MI’s opener curse, Dhoni’s milestone, and RCB ending Chepauk jinx after 17 years

The numbers are doing the talking now as the first week of IPL 2025 comes to an end. With tons of runs scored and plenty of wickets taken, the tournament has already witnessed several record-breaking moments. From players surpassing legendary names to teams setting new milestones, the stats from the opening week have certainly grabbed attention.

With almost two months of thrilling action still ahead, there’s a lot more to come. In just one week, many records have been shattered, while others have been etched in history, making the first phase of the season highly eventful. But which stats and records are still being discussed?

Today, we take a look at some of the most talked-about records from IPL 2025 that have gained massive attention. Let’s dive into IPL 2025 in numbers!

IPL 2025 in numbers

Hitman’s historic feat

259 IPL matches and still going strong! Former Mumbai Indians skipper and five-time IPL-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, became the second-most capped player in the tournament’s history after featuring in the XI against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday at Chepauk, the third match of IPL 2025.

Although Rohit had a brief stay at the crease, getting dismissed for a four-ball duck before being subbed out, this game marked his 258th IPL appearance, placing him second on the all-time list behind MS Dhoni.

With this milestone, Rohit surpassed former India and RCB wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who retired last year after playing 257 matches across 17 seasons.

Virat Kohli’s CSK carnage

When Royal Challengers Bengaluru face five-time champions Chennai Super Kings, it feels like a mini El Clásico in the IPL. For RCB, no one can deny that their one and only legendary man is Virat Kohli. This superstar has consistently thrived against CSK, and that’s why, in the recent game where the Bengaluru franchise thumped CSK by 50 runs, Kohli also made a vital contribution.

In fact, Virat Kohli has now become the highest run-getter against Chennai Super Kings in IPL history. He scored 31 runs, taking his total to 1,084 runs, surpassing Shikhar Dhawan’s record of 1,057 runs. Kohli achieved this milestone in 34 matches and 33 innings.

RCB’s Chennai curse ends after 17 years

In the mini El Clasico, many things grabbed attention, from MS Dhoni coming to bat at No. 9, which did not sit well with many cricket experts and, fair to say, some fans as well. However, for RCB fans, everything settled well as the Bengaluru franchise finally ended its long-standing Chennai curse in emphatic fashion, thrashing Chennai Super Kings by 50 runs, CSK’s biggest home defeat in IPL history.

Before this big win at Chepauk, RCB had only seen losses at this venue. Yes, they won in 2008 under Rahul Dravid, but after that, it was all about defeats. Now, when the victory finally came, it turned out to be a convincing one.

Captain Cool now sits atop CSK’s run charts

The big man of Chennai Super Kings, none other than MS Dhoni, has etched his name in the record books once again. On Friday, he became CSK’s highest run-scorer in IPL history.

Although his team lost the match, Dhoni’s unbeaten 30 off 16 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru took his tally to 4,699 runs in 236 matches, surpassing Suresh Raina’s 4,687 runs in 176 games.

Most runs for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL

Sir Jadeja’s rare double

It’s fair to say that what Ravindra Jadeja brings to the CSK lineup is priceless. After all, contributing with both the bat and ball is no easy task, especially in the IPL, where enormous crowds watch your every move. Performing under such pressure only proves how big a player he is—and that’s exactly what Jadeja has done. Ravindra Jadeja has etched his name in IPL history as the first player to achieve the rare double of 3,000 runs and 100+ wickets.

The curious case of MS Dhoni batting at No. 9

CSK’s legendary batting order has become a major topic of discussion, and it all stems from one surprising moment—MS Dhoni coming in to bat at No. 9 against RCB. Even though the match is over, many fans still find it hard to believe, as they are used to seeing Dhoni much higher up the batting order.

However, the fact remains that in recent years, Dhoni has typically come out to bat in the last five overs of the game, often delivering crucial performances. A prime example was the IPL 2024 season, where he smashed several big sixes, helping CSK post above-par totals on multiple occasions.

As for his decision to bat at No. 9, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming clarified the reason. He explained that the former India and CSK captain’s knees are not what they used to be, making it difficult for him to bat for 10-12 overs in a match, especially since he also keeps wickets for the full 20 overs.

Mitchell Starc’s 5.75 strike rate tormenting the opposition

The season has just begun, but Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who is playing for Delhi Capitals, is already showcasing his dominance. Starc has been in sensational form with a remarkable bowling strike rate of 5.75—meaning he takes a wicket roughly every 5.75 balls he bowls.

What’s even more interesting is that, despite having played just two matches so far, he continues to torment batters. The Australian speedster has already claimed eight wickets, including a stunning 5/35 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. In fact, he became the first Delhi Capitals pacer to pick up a five-wicket haul.

Best Bowling Strike Rate in IPL 2025

Mumbai Indians’ streak of first-match defeats extends to 13

Mumbai Indians may have five IPL trophies, but what they don’t have is a win in their opening match of the season. Mumbai Indians lost their Indian Premier League 2025 season opener to Chennai Super Kings by four wickets at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

This defeat means the five-time champions have now lost their first game of the season for the 13th consecutive year. The last time they won their opening match was in 2012 when they defeated CSK by eight wickets. However, from the following season onward, they have only faced defeats in their campaign openers. Interestingly, despite this trend, they won their first IPL title in 2013, yet have not managed to secure a win in their opening matches since then.