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Delhi Capitals breached the fortress of Chepauk

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On April 5, 2025, the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai hosted a highly anticipated clash between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Delhi Capitals (DC) in Match 17 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. With CSK looking to bounce back from consecutive losses and DC aiming to maintain their unbeaten streak, the afternoon encounter promised fireworks. However, it was Delhi Capitals who emerged victorious, defeating CSK by 25 runs and ending a 15-year jinx at Chepauk, where they last won against the Super Kings in 2010.

Toss and Team News

The match began with Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel winning the toss and electing to bat first under the scorching Chennai sun, with temperatures hovering around 33°C (feeling closer to 40°C due to humidity). CSK, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad despite concerns over an elbow injury sustained in a previous match, stuck with a largely unchanged lineup, though Devon Conway replaced Jamie Overton, and Mukesh Choudhary came in for Rahul Tripathi. DC, riding high on confidence after two consecutive wins, fielded an unchanged XI, banking on their balanced squad.

Delhi Capitals Set a Challenging Total

Delhi Capitals got off to a shaky start, losing opener Jake Fraser-McGurk in the very first over to Khaleel Ahmed, who struck early to give CSK a glimmer of hope. However, KL Rahul anchored the innings with a masterful 77 off 51 balls, blending elegance with aggression. His knock included six fours and three sixes, providing stability after the early setback. Abishek Porel (33 off 20) and Sameer Rizvi (20 off 15) played crucial supporting roles, helping DC recover and build momentum.
 
The middle overs saw Rahul dominate CSK’s spinners, notably Noor Ahmad and Ravindra Jadeja, with crisp sweep shots and lofted cover drives. Tristan Stubbs provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 24 off 12 balls, but CSK’s Matheesha Pathirana pulled things back with a brilliant final over, conceding just a handful of runs and finishing with figures of 1/31. DC posted a competitive 183/6 in their 20 overs, a total that seemed par on a dry, spin-friendly Chepauk pitch but one they might have felt was 10-15 runs short of a commanding score.

CSK’s Chase Falters Early

Chasing 184, CSK’s innings got off to a disastrous start. Openers Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway struggled against DC’s pace attack, with Mitchell Starc and Mukesh Kumar striking early blows. Ravindra fell for 3 off 6 balls, caught and bowled by Mukesh, while captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, battling injury, managed only 5 off 4 before holing out to Fraser-McGurk off Starc. By the end of the powerplay, CSK were reeling at 46/3, with the required run rate climbing steadily.
 
Shivam Dube and Vijay Shankar attempted to steady the ship, but their approach lacked intent. Dube fell cheaply, and Ravindra Jadeja’s brief stay ended with a 2 off 3, dismissed lbw by Kuldeep Yadav. At 80/5 after 12 overs, CSK’s hopes rested on MS Dhoni, who walked in at No. 7—a surprisingly low position for the veteran finisher. Partnering with Shankar, Dhoni stitched together an 84-run stand for the sixth wicket, the highest for that position in CSK’s IPL history, surpassing the previous record of 73 set by Michael Hussey and S Badrinath.

Dhoni’s Valiant Effort Falls Short

Dhoni, unbeaten on 30 off 26 balls, showcased glimpses of his vintage self with a towering six off Mukesh Kumar in the 18th over and a boundary off Starc in the 19th. However, his unusually cautious approach earlier in the innings, coupled with Shankar’s sedate 69* off an unspecified number of balls, couldn’t accelerate the chase when it mattered most. The required rate soared above 20 in the final overs, and despite a late flurry—including a six from Shankar and a four from Dhoni in the last over—CSK finished at 158/5, 25 runs shy of the target.
 
DC’s bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Starc, maintained discipline throughout. Starc’s fiery spell yielded 2 wickets, while Mukesh Kumar’s early breakthrough and tight death bowling sealed the deal. Axar Patel, leading from the front, chipped in with economical overs to stifle CSK’s middle order.

Key Takeaways and Standout Performances

KL Rahul earned the Player of the Match award for his match-defining 77, which set the tone for DC’s victory. His ability to adapt to the slow surface while maintaining a strike rate of over 150 was pivotal. For CSK, Pathirana’s death-over heroics and Dhoni’s late resistance were silver linings in an otherwise lackluster performance. However, the batting unit’s collective failure—marked by a lack of intent and poor shot selection—left fans and analysts questioning their strategy.
 
Delhi Capitals’ triumph propelled them to the top of the IPL 2025 points table with three wins in three matches, underlining their status as early title contenders. CSK, meanwhile, slipped to eighth, their playoff hopes taking a hit after a third loss in four games.

What’s Next?

CSK will need to regroup quickly as they face Punjab Kings on April 8 in Mullanpur, desperate to turn their campaign around. DC, brimming with confidence, will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10 in Bengaluru, aiming to extend their winning streak. For now, though, the story of April 5 belongs to Delhi Capitals, who conquered Chepauk after 15 years and handed CSK a bitter pill to swallow in front of their home crowd.
Click here for complete schedule for IPL 2025

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