source : BCCI
It was a night to forget for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as Delhi Capitals (DC) snapped a 15-year winless streak at the MA Chidambaram Stadium with a dominant 25-run win in IPL 2025. KL Rahul played the anchor’s role to perfection, scoring a classy 77 off 51 deliveries and guiding DC to a competitive 183/6. Despite early hiccups in the batting order, Rahul formed key partnerships with Abhishek Porel (33 off 20) and Axar Patel to maintain momentum. Delhi’s innings may not have been flashy, but it was clinical and packed with smart decision-making, especially in the face of CSK’s disciplined bowling from Khaleel Ahmed (2/25).
The CSK run chase never really found its rhythm. Early wickets, including those of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway, put them on the back foot. Starc’s pace and Vipraj Nigam’s precision dismantled the top order, and by the end of the powerplay, the hosts were far behind the required rate. While Shivam Dube showed some promise, his dismissal immediately after hitting the first six of the innings only deepened the crisis. CSK’s poor powerplay has been a recurring concern, and this match highlighted their inability to turn it around under pressure.
Amid the gloom, it was MS Dhoni who tried to inject some calm into the chase. Walking in unusually early—by the 11th over—Dhoni scored an unbeaten 30 off 36 balls. Though his and Vijay Shankar’s partnership briefly reduced the margin of defeat, they never posed a real threat to Delhi’s total. CSK managed 158/5 in their 20 overs, falling well short of the target and leaving fans at Chepauk disappointed. The lack of intent, poor powerplay execution, and conservative middle-overs approach summed up another underwhelming outing for the five-time champions.
KL Rahul, named Player of the Match, opened up after the game about the challenges of adjusting to different batting positions this season. Originally preparing to open, Rahul was slotted in at No. 4 due to a missing senior player but finally got his chance at the top in this game. He admitted that constantly shifting positions had made it hard to settle mentally, but his early boundaries and crucial partnerships were key in building DC’s total. He also acknowledged the physical toll of the Chennai heat and believed he left 15-20 runs on the table toward the end.
Axar Patel and Mitchell Starc also contributed significantly, both with the ball and in terms of leadership. Axar, captaining DC, credited the team’s balanced performance and consistent contributions across the board. Despite a finger injury, he chose to rest himself from bowling, showcasing long-term thinking for the tournament. Starc, meanwhile, emphasized adaptability and smart bowling tactics, praising his teammates for handling the pitch conditions effectively. For DC, this win cements their strong start to the season with three wins in a row—something they last managed back in 2009.
