Delhi Capitals Opt to Bowl First Against Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026 Clash
Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings: Match Preview
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 11: In the 18th match of the IPL 2026 season, the Delhi Capitals (DC) won the toss and chose to bowl first against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who have clinched the championship five times.
This much-anticipated match is taking place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Delhi Capitals are entering this game following a narrow one-run loss to the Gujarat Titans, while Chennai is eager to secure their first victory of the season after suffering three consecutive defeats.
After the toss, DC captain Axar Patel announced that Aquib Nabi from Jammu and Kashmir would be making his debut, and Ashutosh Sharma has been included in the Impact Sub list.
“We prefer to bowl first as the pitch appears favorable, and we are ready to chase any target set. The IPL is a lengthy tournament, and the atmosphere in the dressing room is quite relaxed. Our focus has been on controlling what we can. Once we reach a certain point, there’s no need to overthink things. That’s our mindset—control what’s in our hands,” Axar stated.
“The mood is positive. Our team balance is solid, covering almost all bases. Based on our options, I believe we have selected a strong combination. Compared to last year, our team looks more balanced, and we hope to perform well today. The pitch has been good for batting this season. Historically, it has played well in Chennai. It’s a red soil pitch, promising good bounce. Our goal is to restrict them to a low total and then chase it down. We have made two changes: Nabi replaces Vipraj, and Ashutosh Sharma is in the Impact Sub list,” Patel added.
After losing the toss, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad confirmed the inclusion of Dewald Brevis in the lineup.
“The pitch does seem a bit dry. We were 50-50 about the toss, but we’re backing ourselves. Our aim is to put our best foot forward today, secure that first win, and climb the points table. We’ve been striving for improvement in all areas. The batting has been performing well, but we need to capitalize on key moments,” Gaikwad remarked.
“Overall, everyone is in a good frame of mind and eager to play. Our team balance is strong, and we are playing to our potential. It’s fantastic to have Brevis back; he’s excited and ready to contribute. Our middle order looks robust as well. We’ve also brought in Gurjapneet Singh, who has been bowling well lately, in place of Matt Edwards. For those wondering about MS Dhoni, he’s at the hotel supporting us. You’ll see him on the field soon,” the CSK skipper added.
Both teams' playing XIs:
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurjapneet Singh.
Chennai Super Kings (Impact Subs): Matthew Short, Akeal Hosein, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Matt Henry.
Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (capt), Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar.
Delhi Capitals (Impact Subs): Vipraj Nigam, Ashutosh Sharma, Karun Nair, Dushmantha Chameera, Nitish Rana.