitting from MI batters.

Match Highlights:

• Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan (68 runs, 4 sixes)
• Best Bowler: Jasprit Bumrah (2/24)
• Turning Point: 120-run opening partnership

Mumbai Indians made a strong statement with this win, jumping up in the IPL 2025 points table. On the other hand, CSK will need to bounce back quickly in their next game. This classic MI vs CSK rivalry once again proved why it’s the biggest battle in IPL.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) started their IPL 2025 campaign with a stunning four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. CSK delivered an all-round performance to claim a crucial victory.

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CSK’s Bowlers Restrict MI to 155

Opting to field first after winning the toss, CSK’s bowlers quickly put MI on the back foot. Khaleel Ahmed made an immediate impact by dismissing Rohit Sharma in the opening over and later removing Ryan Rickelton, leaving MI in a precarious position early in the innings. The introduction of Ravichandran Ashwin further compounded MI’s troubles, as he claimed the wicket of Will Jacks with his very first delivery. 

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Despite a brief resurgence led by Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, who stitched together a 51-run partnership, MI’s inning was derailed by CSK’s Afghan spinner, Noor Ahmad. Ahmad delivered a stellar performance, capturing four wickets for just 18 runs. His spell included the crucial dismissals of Yadav and Varma, effectively stifling MI’s momentum. MI concluded their innings at 155 for 9, with Deepak Chahar providing a late flourish by scoring an unbeaten 28 off 15 balls.

CSK’s Batting Masterclass Secures the Win

Chasing a target of 156, CSK faced an early setback with the dismissal of debutant Rahul Tripathi in the first over. However, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra steadied the innings with a crucial partnership. Gaikwad exhibited aggressive intent, racing to a 22-ball fifty before being dismissed for 53 off 26 balls.

The middle overs saw MI’s debutant spinner, Vignesh Puthur, make significant inroads by claiming three wickets for 32 runs, momentarily tilting the balance. Nevertheless, Ravindra’s composed unbeaten 65 off 45 balls guided CSK to victory. The match concluded with Ravindra sealing the win with a six, bringing CSK to 158 for 6 in 19.1 overs. 

Key Performances and Takeaways

• Noor Ahmad’s Bowling Masterclass: Ahmad’s 4 for 18 was instrumental in restricting MI to a modest total and earned him the Player of the Match accolade.
  
• Gaikwad and Ravindra’s Batting Prowess: The duo’s contributions ensured that CSK’s chase remained on track despite mid-innings hiccups.​
  
• Puthur’s Promising Debut: Despite being on the losing side, Puthur’s performance highlighted his potential as a valuable asset for MI in the tournament.​
  

This victory provides CSK with a strong foundation for the season, while MI will look to address their shortcomings in the upcoming matches.