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Delhi Capitals Outclass Chennai Super Kings for Third Straight Win in IPL 2025
KL Rahul’s Classy Knock, Wrist Spin Magic Power DC to Victory Over CSK
The Delhi Capitals (DC) continued their dream start to the IPL 2025 season, clinching their third consecutive victory with a convincing 25-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk. It was their first triumph at this venue against CSK since 2010, ending a 15-year drought. A composed 77-run innings from KL Rahul, followed by an impressive middle-overs choke by Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav, sealed the deal for the visitors.
Toss and Tactical Brilliance Set the Stage
DC captain Axar Patel won a crucial toss and elected to bat first—a decision that paid off handsomely. While Axar didn’t bowl during the crucial middle overs, his trust in his wrist spinners worked wonders. The match was effectively decided in the middle phase of both innings, where DC’s strategic play outshone CSK.
Middle Overs Dominance: Where DC Took Control
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DC Middle Overs Score: 87/2 (RR: 9.67, 6 Fours, 4 Sixes)
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CSK Middle Overs Score: 60/2 (RR: 6.67, 3 Fours, 1 Six)
KL Rahul, leading the batting unit, took charge against CSK’s spin-heavy attack. While Noor Ahmad and Ravindra Jadeja leaked runs, Rahul counter-attacked with precision, bringing up a 33-ball half-century and setting up a strong foundation.
Meanwhile, in CSK’s chase, Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav throttled the scoring rate, conceding just 57 runs in 8 overs and bagging three key wickets, turning the game decisively in DC’s favor.
PowerPlay: DC Recover from Early Jolt
Despite losing Jake Fraser-McGurk early, DC bounced back quickly. Abhishek Porel launched a counterattack, smashing 19 runs in a single over off Mukesh Choudhary. Rahul took his time to settle but showed signs of form with elegant boundaries. Khaleel Ahmed was CSK’s standout, with a spell of 3-0-16-1 during the PowerPlay.
Death Overs: Pathirana’s Heroics Not Enough
DC’s march toward the 200-mark was halted by Matheesha Pathirana, who bowled two brilliant overs at the death, conceding only 13 runs. Yet, a late burst by DC ensured they posted a competitive 183/6. Mukesh Choudhary had a forgettable outing, leaking 50 runs in 4 overs.
CSK’s Batting Falters Again
PowerPlay Collapse
CSK continued their PowerPlay woes, losing three wickets inside six overs. Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Devon Conway all fell early, with Mitchell Starc and Mukesh Kumar striking key blows.
Spin Chokes Middle-Order Momentum
From overs 7 to 15, CSK endured a 28-ball boundary drought, symbolizing their inability to cope with spin. Shivam Dube tried to break the shackles, but a mistimed shot cost him his wicket. Kuldeep Yadav outfoxed Jadeja with a clever variation, while Nigam ended with figures of 2 for 27.
Dhoni’s Late Cameo Too Little, Too Late
MS Dhoni walked out in the 11th over but struggled to find fluency. It took him 19 balls to hit his first boundary—the longest delay by any batter this season. Despite a brief late charge, CSK could only muster 158/5, falling short by 25 runs.
Match Summary
Delhi Capitals 183/6 (KL Rahul 77, Porel 33; Khaleel Ahmed 2-25)
beat
Chennai Super Kings 158/5 (Vijay Shankar 69; Vipraj Nigam 2-27)*
by 25 runs
What’s Next?
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Chennai Super Kings head north to Mullanpur to face Punjab Kings, aiming to arrest their early-season slump.
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Delhi Capitals will fly to Bengaluru for a face-off against RCB on April 10, hoping to continue their unbeaten run.
IPL 2025 Full Schedule on ESPNcricinfo
