Delhi Capitals Triumph Over Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025
Delhi Capitals Continue Winning Streak
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India] - April 5: After securing a victory against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their latest Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter, Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Axar Patel expressed surprise at his team's ability to win three consecutive matches so effortlessly, although he noted that they have yet to deliver a "perfect match."
Under Axar's leadership, DC has made a remarkable start to IPL 2025, marking the first time since 2009 that they have kicked off the season with three victories. KL Rahul's impressive 77 runs, along with effective bowling from Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav, led to a 24-run triumph over the five-time champions.
During the post-match presentation, Axar remarked, "I didn't anticipate it would be this straightforward to win three in a row. Everyone played their part, and the team dynamics are looking strong. As a captain, it's gratifying to have three wins out of three. I was conserving my energy (by not bowling much today) due to an injured finger. Each match has seen some spectacular catches and a few drops. I believe we haven't yet played a flawless game. The IPL is a lengthy tournament, and momentum can shift at any moment."
In the match, DC won the toss and chose to bat first. After an early loss of Jake Fraser McGurk, a solid 54-run partnership between KL Rahul and Abishek Porel (33 off 20 balls, including four boundaries and a six) and a 56-run collaboration with Sameer Rizwi (20 off 15 balls, with one four and one six) kept DC's run rate healthy. KL achieved his first fifty in DC colors, scoring 77 runs off 51 balls, featuring six fours and three sixes. Tristan Stubbs contributed a quick 24 runs off 12 balls, helping DC finish their innings at 183/6 in 20 overs.
For CSK, Khaleel Ahmed was the standout bowler, taking 2 wickets for 25 runs.
During the chase, CSK struggled, losing five wickets for just 74 runs. Vijay Shankar (69* off 54 balls, with five fours and a six) and MS Dhoni (30* off 26 balls, with one four and one six) attempted to mount a comeback, but the team ultimately fell short, finishing at 158/5, 24 runs behind.
Vipraj Nigam was the leading bowler for DC with figures of 2/27. Mitchell Starc also had a commendable performance, taking 1/27, while Kuldeep Yadav contributed with 1/30 in four overs.
KL Rahul was awarded the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.
With this victory, DC sits atop the points table with three wins from three matches, while CSK has dropped to eighth place with only one win and three losses.