CSK vs DC Highlights, IPL 2023: CSK 167/8 (20), DC 140/8 (20) - Chennai beats Delhi by 27 runs

Deepak Chahar gave Chennai a brilliant start and then the spinners came into play with Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Pathirana operating in tandem. It was an excellent plan from Dhoni to squeeze Delhi in the middle overs but the early breakthroughs gave Chennai the advantage. Top win and Delhi is staring at a very difficult equation when it comes to qualification for the playoffs. Plenty of brainstorming will be there for the David Warner-led side. Pathirana cleaned up Lalit Yadav as Chennai kept its fortress intact by winning the match by 27 runs.

A bowler’s catch went begging but Moeen Ali with a direct hit packed off Ripal Patel and Chennai is the favourites to win the match. A dot ball to finish the over and Delhi is staring at an early exit from the tournament.

Pathirana steaming in with his yorkers and troubling the batsmen with pace but Axar is playing his role as he nails the fast bowler for a boundary and immediately there is a change in the field with protection coming at deep. The bowler gets his man as Axar falls while trying to up the ante with Rahane taking a good catch. Delhi needs 48 runs in 12 balls.

Theekshana drops Axar Patel and the low catch should have been taken but the spinner fails to latch on to a caught and bowled chance as the ball hits him on the wrist. However, Chennai in full control of the game despite a six from Axar over long-off. The 100 is up Delhi and it requires another 60 runs from 18 balls.

Axar Patel joins Ripal and the all-rounder creams Pathirana for a boundary through the covers but Delhi needs more of those. Delhi needs 71 runs in 24 balls with the required rate touching 18 rpo.

Jadeja strikes and this is where Chennai has excelled in this edition of the IPL by squeezing the flow of runs in the middle overs and picking wickets. Rossouw fails to get the required distance as a slog-sweep goes straight to the fielder at long-on and Pathirana makes no mistake.

Ripal Patel walks in to join Rossouw and Dhoni has a slip in place. Moeen Ali finishes with excellent figures of 4-10-16-0 and that’s a gem of a spell!

Matheesha Pathirana into the attack and Manish Pandey dispatches the bowler with a maximum over the deep mid-wicket. However, the fast bowler comes back strongly to trap Pandey with a brilliant yorker as the batsman falls for a 29-ball 27. Chennai in control of the game.

The 50-run partnership is up between Rossouw and Pandey for the fourth wicket as Moeen Ali purchases turn to finish his third over by conceding just four runs. Delhi needs 92 runs in 48 balls.

Jadeja into his third over and the Chennai spinners are rushing through the overs and it is in these middle overs that they actually choke the batsmen. The pace, length and the stump to stump line has been brilliant from Jadeja.

Moeen Ali continues after the time-out and Manish Pandey’s intentions of hitting the spinner out of the park didn’t materialise. Just two runs from the over and Delhi needs a couple of good overs to be in the game.

Rossouw drills Jadeja to the deep extra cover boundary and the required rate is close to 10 with the current rate standing at exactly 7 rpo. Delhi is still in the game as we take a break. The visitors need 105 runs in 66 balls.

Moeen Ali into the attack and both Pandey and Rossouw struggle to find the boundaries and Delhi is compounded with spin troubles with Dhoni bossing the game by handing the ball to his spinners. Pandey goes downtown by launching Moeen straight down the ground to bring the fifty-up for Delhi.

Jadeja is into the attack and the all-rounder continues to be economical in his bowling the Delhi batsmen are struggling to rotate the strike. Just a single from Jadeja’s over and this is absolutely brilliant from Chennai.

Maheesh Theekshana into the attack and it will be that time when Dhoni will apply the squeeze. Pandey was almost gone as the bowler failed to latch on to a caught and bowled opportunity. The right-arm off-break bowler starts well by giving just five from his opening over.

Rilee Rossouw eases some nerves as Chahar bowls a back-of-length delivery and the batsman sits underneath the delivery and packs it over the deep backward square leg for a maximum. Rossouw gets the scorecard going by smashing the bowler to the long-off boundary as Delhi recovers after a horrible mix-up as Rahane missed a direct-hit and there was no protection as the ball raced away to the fence.

A miscommunication has cost Delhi another wicket with Mitchell Marsh getting run-out as Ajinkya Rahane exhibited excellent athleticism to remove the Australian and leave Delhi three down. Manish Pandey holds the key as Chennai is dictating terms at the moment.

Salt takes a blow but nails Chahar for a 100-metre six with Dhoni standing up to the stumps. However, Chahar picked his second wicket by bowling a back-of-length delivery and the batsman got a top-edge with Rayudu taking a good catch at mid-on. This is smart bowling from Chahar and he has made an impression in this match and adjusting to the lengths on this surface has been the key. Chahar seems to have mastered it to give Chennai an excellent start.

