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Chennai Super Kings will lean on their formidable spin strength under favourable conditions at the Chepauk as well as recent record against Mumbai Indians sans Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, when the two sides face each other in their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign opener here on Sunday.
Five-time winners CSK augmented their spin attack in the IPL mega auction last year by including Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad Shreyas Gopal and Deepak Hooda, with India veteran Ravindra Jadeja also in the mix.
CSK`s pre-season moves indicate how the spin-friendly conditions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here could be a major factor in their game plan. Starting their season against an equally formidable opponent in Mumbai Indians, this strategy could well deliver the goods right from the beginning.
For CSK, MS Dhoni will be the cynosure of all eyes once again, having remained with the team since the inception of the IPL in 2008.
On the other hand, the absence of India bowling spearhead Bumrah could be acutely felt in the MI ranks as the right-arm pacer remains on a comeback trail from a back-related issue which has kept him sidelined so far this year.
Bumrah is expected to miss the initial stages of this IPL and his absence will leave MI without their lethal weapon in the death overs, presenting the management with a headache to work with other options and strategies.
MI will also be without regular skipper Pandya for this clash as the India all-rounder serves a one-match ban for the team`s slow over-rate in their final league match last year.
But for a team which has no dearth of leadership options, MI will have India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav leading them in their tournament opener and important away clash.
CSK face a healthy selection conundrum for the opening slot with one among the two Kiwis, Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, set to partner skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top.
The middle order is set to feature the likes of Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Hooda and Vijay Shankar, followed by Dhoni and Jadeja.
Among the favourable factors is CSK`s recent record of four wins in their last five matches over Mumbai Indians including three victories in last as many games.
Pandya`s appointment as MI skipper, replacing Rohit Sharma, heavily marred the five-time IPL winners` campaign last season where they had finished at the bottom. The squad looks well settled now after the turmoils of last season.
Even though Ishan Kishan`s exit has left a void at the top, the explosive South African wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton can be expected to match Rohit`s firepower at the top, followed by India batting mainstays Suryakumar and Tilak Varma in the middle.
While MI will have to wait to field their desired fast bowling attack which comprises a mix of veterans in Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar and Reece Topley and Bumrah, the presence of Corbin Bosch makes things interesting as to how their think tank is able to use their resources optimally.
Former CSK frontman Mitchell Santner`s experience and knowledge of conditions at Chepauk is likely to come in handy along with Karn Sharma and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Sunday`s contest between CSK and MI could also give some impressions of how the ball-change rule in the second innings plays out.
CSK vs MI, IPL 2025 live updates: Full squads
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Shaik Rasheed, Vansh Bedi (wk), C Andre Siddharth, Rachin Ravindra, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Anshul Kamboj, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Matheesha Pathirana.
Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Minz, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Shrijith Krishnan (wk), Bevon Jacobs, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Raj Angad Bawa, Vignesh Puthur, Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult, Karn Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley, VS Penmetsa, Arjun Tendulkar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah.
CSK vs MI, IPL 2025 live updates: Toss update
Chennai Super Kings` captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and opted to bowl first against Mumbai Indians.
CSK vs MI, IPL 2025 live updates: Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton(w), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Satyanarayana Raju
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hooda, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, MS Dhoni(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Nathan Ellis, Khaleel Ahmed
CSK vs MI, IPL 2025 live updates: Impact substitution players
Chennai Super Kings Impact Subs: Rahul Tripathi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Vijay Shankar, Jamie Overton, Shaik Rasheed
Mumbai Indians Impact Subs: Vignesh Puthur, Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Karn Sharma
CSK vs MI, IPL 2025 live updates: Match begins!
Ravichandran Ashwin marks his return to Chennai in style, taking down Will Jacks to register his first wicket for CSK after his homecoming. Mumbai Indians struggle as CSK’s bowlers dominate the early phase of the innings.
MI 40/3 (4.5 Overs)
Khaleel Ahmed continues his impressive spell, dealing another blow to Mumbai Indians by removing Ryan Rickelton, who had been in fine touch. Attempting a risky cross-bat shot, Rickelton pays the price as CSK tighten their grip on the game.
MI 21/2 (3 Overs)
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) draw first blood as Khaleel Ahmed delivers a crucial breakthrough, dismissing Rohit Sharma in the very first over. Will Jacks joins Ryan Rickelton at the crease as Mumbai Indians (MI) look to stabilize their innings.
MI 4/1 (1 Over)
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