IPL 2025: Dhoni Wins Toss, CSK to Bat First Against Gujarat Titans

Pratiksha Ghosh 

Chennai ,May 24:

GT Eye Top-Two Finish With Crucial Win

On Sunday , Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and opted to bat first against Gujarat Titans (GT) in their IPL 2025 clash .

The match holds significant importance for Gujarat, who currently sit on 18 points from 13 matches. A victory here would secure them a top-two finish in the league standings, providing them a strategic advantage in the playoffs.

For CSK, with their playoff hopes already out of reach, the match provide a chance to evaluate emerging talent and experiment with their line-up ahead of the next season.

Gujarat Titans includes Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Gerald Coetzee, R. Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Arshad Khan, Prasidh Krishna.

Chennai Super Kings on the other hand includes Ayush Mhatre, Devon Conway, Urvil Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, MS Dhoni (captain & wk), Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed.

Durand Cup 2025 to Kick Off on July 22, To Be Played Across Five States

The 134th edition of Asia’s oldest football tournament, the IndianOil Durand Cup, will take place from July 22 to August 23 this year. Organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the prestigious tournament continues to bridge the gap between Services teams and top football clubs in the country.

In a notable expansion, the tournament will be played across five states, with Imphal in Manipur returning as a host city after a two-year break. Alongside Kolkata, which remains the central hub for the sixth consecutive year, other host cities include Shillong (Meghalaya), Kokrajhar (Assam), and Jamshedpur (Jharkhand).

This year’s matches will be held at six venues: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and Kishore Bharati Krirangan (Kolkata), Khuman Lampak Stadium (Imphal), either Morhabadi Stadium (Ranchi) or JRD Tata Sports Complex (Jamshedpur), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Shillong), and SAI Stadium (Kokrajhar).

The tournament will feature 24 teams, including all ISL sides and multiple Services squads. Defending champions North East United FC will aim to retain their title after defeating record-holders Mohun Bagan in a thrilling final last year.