IPL 2025 Showdown: CSK vs PBKS First Innings Review – Curran’s Carnage Meets Chahal’s Magic

🟡 Super Kings Set the Stage: Introduction to the First Innings Drama

The clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Chepauk promised fireworks—and it delivered in style. On a surface aiding both batters and spinners, CSK opted to bat first, expecting their strong middle order to capitalize. What followed was a rollercoaster innings marked by Sam Curran’s counter-punching 88 and Yuzvendra Chahal’s incredible hat-trick that swung momentum wildly.

🚨 Early Stumbles: CSK Lose the Plot at the Top

CSK’s innings began with a familiar problem—top-order inconsistency. Ayush Mhatre (7 off 6) fell early to Marco Jansen, miscuing a length ball that spooned to mid-off. Soon after, Shaik Rasheed, who showed early aggression with a six and four, perished trying to slog Arshdeep Singh, caught at cover.

• CSK 1st Wicket: Ayush Mhatre c Shreyas Iyer b Jansen 7(6)
• CSK 2nd Wicket: Shaik Rasheed c Shashank Singh b Arshdeep 11(12)

🔥 Enter Curran: The Momentum Shifter

When CSK were 22/2, Sam Curran walked out with intent and fire. He bludgeoned the Punjab bowlers with a perfect blend of power and placement. Curran’s knock included 9 fours and 4 sixes, consistently targeting deep midwicket and straight boundaries.

His assault began with classy boundaries off Suryansh Shedge and Azmatullah, then intensified with a sequence of sixes and fours between overs 12–16. He reached his fifty in 34 balls, using sheer timing and smart placement.

• Curran’s milestones:
  • 50 off 34 balls
  • 88 off 47 (9×4, 4×6)

🔗 Building the Foundation: Brevis Joins the Act

Alongside Curran, Dewald Brevis played the supporting role with calculated aggression. He hit 32 off 26 balls, anchoring during Curran’s explosion. His highlight was a 96-meter six off Chahal and a scoop over the keeper off Jansen, showcasing his audacity.

• Partnership: Curran & Brevis – 71 runs

🧨 Timeout Breakthrough: Azmatullah Dents CSK

Just after the second timeout, Punjab broke the vital partnership. Azmatullah dismissed Brevis with a well-directed length delivery that crashed into off-stump. It marked the start of Punjab’s bowling resurgence.

• Brevis b Azmatullah 32(26)

💣 The Dhoni Drama: Cheers, Sixes, and Then Silence

Chepauk roared as MS Dhoni walked in, and he didn’t disappoint. Starting with a streaky four and a monstrous six, Dhoni looked set for a grand finish. But Chahal had other plans. In the 18th over, Dhoni mistimed a lofted shot and was caught near the long-off boundary, falling for 11(4).

• Dhoni c Nehal Wadhera b Chahal 11(4)

🎩 Chahal’s Hat-Trick: From Mayhem to Masterclass

Yuzvendra Chahal delivered the moment of the match with a hat-trick that turned the game on its head:

1. 18.2 – Removed Dhoni with a flighted delivery outside off.
2. 18.4 – Hooda fell trying to slash a wide delivery.
3. 18.5 – Anshul Kamboj was bowled through the gate.
4. 19.0 – Noor Ahmad tried to go big but was caught at long-on.

Chahal’s final figures:

• 4 wickets in 6 balls
• 2nd IPL hat-trick
• Hat-trick wickets: Dhoni, Hooda, Kamboj
• Bonus wicket: Noor Ahmad c Marco Jansen b Chahal

🔚 Final Flourish: Dube Tries, but No Time

With wickets tumbling rapidly, Shivam Dube tried to salvage a few with a boundary off the first ball of the final over. But with too much left to do and not enough partners, CSK limped to a below-par finish.

📊 Over-by-Over Summary: How the Innings Unfolded

• Overs 1–5: CSK lose two wickets early, pressure builds (Score: 32/2)
• Overs 6–10: Curran, Brevis steady the innings, some counter-attacks (Score: 68/2)
• Overs 11–15: Carnage begins – Curran takes control, 70 runs scored (Score: 138/3)
• Overs 16–20: Chahal steals the show with 4 wickets, CSK crash (Final: 163 all out)

🧮 Key Stats from CSK’s First Innings

Player	Runs (Balls)	4s	6s
Sam Curran	88 (47)	9	4
Dewald Brevis	32 (26)	2	1
MS Dhoni	11 (4)	1	1
Shivam Dube	4* (1)	1	0

Fall of Wickets: 1-12 (Mhatre), 2-22 (Rasheed), 3-93 (Brevis), 4-138 (Curran), 5-149 (Dhoni), 6-151 (Hooda), 7-151 (Kamboj), 8-151 (Noor Ahmad)

🎯 Bowling Scorecard: PBKS’s Game-Changing Spells

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets
Yuzvendra Chahal	4	32	4
Marco Jansen	4	30	2
Arshdeep Singh	4	25	2
Azmatullah Omarzai	4	39	1
Suryansh Shedge	2	40	0
Harpreet Brar	2	21	1

🏁 End of the First Act: What’s a Good Score at Chepauk?

CSK’s 163 might seem competitive, but on a flat Chepauk deck and with Punjab’s power-packed top order, they may find themselves 20–25 runs short. Curran’s lone warrior act gave them hope, but Chahal’s brilliance pegged them back. PBKS now have a chaseable target with momentum in their corner.

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