IPL 2025: Matthew Hayden Discusses Ravichandran Ashwin’s Importance Ahead Of CSK vs MI Clash

March 23, 2025: Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has expressed his excitement for one of the most anticipated fixtures of the Indian Premier League (IPL)—the Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clash. Speaking on Jio Hotstar, Hayden emphasized the rich history between the two teams, making it one of the best matchups in the competition.

“I think it’s such a great fixture. These two sides have so much history together. And at Chepauk, CSK has controlled the game, just like Mumbai does at Wankhede. A win there would be significant, and CSK’s spin unit—one of the best in the competition—will play a crucial role,” Hayden said. He also highlighted the return of Ravichandran Ashwin to CSK, believing the experienced spinner could be pivotal in the match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, which is expected to offer spin-friendly conditions.

Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, had originally debuted for CSK in 2009 and was a key part of the team’s title-winning campaigns in 2010 and 2011. After playing for various IPL franchises, including Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals, Ashwin is back with CSK, where he made a significant mark early in his career.

Both MI and CSK have won five IPL titles, and their fierce rivalry continues to captivate fans. CSK legend MS Dhoni, who has been integral to the team’s success, is on the verge of becoming the franchise’s highest run-scorer in the IPL, just 19 runs shy of surpassing former icon Suresh Raina’s tally of 4687 runs.

This season’s clash at Chepauk promises to be an exciting affair with both teams stacked with cricketing giants. The match will be a thrilling contest as CSK looks to leverage their spin department and continue their dominance at their home ground.

CSK Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rashid, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjanpreet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishnan Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth.

MI Squad: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Minz, Ryan Rickleton, Shrijith Krishnan, Bevon Jacobs, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Raj Angad Bawa, Vignesh Puthur, Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult, Karn Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley, Satyanarayana Penmetsa, Arjun Tendulkar, Mubeeb-ur-Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah.