IPL Qualifier 2: Chennai Super Kings eyes eighth final, Delhi Capitals a maiden title shot

Chennai Super Kings has lost five of its last seven matches, the dominance of the early weeks now feeling like events from a distant past. Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, seems to be peaking at the right time.

While acing knockouts is an art the MS Dhoni-led CSK has mastered, Delhi Capitals, led by the young and talented Shreyas Iyer, has shown the bravery and gumption to ride out the lows.

In less than eight hours from now, it will either be the Chennai Super Kings making it to its eighth Indian Premier League (IPL) final or the Delhi Capitals qualifying for its maiden summit clash.

While acing knockouts is an art the MS Dhoni-led CSK has mastered, Delhi Capitals, led by the young and talented Shreyas Iyer, has shown the bravery and gumption to ride out the lows during the campaign en route to its first playoff berth in seven years.

PREVIEW| IPL 2019 Qualifier 2: Delhi faces Chennai hurdle on road to maiden final

"We know that CSK is an amazing team. We will learn from our mistakes here (Chepauk) and plan well enough to beat them in the next game," Delhi skipper Shreyas Iyer had said after his team had slumped to an 80-run defeat at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium last week.

CSK, meanwhile, has lost five of its last seven matches, the dominance of the early weeks now feeling like events from a distant past. DC, on the other hand, seems to be peaking at the right time.

But the record of Chennai batsmen, especially in the playoffs, will keep the Delhi bowlers on their toes. Suresh Raina, with a strike-rate of 160.51, has 695 runs from 22 innings and is followed closely by Dhoni, whose 493 from 18 innings came at a strike-rate of 133.24. 

Suffice to say, there's plenty of stake for the two teams on collision course.