Rahul-inspired Delhi Capitals crush CSK by 25 runs to break 15-year jinx at Chepauk

Delhi Capitals’ juggernaut continued unabated in the ongoing IPL as they rode on KL Rahul’s exemplary batting and some disciplined bowling to register their third successive win in the ongoing IPL with a 25-run victory over Chennai Super Kings here on Saturday.

This was DC’s first win at Chepauk in 15 years, even as CSK’s struggles continued this season.

Batting first, DC posted 183 for six after Rahul mixed his trademark elegance with brute force during a 51-ball 77. The stylish Rahul struck six fours and three sixes while anchoring the innings.

Tristan Stubbs chipped in with an unbeaten 12-ball 24 before Matheesha Pathirana (1/31) bowled a brilliant final over to prevent DC from finishing their innings on a high.

However, CSK were stopped at 158 for five in their allotted 20 overs, much to the disappointment of their home crowd that had flocked to the venue to pack the stands.

Vijay Shankar top-scored for CSK with 69 off 54 balls, while MS Dhoni remained not out on 30 in 26 deliveries.

CSK lost three wickets inside the powerplay, leaving the rest of the batting to play catch-up on a challenging wicket.

With the in-form Mitchell Starc (1/27) steaming in and Mukesh Kumar (1/36) keeping it tight at the other end, CSK found the going tough and both bowlers enjoyed early success, the Australian left-arm speedster laying a trap for Ruturaj Gaikwad (5) and the Indian pacer sending back Rachin Ravindra (3) after the Kiwi got a leading edge while trying to flick it through midwicket.

Devon Conway (13), one of the crowd favourites who replaced Jamie Overton in this match, too fell cheaply after getting a leading edge while trying to work the ball over midwicket. Young leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam (2/27) was the successful bowler on that occasion, as CSK slipped to 41 for three in the sixth over.

After taking a fine catch to dismiss Shivam Dube, Tristan Stubbs dropped a sitter off Vijay Shankar, when the batter was on 27 and looking to accelerate with the promoted Dhoni at the other end.

Dhoni, whose decision to bat at number 9 against Royal Challengers was not well-received by fans, walked in at the fall of the fifth wicket but he was not able to get those big hits going, as the DC emerged winners.

Earlier, the Capitals suffered a jolt at the start of their innings thanks to an excellent first over from Khaleel Ahmed (2/25), who had big-hitting opener Jake Fraser-McGurk caught after putting him under pressure with four dot balls.

Credit to Khaleel for plotting Fraser-McGurk’s dismissal by banging the ball on the good length instead of allowing him to play in the ‘V’, something the young Australian is good at.

Notwithstanding the early jitter, Delhi Capitals managed to score 51 runs in the power play and that was largely because of the enterprise shown by Abhishek Porel (33 off 20 balls), who collected 19 runs from left-arm fast-medium bowler Mukesh Choudhary’s first over.

Playing this game in place of Rahul Tripathi, Choudhary struggled to get his length right and was bowling either too full of too short, and Porel took full advantage of some wayward bowling.

Khaleel returned to bowl another fine over and Choudhary too did much better in his second over.

KL Rahul broke the shackles with a six over deep square leg off Khaleel before CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad introduced spin in the form of the seasoned Ravichandran Ashwin in the sixth over, hoping for a wicket.

The much-needed breakthrough, however, came in the next over as Porel ended up giving an easy catch to Matheesha Pathirana after driving Ravindra Jadeja uppishly in the left-arm spinner’s first over.

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It was a soft dismissal, and Porel would be frustrated with it as he was looking good for a big one after having settled down nicely.

Axar Patel began his innings with a six over long-on off Jadeja but, like Porel, the Delhi Capitals skipper too got out after getting his eye in, for a 14-ball 21.

On either side of Axar’s dismissal, Rahul struck two sixes off Noor Ahmad and Jadeja respectively, before reaching his 38th IPL fifty off 33 balls.

Rahul found an able ally in Sameer Rizvi (20 off 15 balls) as the duo added 56 runs for the fourth wicket in quick time.