The Kerala spinner stuns with a 3-wicket burst in his maiden IPL appearance, but fifties from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra steer Chennai Super Kings to a tense four-wicket win.
In a thrilling encounter at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on March 23, 2025, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) edged out the Mumbai Indians (MI) by four wickets in their opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The game was marked by standout performances from both sides, notably the impressive debut of MI’s left-arm wrist spinner, Vignesh Puthur.
Mumbai Indians’ Innings:
Opting to bat first, MI faced early setbacks with captain Rohit Sharma departing for a duck. Despite a resilient 51-run partnership between stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav (29 off 26 balls) and Tilak Varma (31 off 25 balls), MI struggled against CSK’s disciplined bowling attack. Debutant spinner Noor Ahmad delivered a remarkable spell, claiming four wickets for just 18 runs, while pacer Khaleel Ahmed contributed with three wickets for 29 runs. MI managed to post a total of 155/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Chennai Super Kings’ Chase:
CSK’s chase began on a shaky note with the early dismissal of Rahul Tripathi. However, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad anchored the innings with a brisk 53 off 26 balls, featuring six fours and three sixes. He found support in Rachin Ravindra, who remained unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls. MI’s Vignesh Puthur, making his IPL debut, showcased exceptional talent by taking three crucial wickets, including those of Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda, finishing with figures of 3/32. Despite Puthur’s efforts, CSK successfully chased down the target, reaching 156/6 with five balls to spare.
Vignesh Puthur’s Remarkable Debut:
Vignesh Puthur’s journey to the IPL is a testament to talent and perseverance. Hailing from Malappuram, Kerala, the 24-year-old spinner had not played senior-level T20 cricket prior to this match. His cricketing journey began as a medium pacer before transitioning to leg spin on the advice of a local cricketer. Puthur represented Kerala at the U-14 and U-19 levels and played in local leagues, including the Kerala Cricket League and the Tamil Nadu Premier League. His potential was recognized by MI’s scouting team, leading to his selection for the franchise at his base price of ₹30 lakh.
Post-match, Puthur’s performance drew admiration from cricketing stalwarts, including CSK’s captain, MS Dhoni, who was seen sharing words of encouragement with the young spinner.
Conclusion:
The match highlighted the depth of talent in the IPL, with young players like Vignesh Puthur making significant impacts on debut. While CSK secured the victory, MI’s discovery of a promising spinner adds a positive note to their campaign as the tournament progresses.