Tushar Deshpande steams in from the other end and Chennai will be pumped up with the early breakthrough and that too with the wicket of Warner. Salt gets off the mark with a boundary as the batsmen flicks Dehpande to the wide of fine leg for a boundary and then skipped down the track to launch the fast bowler over long-on for a maximum.

Deepak Chahar starts proceedings with the new ball and removes Warner early and the lack of pace has played a huge part in the Delhi skipper’s dismissal as he hits one straight to Rahane at cover. A DRS review went wrong for Chennai and that’s a rare one from MS Dhoni as an inside edge saved Salt. Wonderful start for CSK.

Jadeja fell for a 16-ball 21 and Dhoni departed for a 9-ball 20 with Mitchell Marsh picking three wickets. On a slow surface Chennai has posted a competitive total and their spinners will look to shine. The batting didn’t really click with Shivam Dube being the top-scorer with a 12-ball 25 but Chennai will fancy its chances to defend 167. For Delhi, Marsh was the pick of the bowlers with a three-wicket haul with Axar Patel scalping two and Khaleel Ahmed, Lalit Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav finding their name in the wickets column. Back for the chase.

There’s the six from Dhoni and that’s what the crowd has come to witness. A beautiful pull as Khaleel missed his length and pitched one short and Dhoni was up to it by drilling the bowler over the deep mid-wicket for a maximum. The CSK skipper brings the 150 up for Chennai with a slash over the short third man as the edge flew to the boundary. The running between the wickets has been excellent and Chennai will look to cross the 170-run mark with Dhoni smashing the bowler straight down the ground for another maximum.

A much-needed maximum for Chennai as Jadeja targets Kuldeep by smashing the spinner straight down the ground for a six and Warner almost allowed the batsman to pocket a boundary off the last ball but the Delhi skipper recovered to prevent the boundary.

Khaleel strikes to remove Rayudu and Delhi is making crucial inroads at the very right time, especially at the death. The batsman went for a big heave, dragging a delivery that was pitched outside the off but finds the fielder at long-on. There is a massive cheer at the fall of the wicket as skipper MS Dhoni walks into the crease and Dhoni gets off the mark with a single.

Kuldeep is back into the attack and the spinner has bowled well so far giving absolutely no room to the batsmen to go for the big shots. Just eight runs from Kuldeep’s third over and the Delhi spinners have been impressive.

Marsh strikes and that’s a massive wicket as Dube falls for a 12-ball 25 and the little partnership has been broken as Ravindra Jadeja walks in. Dube went for a big shot but the ball hit the toe-end of the bat and Warner at deep mid-wicket took a clean catch. Rayudu and Jadeja hold the key as MS Dhoni warms up in the dressing room.

Shivam Dube has provided the much-needed momentum for Chennai by smoking Lalit Yadav for two consecutive sixes straight down the ground and over the long-on and then Rayudu found the fine-leg boundary as the Chepauk crowd has found its voice. Rayudu finished the over by dancing down the track and launching down the ground to loot 23 runs from the over.

The boundaries have dried up for Chennai and the onus is now on Dube and Ambati Rayudu to drive Chennai. Mitch Marsh into the attack and Delhi has done well to tie down the Chennai batters. Good start by Marsh.

Chennai is in deep trouble as Lalit Yadav takes an excellent caught and bowled by diving to his right and taking a low catch to pack off Rahane as the batsman skipped down the track, trying to smash the bowler. But Lalit with brilliant presence of mind and put in an excellent effort to pluck a magnificent catch.

Shivam Dube breaks away from the shackles as he hammers Axar for a maximum and the boundary has come after 28 deliveries as Chennai aims to march ahead on a slow pitch where stroke-making is not easy. Axar finishes his spell and that’s a brilliant one registering 4-0-27-2. Top bowling from the left-arm spinner.

Kuldeep Yadav strikes as he removes Moeen Ali and Chennai is in trouble having lost three wickets as the batsman tried to attack the bowler but got a thick outside edge as Mitchell Marsh took an easy catch at backward point. Delhi spinners dictating terms in Chennai as Shivam Dube joins Rahane. This is excellent bowling from the Delhi spinners.

Another brilliant over from Axar as Delhi has employed spin from both ends and the spinner gives just four to apply the choke on Chennai.

Excellent start from Kuldeep as Moeen Ali joins Rahane in the middle after the fall of Gaikwad. Chennai going a touch slow on a surface that aids spinners. Kuldeep gives five from his opening over and Chennai has scored 32 runs in the last five overs losing two wickets at a run-rate hovering just above six.

Axar strikes again and this time removes Gaikwad as the opener lofts straight to Amam Hakim at long-off. Delhi keeping Chennai under check.

Gaikwad gets going by executing a brilliant pull over the mid-wicket and the fall of Conway hasn’t much impacted Chennai’s innings. The running between the wickets has been excellent and both Gaikwad and Rahane have shown good positive intent.

