Axar Patel Poised for Key Role Against CSK in IPL Clash

As the Delhi Capitals prepare to face the Chennai Super Kings in a crucial IPL match, captain Axar Patel is expected to play a significant role against CSK's opening duo of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson. Both teams are eager to secure their playoff spots, making this encounter vital. With recent performances and historical matchups in mind, the stakes are high for both sides. Read on to find out more about the squads and what to expect in this exciting clash.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 5, 2026, 02:24 IST

Delhi Capitals vs. Chennai Super Kings: A Crucial IPL Encounter

New Delhi [India] - On May 4, Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Axar Patel is set to play a pivotal role as his team faces off against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. This match is particularly significant as both teams are vying for a spot in the playoffs.

DC enters this match with renewed confidence following a victory over the Rajasthan Royals (RR), breaking a streak of three consecutive losses. Meanwhile, CSK also kept their playoff aspirations alive with a win against their rivals, the Mumbai Indians (MI). Both teams currently sit at eight points after nine matches, with CSK in sixth place and DC just behind in seventh, making the competition for the top four spots intense.

According to Cricbuzz, CSK's opening pair has accumulated a total of 205 runs this season, averaging 22.77, which ranks as the second-lowest among all teams, only ahead of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Despite this, Sanju Samson has been impressive with two centuries and 315 runs at an average of 45.00 and a strike rate of 167.55. Ruturaj Gaikwad has also contributed with 245 runs, including two fifties, averaging 35.00 and striking at 125.64.

In their previous encounters, Axar has proven to be a challenging opponent for the CSK openers, having dismissed Ruturaj twice in seven innings. Ruturaj has scored 63 runs against Axar, averaging 32.50 with a strike rate of 143.18. Sanju has faced Axar 13 times, scoring 91 runs at a strike rate of 122.97, but has also been dismissed twice, showcasing Axar's ability to limit their scoring opportunities.

With eight wickets to his name this season at an average of 29.87, Axar is expected to bowl during the powerplay, targeting both CSK openers.

Squads:

Delhi Capitals: KL Rahul (w), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (c), Ashutosh Sharma, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, David Miller, Karun Nair, Dushmantha Chameera, Lungi Ngidi, Mukesh Kumar, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Prithvi Shaw, Auqib Nabi Dar, Rehan Ahmed, Tripurana Vijay, Abishek Porel, Sahil Parakh, Vipraj Nigam, Madhav Tiwari

Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (w), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Prashant Veer, Shreyas Gopal, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Kartik Sharma, MS Dhoni, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Sarfaraz Khan, Matthew Short, Rahul Chahar, Spencer Johnson, Akash Madhwal, Aman Khan, Gurjapneet Singh, Zakary Foulkes.