Ayush Mhatre made a dream start to his IPL career with a fearless knock for Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians, but it was his little cousin's emotional reaction that stole hearts across the nation. The Chennai Super Kings posted a heartwarming video on social media that shows Mhatre’s young cousin breaking into tears while watching his debut at the Wankhede Stadium. The clip quickly went viral, drawing praise and affection from fans online.
The 20-year-old Mumbai-born batter was brought in as a replacement for regular CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been ruled out of the ongoing IPL 2025 season due to injury. Mhatre made an immediate impact with a blistering 32 off just 15 balls. His knock included four boundaries and two sixes at a strike rate of 213.33. Despite Mhatre's thrilling 32 off 15 balls, CSK's total of 176/5 was not enough to stop the Mumbai Indians, who chased down the target in just 15.4 overs.
Batting first, CSK posted a competitive score thanks to half-centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube. However, Mumbai's Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav made light work of the chase, with both players putting on an explosive partnership that saw MI comfortably reach the target.
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Speaking after the match, MS Dhoni admitted that CSK had posted a below-par total. "I think we were quite below par. We all knew that dew would come in the second half, and we were in a position to exploit the middle overs. I just felt that Bumrah being one of the best death bowlers in the world made it harder for us to capitalize," Dhoni said.
Dhoni also praised Mhatre's performance, highlighting the young debutant’s fearless approach. "As a youngster, he batted really well. That’s the kind of approach needed, where you play your shots while picking the right ones. It's a good sign for us at the top of the order," Dhoni added.
The loss leaves CSK with a slim chance of qualifying for the playoffs, with six games remaining in the season. Dhoni stressed the importance of finding a settled squad for the future, regardless of the team's current position. "We need to be practical and not get too emotional. We want to build a settled playing XI for next season. If we qualify for the playoffs, that's great. If not, we'll ensure we have the right combination for next year," Dhoni said.
Earlier in the season, CSK had defeated MI by four wickets on March 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Bowling first, CSK restricted Mumbai to 155/9 with standout performances from Khaleel Ahmed and Noor Ahmad. Chasing the target, Ruturaj Gaikwad's 53 off 26 balls and Rachin Ravindra's calm 65* guided CSK to a tense victory.
With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, CSK will now look to win all their remaining matches and hope for a turnaround in the remainder of the season.
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