IPL 2025: File photo of Khaleel Ahmed© BCCI/IPL
Chennai Super Kings’ pace spearhead Khaleel Ahmed continued to rattle the opposition’s top order in the primary over and prolonged his supremacy against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday in the continued 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Khaleel has been Chennai’s prime weapon with the brand new ball. His knack for scything wickets within the opening over of the innings was yet against evident in Lucknow. After Chennai skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bowl, Khaleel was handed the ball with hopes of kicking off the sport with a blistering start.
On the ultimate delivery of the over, he lured Aiden Markram to whip the ball away, which forced out a top edge. Rahul Tripathi sprinted towards the landing spot and took a clean catch to punch South Africa’s return ticket to the dressing room on 6(6).
This was the fourth instance of the left-armer striking in the primary over within the IPL 2025, essentially the most by any bowlers within the tournament. Before making an early impact against Lucknow, he outclassed Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians openers.
When CSK squared off against Delhi, Khaleel removed Jake Fraser-McGurk on a five-ball duck after the young Australian mistimed his shot and holed it to Ravichandran Ashwin. During Chennai’s encounter against the Royals, Khaleel outfoxed Yashasvi Jaiswal by luring him to go for a drive shot, but a vigilant Ashwin took a reverse cup catch, ending the teen’s time on the crease on 4(3).
While in CSK’s campaign-opener against their arch-rival Mumbai Indians, Khaleel caught the massive fish by removing the seasoned opener Rohit Sharma for a four-ball duck within the opening over.
The speedster who stands closest to Khaleel when it comes to making an early impact is English teraway Jofra Archer. The Rajasthan Royals speedster has three dismissals within the opening over in the continued season of the cash-rich league. Meanwhile, MI’s Trent Boult, LSG’s Shardul Thakur and Gujarat Titans’ Mohammed Siraj have two wickets each within the opening over.
Khaleel finished with figures of 1/38 in his four-over spell. He could have had his second in his final over, but Rasheed spilled the catch, heading skipper Rishabh Pant a lifeline as LSG hammered 166/7 on the board.
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