Chennai Super Kings (CSK) kicked off their IPL 2025 campaign in style, defeating arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) in a thrilling encounter on Sunday. After restricting MI to a modest 155, CSK chased down the target in 19.1 overs, thanks to standout performances from Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad. The convincing four-wicket win gave CSK a solid start to the season, while MI, led by Hardik Pandya, now face the pressure of bouncing back in their next game against Gujarat Titans on March 29.

Amid CSK’s dominant performance, controversy brewed online as a viral video surfaced, accusing the team of ball tampering and match-fixing. In the first clip, CSK pacer Khaleel Ahmed was seen cleaning the ball while speaking with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. Some fans speculated that Khaleel used a prohibited substance since he didn’t use a towel, suggesting possible ball tampering.
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Another clip showed a brief exchange between MS Dhoni and an on-field umpire, where Dhoni seemed to say something before the umpire responded with a thumbs-up. This moment fueled speculation that there might have been foul play or favouritism involved.
Dhobi the fixer is back 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/OYUwlf82T8
— Chiku (@Kohliisgoat) March 23, 2025
/.@jod_insane pic.twitter.com/LVWColvD6v
— Jod Insaneᶠᵃⁿ (@ViciousFang_) March 24, 2025
However, these claims lack credible evidence, and there has been no official statement from the IPL governing body. Given CSK’s commanding performance and clear superiority over MI in the match, such accusations appear unfounded.
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While CSK celebrates a successful start, MI will need to regroup quickly to avoid falling behind early in the tournament. Their clash against Gujarat Titans will be crucial to getting their campaign back on track.