In an IPL 2025 season that has pushed Chennai Super Kings' depth and resilience to the limit, there has been one name that has stood out consistently Khaleel Ahmed. The left-arm pacer once again justified his place in CSK's lineup during their narrow loss to Punjab Kings at Chepauk, producing a match-winning performance in a high-scoring encounter.

While most CSK bowlers leaked runs at more than nine an over, Khaleel kept things tight and showed control under pressure. He picked up two crucial wickets those of Priyansh Arya and Suryansh Shedge at key moments, helping CSK drag the game into the final over. Though Chennai fell short, Khaleel’s fight and fire gave fans a reason to cheer.

What made the night more special was a heartfelt reunion after the match. Khaleel caught up with the family of Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting his former mentor at Delhi Capitals. The pair spent three seasons together in Delhi, during which Khaleel picked 42 wickets from 33 matches under the leadership of Ponting. Although both shifted to new franchises following IPL 2024 Khaleel with CSK and Ponting leading PBKS they surely do maintain an unbreakable bond between themselves.

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Khaleel and Ponting Share a Strong Bond Despite Moving to New Teams

In a touching moment that melted hearts online, Khaleel posed for a selfie with Ponting, his wife, and children. Chennai Super Kings’ official account captured the moment with a caption that read.

Watch the video:

KHALEEL AHMED MEETING RICKY PONTING & HIS FAMILY 🥺💛

- A lovely video, This is the victory of IPL. pic.twitter.com/9sJBcoH7nZ

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 1, 2025

On the field, the 27-year-old has been among CSK’s top performers. He has taken 14 wickets in 10 matches so far, with an economy rate of 8.85 and an average of 22.57. Most impressively, he leads the tournament in powerplay wickets with nine underlining his knack for early breakthroughs.

After a painful loss to Kolkata Knight Riders earlier in the season, Khaleel showed his fighting spirit, saying, “We’ll take the hits,” as CSK looked to rally in the second half of the campaign.

Chennai now prepares for a crucial clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 3 in Bengaluru. With Khaleel in red-hot form, CSK will be hoping he continues to lead from the front.