IPL 2025: Afghan Star Shines Despite Team’s Loss, Climbs Purple Cap Rankings

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Chennai Super Kings lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore after 17 years on Friday at Chepauk ground. Despite the crushing defeat from RCB, Afghan-origin cricketer Noor Ahmed, playing for CSK, shone. Noor Ahmed took three wickets for 36 runs in four overs and with this he came out on top in the Purple Cap race in the tournament. Noor Ahmed has played a total of two matches in the tournament and has 7 wickets to his name. Before coming against RCB, he had four wickets in his account and was second in the Purple Cap race. Noor bowled well against RCB and took three valuable wickets for just 36 runs.

After Noor Ahmed, Lucknow Super Giants all-rounder Shardul Thakur remains at number two in the race for the Purple Cap. After Shardul Thakur, RCB bowler Josh Hazlewood is at number three, who has 5 wickets in two matches. CSK's Khalil Ahmed is at number four, who has four wickets in two matches. The 8th match of IPL 2025 was played between RCB and CSK at the Chepauk ground. CSK captain Rituraj Gaikwad won the toss and decided to bowl. RCB batted first and set a target of 197 runs in front of Chennai. Chasing the target, Chennai's team did not have a good start and CSK could only score 146 runs after losing 8 wickets in 20 overs. In this way, RCB defeated CSK by a huge margin of 50 runs. This was RCB's second win on this ground. For CSK, wicketkeeper batsman and former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit two towering sixes and a four in the last over. But, these powerful hits of Dhoni were not enough to make the team win. Dhoni came to the crease when the match had gone far away from CSK. Dhoni played an innings of 30 runs in 16 balls and entertained the fans sitting in the gallery with his batting.