Axar Patel strikes straight on arrival as he traps Conway with a full delivery and the batsman’s struggle comes to an end as he missed the sweep shot and doesn’t review it. It looked plumb on the very first impression and Delhi has made a breakthrough. Ajinkya Rahane is the new man in and gets off the mark with a boundary by driving the spinner to the mid-on boundary. The in-form batsman is up and running straight away on arrival. The veteran batsman goes over extra cover to drive Chennai and pockets his second boundary.

Lalit Yadav into the attack and the right-arm spinner thought he had trapped Conway and Delhi went for a review. Replays suggested there was bat involved as Conway went for a sweep and there was just a small spike that saved the batter. The opener then skipped down the track and lofted a flighted delivery over the bowler’s head for a boundary. An eventful over comes to an end as there was a review for a stumping but Conway’s foot was grounded when the bails were removed. Tight bowling from Delhi.

Khaleel Ahmed induced an outside edge but Delhi didn’t take the review to hand Conway a life early in the innings. There was no appeal from Phil Salt as the keeper suggested he couldn’t hear anything. Another good over from Khaleel.

The first boundary comes from Gaikwad’s bat as the batsman opened the face of his bat and guided Ishant Sharma through the empty slip cordon as the ball evaded the keeper and raced away into the fence. Another leading edge off Gaikwad’s bat fetches the batsman his second boundary of the evening as the opener ends the over with another boundary to the backward point region to loot 16 runs from the over.

Gaikwad and Conway are off the mark with singles and David Warner leading from the front with some sharp fielding. Khaleel starts well giving just four runs from his opening over.

Delhi players sprint into the field and there come the Chennai openers - Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad and they will be eyeing a good start at home. It will be Khaleel Ahmed with the new ball.

Matheesha Pathirana, Subhranshu Senapati, Mitch Santner, Akash Singh, Shaik Rasheed

Mukesh Kumar, Manish Pandey, Praveen Dubey, Abishek Porel, Chetan Sakariya

David Warner(c), Philip Salt(w), Mitchell Marsh, Rilee Rossouw, Axar Patel, Aman Hakim Khan, Lalit Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Ishant Sharma

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w/c), Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana

“We will bat first. We have played a few games on this wicket. There are chances of this wicket slowing down. We can’t complain about this track. We try to keep it simple. We try to keep reiterating the same thing. Try to accomplish your plan. Try to execute your plans. We have one change.”

Chennai Super Kings wins toss, opts to bat first

“Gorgeous evening here in Chennai. 61 metres and 68 metres (square boundaries), 75 metres downtown. As usual here in Chennai, it (pitch) is nice and dry, it’s very hard but a little hollow and it just begs the question of why there are so many runs that we are actually seeing here at Chepauk this year. Is it going to turn? That’s the thing I am going to be looking at when it comes to this wicket and I believe it is.”

Wicketkeeper: Devon Conway, Phil Salt

Batters: David Warner, Ruturaj Gaikwad (vc), Ajinkya Rahane

All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Marsh, Axar Patel (c)

Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Matheesha Pathirana

Team Composition: CSK 5:6 DCCredits Left: 7

Prithvi Shaw, Mustafizur Rahman, Chetan Sakariya, Yash Dhull, Sarfaraz Khan

David Warner (c), Phil Salt, Mitchell Marsh, Manish Pandey, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Aman Khan, Ripal Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Ishant Sharma

David Warner (c), Phil Salt, Mitchell Marsh, Priyam Garg, Manish Pandey, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Aman Khan, Ripal Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje

Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, MS Dhoni (c/wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Maheesh Theekshana, Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande

Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c/wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande

Matches played: 8

Chennai Super Kings won: 6

Delhi Capitals won: 2

Last result: Chennai Super Kings won by 80 runs (May 2019)

Last five results: CSK won - 5; DC won - 0

Matches played: 27

Chennai Super Kings won: 17

Delhi Capitals won: 10

Last result: Chennai Super Kings won by 91 runs (Mumbai; May 2022)

Last five results: CSK won - 2; DC won - 3

David Warner(c), Philip Salt(w), Mitchell Marsh, Rilee Rossouw, Manish Pandey, Aman Hakim Khan, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Praveen Dubey, Abishek Porel, Sarfaraz Khan, Lungi Ngidi, Mustafizur Rahman, Anrich Nortje, Rovman Powell, Priyam Garg, Prithvi Shaw, Yash Dhull, Vicky Ostwal

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w/c), Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Ambati Rayudu, Mitchell Santner, Subhranshu Senapati, Shaik Rasheed, Akash Singh, Ben Stokes, Dwaine Pretorius, Sisanda Magala, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Prashant Solanki, Simarjeet Singh, RS Hangargekar, Bhagath Varma, Nishant Sindhu