David Warner (52, 35b, 5×4, 3×6) and Rishabh Pant (51, 32b, 4×4, 3×6) both scored half-centuries, while Khaleel Ahmed’s superb first spell (3-1-9-2) enabled the Delhi Capitals defeat the Chennai Super Kings by 20 runs at the ACA-VDCA Stadium. Choosing to bat, the Capitals recorded 191 for five, with openers Warner and Prithvi Shaw laying the groundwork with a 93-run combination before Pant provided the finishing touch.
In response, CSK’s chase derailed immediately when left-arm pacer Khaleel (2/21) removed openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra in his first two overs, leaving only 32 in the PowerPlay.
Ajinkya Rahane (45) and Daryl Mitchell (34) scored 68 runs for the third wicket, keeping the reigning champions’ chances alive. But just as they were about to make a move, Axar Patel caught and bowled Mitchell. The Super Kings’ chances were over when Mukesh Kumar struck twice in as many balls to dismiss Rahane and Sameer Rizvi. The sell-out audience, dressed in yellow, and CSK fans found solace when M.S. Dhoni rewound the clock and brought the house down with a blistering cameo, hitting an unbeaten 37 (16b, 4×4, 3×6) that included several clean knocks down the ground. However, it arrived too late for the Men in Yellow.