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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) started their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign with a four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) at home. Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed on his CSK debut dismissed both openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton with the new ball. After CSK's win, a video of captain Ruturaj Gaikwad handing the ball to Khaleel and the fast bowler putting something in his pocket has gone viral. The fans have accused CSK of ball-tampering. However, the truth is far from it.
In the video, Khaleel is marking his run-up before bowling the first ball of the El Clasico to Rohit. Gaikwad handed the ball to Khaleel who was removing his ring and putting it in his pocket. Then Khaleel took the ring and handed Gaikwad to keep it in his pocket.
Here's how fans reacted -
They want 2 years break I think. BCCI please accept their application. 🚫 pic.twitter.com/6PoezHPmtk
Khaleel's new ball spell
Khaleel did not let him get off the strike or score a boundary. He beat Rohit's bat on the third delivery and then on the fourth ball, he bowled an inswinger. Rohit played the flick shot but the ball went straight into mid-wicket fielder Shivam Dube's hands. The former skipper departed for a four-ball duck, a record-equalling 18th of his IPL career. This was his 258th IPL appearance, the second-most for a player in IPL history after MS Dhoni.
In his second over, Khaleel was hit for a boundary by Rickelton through covers. On the next ball, the Proteas batter chopped it on to his stumps. In his third over, Khaleel was hit for a six by stand-in MI captain Suryakumar Yadav. After the powerplay overs, MI were 52/3 but Khaleel had conceded 16 runs.
Khaleel's expensive last over
In the penultimate over, Gaikwad brought Khaleel back into the attack. Deepak Chahar hit him for a four and a six off the first two balls. He finished his spell with Trent Boult's wicket. In his quota of four overs, he conceded 29 runs and bagged three wickets. He helped his side restrict the total to 155/9.
"I felt good (bowling in the powerplay) because I like to swing the ball and that's my strength. If I bowl three overs I think I get it on the basis of my strengths. At the start I was looking for swing, but it wasn't doing much. Then in the middle overs Noor, Jaddu, Ashwin did well," Khaleel told the broadcasters during the innings break.
Gaikwad lauds bowlers
As CSK won the game with five balls to spare, Gaikwad lauded his bowlers including Khaleel and the left-arm chinaman Afghan bowler Noor Ahmad who got four wickets.
"Khaleel is experienced and Noor is an X factor and that is why we wanted him in the team and good to have Ash as well," he said.
