Delhi Capitals down Chennai Super Kings to extend winning run in IPL

Delhi Capitals’ captain Axar Patel, second left, shake hands with Chennai Super Kings’ captain Ruturaj Gaikwad after winning the Indian Premier League match against Chennai Super Kings at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP)

• Delhi’s third straight win to start off this season — only the second time they have achieved this feat in IPL history

CHENNAI: Lokesh Rahul led the way with 77 off 51 balls as Delhi Capitals beat Chennai Super Kings by 25 runs on Saturday to continue their winning start in the Indian Premier League.
Rahul hit a maiden half-century for his new franchise, including six fours and three sixes, as Delhi notched up 183-6 in 20 overs. Abishek Porel contributed 33 off 20 balls.
In reply, Chennai were restricted to 158-5 (20 overs), with their top-order lacking the firepower needed for such a chase.
It was Delhi’s third straight win to start off this season — only the second time they have achieved this feat in IPL history, the last such occasion was in 2009.
The Capitals thus climbed atop the points’ table with six points. For Chennai, it was a third straight loss in four games overall.
Opting to bat, Delhi lost attacking opener Jake Fraser-McGurk for a five-ball duck. Khaleel Ahmed was Chennai’s best bowler with 2-25 in four overs, including the opener’s wicket.
Rahul and Porel then added 54 off 36 balls for the second wicket, with the latter hitting four fours and a six before he was out caught off Ravindra Jadeja.
Skipper Axar Patel put in a cameo — 21 off 14 balls — helping Delhi get to 90-3 just past the halfway stage.
Rahul reached 50 off 33 deliveries and helped strike middle-order partnerships with Sameer Rizvi (20) and Tristan Stubbs (24 not out off 12 balls).
The hosts suffered from a lack of firepower in their batting.
Rachin Ravindra was out for three, while Devon Conway was caught for 13. Mitchell Starc removed skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad for five runs and the game was all but over at 41-3 in 5.3 overs.
Impact substitute Shivam Dube struggled to get going — he scored 18 off 15 balls — while Jadeja was out lbw for two.
Vijay Shankar held fort at one end and scored 69 not out off 54 balls, including five fours and a six. It wasn’t enough to turn the tide however.
Shankar put on 84 off 57 balls with MS Dhoni, who scored 30 not out off 26 balls. But it was never really a realistic chasing effort from the duo.
Punjab Kings hosts Rajasthan Royals at Chandigarh in the second game on Saturday.