Rachin Ravindra shares his experience of batting alongside MS Dhoni in IPL 2025

Rachin Ravindra played a significant knock to orchestrate a four-wicket win for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their opening encounter against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Notably, the game was held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, March 24.

Opting to bowl first, Noor Ahmad's four-wicket haul and Khaleel Ahmed's three wickets helped the Men in Yellow restrict their arch-rivals to 155/9. Chennai skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad enthralled the home fans by scoring a blistering half-century. However, the five-time champions lost a few wickets through the middle overs. Rachin, who opened the innings, dropped anchor and finished the match alongside MS Dhoni.

The former India skipper walked out to bat at the fall of the sixth wicket in the penultimate over of the run chase, with just four runs required for a win. The fans gave Dhoni a rousing reception as he made his way to the middle. He blocked two deliveries, leaving CSK with four runs to win off the final over. Rachin hit the first ball for a maximum to take his team to victory. After remaining unbeaten on 65 off 45 balls, the Kiwi all-rounder shared his amazement at the crowd's reaction when Dhoni came to bat.

"It's difficult to fully take it in when you're in the moment because you're so focused on winning the game for the team. But it's hard to ignore the excitement—hearing the crowd cheer for Dhoni, the whistles, and the noise. It's incredible to share the crease with him for the first time,” Rachin said in the post-match press conference.

Rachin felt that the crowd would have hoped for him to give the strike to Dhoni in the last over and allow the stalwart to hit the winning runs. However, he said that getting the job done is the priority. The youngster is hopeful that Dhoni will finish quite a few games for CSK in their upcoming matches.

“He’s a legend of the game, and the people love him here, so it’s definitely special. I’m sure the crowd hoped I’d give him the chance to finish the game, but it’s all about getting the job done. Dhoni has finished so many games for CSK, and I’m sure there will be plenty more to come,” Rachin said.

Also Check: MS Dhoni vs Ruturaj Gaikwad – Captaincy comparison after their first IPL season

Ruturaj Gaikwad Made My Job Easier: Rachin Ravindra

Batting at No. 3, Gaikwad scored 53 runs off just 26 balls, forming a crucial 67-run partnership with Rachin. The New Zealand batter lauded his captain for making his task easier. He also mentioned that the pitch turned out to be a tricky one, yet Gaikwad was unfazed by it.

“Rutu was an amazing player. The way he showcased his skill, scoring like a top striker and hitting those beautiful shots, was impressive. The wicket was a bit tricky at times, with some turn, but overall, it was a good pitch. Mumbai bowled well, though it didn’t skid through as we had expected, likely due to the dew factor. Still, the way Rutu played was a testament to his skill and class, and it made my job at the non-striker’s end a lot easier,” Rachin concluded.