CSK vs SRH First Innings: Chennai Collapse to 154 All Out Against Clinical Hyderabad

CSK vs SRH First Innings: The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) endured a batting meltdown in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Chepauk, managing just 154 runs before being bowled out in 19.5 overs. Despite a fiery cameo from Dewald Brevis and a late flourish by Deepak Hooda, SRH’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Harshal Patel (4/28) and Jaydev Unadkat (2/21), dismantled CSK’s lineup in a high-stakes encounter that leaves both teams clinging to faint playoff hopes.

Toss and Early Setbacks

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SRH skipper Pat Cummins elected to bowl first after winning the toss, banking on the dew factor and Chepauk’s historically spin-friendly surface. The decision paid immediate dividends as Mohammed Shami struck on the first ball of the match, dismissing opener Shaik Rasheed with a seaming delivery that edged to slip. CSK’s experiment to promote Sam Curran to No. 3 backfired when he top-edged a pull shot off Cummins, leaving the hosts reeling at 39/2 in the powerplay.

Youngster Ayush Mhatre (30 off 19 balls) provided brief resistance with a flurry of boundaries, including six fours, but fell to Cummins in the sixth over while attempting an ambitious lofted drive. By the end of the powerplay, CSK had lost three wickets for 50 runs, setting the tone for a shaky innings.

IPL 2025 Schedule

Middle-Order Carnage and Brevis’ Spark

CSK’s middle order crumbled under SRH’s relentless pressure. Ravindra Jadeja (21 off 17) was bowled by Kamindu Mendis, while Shivam Dube (12 off 9) holed out to long-off off Unadkat’s clever slower ball. The collapse left CSK at 114/6 in the 13th over, with hopes resting on South African sensation Dewald Brevis, who injected momentum into the innings.

Brevis smashed four sixes in a 25-ball 42, including three consecutive maximums off Mendis. His assault threatened to revive CSK, but SRH’s fielding brilliance cut short his charge. Mendis, switching from off-spin to left-arm orthodox, pulled off a gravity-defying catch at long-off to dismiss Brevis, described by commentators as “the catch of the season”.

Hooda’s Grit and SRH’s Death Overs Mastery

With CSK at 131/7 after MS Dhoni’s dismissal (6 off 8 balls), Deepak Hooda (22 off 21) shouldered the responsibility of steering the innings. His inventive scoops and calculated aggression in the final overs, including a six off Harshal Patel’s no-ball, pushed CSK past 150. However, SRH’s bowlers maintained composure: Harshal Patel claimed his fourth wicket by dismissing Noor Ahmad, while Unadkat sealed the innings by removing Hooda in the final over.

CSK vs SRH Playing 11, Toss and Tactical Insights: Clash at Chepauk

Key bowling highlights:

Harshal Patel: The death-over specialist mixed slower balls and yorkers to perfection, finishing with 4/28.
Pat Cummins: The SRH captain’s two wickets included the crucial dismissals of Mhatre and Anshul Kamboj.
Kamindu Mendis: Besides his catch, the Sri Lankan all-rounder contributed with economical spin (1/21) .

Pitch and Conditions

The Chepauk track lived up to its reputation as a spinner’s paradise, offering sharp turn and variable bounce. However, dew began settling in during the second half of the innings, complicating CSK’s plans to accelerate. SRH’s seamers exploited the conditions expertly, with nine wickets falling to pace, a joint record at the venue.

Key Stats and Turning Points

CSK’s Batting Struggles: This marked only the third instance of CSK being bowled out at home in IPL history.
SRH’s Fielding Prowess: Abhishek Sharma took four catches, including the final dismissal, while Mendis’s catch to remove Brevis shifted momentum decisively.
Powerplay Contrast: SRH restricted CSK to 50/3 in the first six overs, their lowest powerplay score at Chepauk this season.

Post-Innings Analysis

CSK’s total of 154 reflects their season-long batting frailties. While Brevis and Hooda showed flashes of brilliance, the lack of partnerships (the highest stand was 40 runs) and reckless shot selection undermined their efforts. SRH, meanwhile, executed their plans flawlessly, with Cummins rotating his bowlers strategically and fielders backing them up with athleticism.

MS Dhoni’s Milestone Match: The CSK skipper’s 400th T20 appearance ended in disappointment, but his tactical acumen will be critical if CSK are to defend this total. His decision to use Anshul Kamboj as an Impact Player for Shivam Dube underscored the team’s focus on bolstering their bowling.

Looking Ahead

With dew expected to aid chasing, SRH will back their batting lineup, featuring Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and Abhishek Sharma, to hunt down the target. CSK’s spinners, led by Noor Ahmad (12 wickets this season), must strike early to keep their playoff dreams alive.

As the Chepauk crowd rallied behind their team, the stage is set for a gripping second innings. For now, SRH hold the edge, but in cricket, as Dhoni himself has shown time and again, fortunes can change in a matter of deliveries.

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