CSK vs DC

KL Rahul (Player of the Match, Delhi Capitals): It is how it has been; I am quite used to it. I was prepping to play at the top of the order before the tournament. Before the tournament started, one of the coaches said he wanted me to bat at number 4 as one of the senior players didn't turn up. It is more mental and is more like the process of getting used to walking at a particular stage. I have a few routines, and my body has gotten used to them. It took me some time to get used to it and overcome my nerves. Once it is settled, it is a game of bat and ball. I have been working on going from ball 1. I started off really well, but through the middle, it was a bit scratchy. I had good partnerships with Porel, with him getting quick 20-30 runs. I had a couple of partnerships like that with Axar, and it took a bit of time. We lost wickets when I wanted to go after the bowling. Once I got past the 10-11 over mark, I decided to target the bowlers and take them on. I got cooked in the end and left 15-20 runs at the back. That is something I expect to be better at next time.

Axar Patel (captain, Delhi Capitals): Never thought this would be easy (winning three in three games), but everyone is chipping in, and it is great to see. When we speak in the team meeting, we discuss that our individual efforts need to be for the team. Everyone has batted with a good strike rate, and when bowled, they have picked up a wicket. I wanted to bowl, but there was a cut on my finger. When we win, we need to concentrate more and not get carried away. As a skipper, I feel we are taking catches but letting go of a few chances as well. This is big tournament and the momentum can change anytime

Mitchell Starc [Delhi Capitals]: "Can't be unhappy with that, can you? Pretty good performance again today, batting first and as a unit we clicked. We finished on par, we still needed to bowl well. Powerplay wickets helped, the bowlers were fantastic throughout. It's obviously key, everyone stepped up with the bat and ball. Subtle differences, yes. Obviously the red soil, it had little more pace, but a bit two paced, skidded a little bit. The variations stuck on the wicket a little bit, all the bowlers adjusted really well. Everyone knows it's coming, it's still a good ball. Try and search outside the box, try and be unpredictable."

Ruturaj Gaikwad [Chennai Super Kings captain]: "It's the last three games not really going our way, we're trying our best but just not going our way. Powerplay is a major concern for us, even in batting and bowling both. With the ball, we're giving away too many, and with the bat losing too many wickets. We are more concerned about whoever is coming into bowl in powerplay, being under pressure and just that one wicket we're losing the momentum. Since powerplay we were always playing catch up game, we were behind. We had Ash in number 8, we didn't have overton. DC bowled really well, used the conditions really well, we didn't get that one big over."

7:15 pm IST: Delhi Capitals beat Chennai Super Kings by 25 runs

Chennai Super Kings: 158/5 after 20 overs

Vijay Shankar: 68(53b) | Vipraj Nigam: 2/27 (4 overs)
MS Dhoni: 30(26b)  | Mitchell Starc: 1/27 (4 overs)

A first win for the Delhi Capitals at the Chepauk after 15 years! This is a fine accomplishment for Axar Patel and his troops, who have broken their jinx and now have continued their hot winning streak. As for CSK, things go from bad to worse for them with every passing game, and they will have to sit and regroup to see how they can change things and pull things back in a season that seems to be slipping out of their hands.

When CSK got 10 runs off their opening over, things looked like they were going the way of the hosts, but that would soon change. Wickets fell quickly, with Rachin and Ruturaj losing their wickets in consecutive overs and Devon Conway not being able to make a huge impact as he would have liked on his return. The middle overs were a struggle, as Shivam Dube couldn't play a long knock, while Vijay Shankar found the going a bit tough in the middle.

MS Dhoni walked as early as the 11th over, but the big man, who is now just a pale shadow of his former self, could only do so much but not enough. In the end, Vijay Shankar scored a half-century, the slowest this season, and Dhoni hit the ball around the park as CSK slumped to their second loss at home and lost yet again to an opponent that hadn't beaten them at their fortress in a decade.

Delhi Capitals bowled well and applied themselves well on this pitch. Vipraj Nigam struck with two scalps to his name, while Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar, and Kuldeep Yadav picked up a wicket each. Axar Patel and Mohit Sharma bowled the remaining four overs, with the duo collectively giving away only 30 runs.

19.6 Mukesh Kumar to Vijay Shankar, THAT'S THAT! DC STEAMROLL SUPER KINGS! Dominant Delhi dismantle Chennai at Chepauk to stay unbeaten in IPL 2025! A commanding performance from the Delhi Capitals saw them outplay the Chennai Super Kings in all departments — with disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and a composed chase — handing CSK their third consecutive defeat and solidifying DC's unbeaten run in IPL 2025. Low full toss on the off-stump, Shankar belted it back past the bowler but long-off cuts it off as Delhi seal the game.

Kiran: "Do you remember Rinku Singh's 5 sixes in the last over? Can Dhoni come out to be the star like that?"
Well, Rinku is youn,g and Dhoni is well past his prime. I hope you've got your answer

19.4 Mukesh Kumar to MS Dhoni, FOUR! Low full toss, wide of off-stump. Dhoni reaches and opens the face of the blade, carved it right between short third and backward point to pick up a boundary.