Chennai Super Kings began their IPL 2025 campaign with a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday evening, but it was a post-match moment between MS Dhoni and former CSK pacer Deepak Chahar that captured fans’ attention.
The defending champions successfully chased down Mumbai’s target of 156 runs with five balls to spare, though they lost six wickets in the process. New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra played a match-winning knock, remaining unbeaten on 65 off 45 deliveries, while captain Ruturaj Gaikwad provided the perfect start with a quickfire 53 from just 26 balls.
Despite posting what seemed a below-par total, Mumbai Indians made CSK work hard for their victory in this season’s first ‘El Clasico’ encounter. Former CSK player Deepak Chahar, who switched to Mumbai Indians this season, delivered an impressive all-round performance, smashing 28 runs off just 15 balls including two boundaries and two sixes, while also claiming 1-18 from his two overs with the ball.
After the match, cameras caught a light-hearted moment between Chahar and his former captain during the customary handshakes. Dhoni was seen playfully tapping Chahar with his bat, presumably in response to some on-field banter, with both players sharing smiles afterward – showcasing the camaraderie that exists beyond team boundaries in the IPL.
While Dhoni batted at the unfamiliar position of number 8 and faced just two balls without troubling the scorers, he reached a significant milestone by becoming only the third player to participate in all 18 editions of the Indian Premier League, cementing his legendary status in the tournament’s history.
Behind the stumps, the 42-year-old veteran showed he’s lost none of his lightning reflexes, executing a trademark stumping to dismiss Mumbai Indians’ captain Suryakumar Yadav during the first innings – a crucial moment that helped restrict the visitors to a manageable total.
CSK had retained their iconic former captain for Rs 4 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auctions, and the five-time IPL-winning leader continues to be a vital presence for the franchise despite handing over the captaincy reins to Gaikwad.
The victory gives Chennai Super Kings an ideal start to their campaign as they look to defend their title and potentially secure a record-extending sixth IPL trophy. Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly after this defeat in their opening fixture.