CSK wear black armbands as Mukesh Choudhary plays after personal loss
Chennai Super Kings wore black armbands in memory of Mukesh Choudhary’s mother, who passed away recently. Mukesh still turned up for the game against Mumbai Indians, showing up for his team in difficult personal circumstances. He is seen looking towards the sky after the wicket of Quinton de Kock, a quiet moment after a strong start with the ball.
Ruturaj Gaikwad was also spotted wearing the armband as CSK took the field at the start of the match. There was a brief moment of acknowledgement around the ground as players and staff recognised what Mukesh was going through. It did not turn into a ceremony or long pause, but the gesture from CSK was clear and respectful.
Mukesh strikes early and dedicates moment after de Kock wicket
Mukesh Choudhary made an immediate impact with the ball. He removed Quinton de Kock in his first over, getting him to edge a delivery that swung away and hit the stumps. De Kock fell for 7 off 10 balls, leaving Mumbai Indians under early pressure at the top.
After taking the wicket, Mukesh was seen looking towards the sky, a quiet moment that reflected the personal loss he had suffered only last night. He had joined the CSK squad despite his mother’s passing and went straight into a high-pressure match against Mumbai Indians. The reaction was restrained, but visible, before he turned back to his fielding position.
Akeal Hosein had already struck in the first over, and CSK’s bowlers kept things tight with disciplined lengths. The early pressure built quickly, and MI were reduced to 7 for 2 inside two overs.
MI left reeling after early setbacks in chase
Mumbai Indians, chasing 208, were immediately on the back foot after losing two wickets early. Suryakumar Yadav walked in and got off the mark with a boundary, but the required rate was already rising. CSK’s bowlers kept it simple, hitting hard lengths and forcing mistakes.
Mukesh’s wicket of de Kock set the tone for the innings, both in terms of execution and emotion. It gave CSK control early in the chase and left MI with a long way back in the game.