Chennai, March 23, 2025 – Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will rely on their formidable spin attack and recent dominance over Mumbai Indians (MI) as they kick off their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.
With conditions at Chepauk favoring spin, CSK has reinforced its bowling lineup by adding Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Shreyas Gopal, and Deepak Hooda to an already strong setup featuring Ravindra Jadeja. This strategic buildup could prove crucial against MI, a team struggling with key absences.
CSK’s legendary captain MS Dhoni remains a central figure, leading a squad that boasts strong depth across batting and bowling. The team faces an opening slot dilemma, with Rachin Ravindra or Devon Conway expected to pair with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top. The middle order features Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Hooda, and Vijay Shankar, backed by Dhoni and Jadeja’s finishing prowess.
Mumbai Indians will feel the absence of their bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who remains on a comeback trail from injury, and regular captain Hardik Pandya, who is serving a one-match ban for a slow over-rate last season. India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav will lead MI in his absence.
MI’s batting lineup still looks strong despite Ishan Kishan’s departure. Ryan Rickelton is expected to open alongside Rohit Sharma, with Suryakumar and Tilak Varma anchoring the middle order. Their bowling attack, featuring Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, and Corbin Bosch, will aim to compensate for Bumrah’s absence. Former CSK all-rounder Mitchell Santner could play a key role with his experience at Chepauk.
CSK holds the edge with four wins in their last five encounters against MI, including three consecutive victories. With Pandya’s controversial appointment as captain disrupting MI’s campaign last season, the five-time champions are looking for a fresh start under a more settled squad.
The match will also offer insights into the new ball-change rule in the second innings, adding another layer of intrigue to this high-stakes clash.
