The stage was all set at Chepauk for the showdown between the two sides in prime form thus far – Delhi Capitals and the Chennai Super Kings. The contest promised to be an exciting one but ended up turning in to a one-sided affair. The hosts stamped their authority on the league yet again and trounced the Capitals.

Chasing a target of 179, the Delhi Capitals could never really get past the CSK spinners in the run chase. Imran Tahir along with Ravindra Jadeja and Harbhajan Singh ran through Capitals’ middle-order which eventually led them to suffer a loss by a huge 80 run margin. 

‘MS Dhoni- plus’ Chennai Super Kings showed once again why they have been so dominant all through the season. Winning this game against Capitals, they have confirmed their spot in the top two which will give them a chance to return home for the qualifier.

With this, let’s look at the factors which helped Chennai Super Kings to shape the game in their favour: 

1. The vital 43-run stand between MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja

Earlier in the game, DC had a phenomenal start in the match. They won the toss and opted to field first. CSK could only score three runs in their first three overs and 27 runs in the powerplay. While the overseas players of the CSK camp struggled to get going, it was Suresh Raina’s free-flowing 59 that brought them back in the game.

The vice-captain of the team departed in the 15th over, and Chennai were 102 for the loss of three wickets. Going by their set standards, they were at least 20-30 runs short to what they could have been at this stage. Seeing the position of the team, the team management promoted Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Ambati Rayudu, and one has to say, he didn’t disappoint. 

MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja tonked the DC bowlers in the death overs to regain momentum as they strung a vital 43-run stand in 22 balls which took the game away from the visitors. Jadeja’s 25 off ten balls along with MS Dhoni’s 44 off 22 balls helped the men-in-yellow finish at 179 runs on the board. 

2. Spinners ran through Delhi Capitals batting order

The start for DC wasn’t great as Deepak Chahar sent Prithvi Shaw back in the very first over. However, Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer played their strokes freely and put together 48 runs for the second wicket in mere 28 balls. 

The former got out after attempting to sweep Harbhajan Singh only to see his stumps rattled. Rishabh Pant hit Imran Tahir through the covers and threw his wicket on the next ball. Jadeja trapped Colin Ingram in front to pick up the fourth wicket. All of a sudden, Capitals were four down for 65 runs on the board, losing three wickets for a mere 13 runs.

Tahir unfolded more mayhem, dismissing Axar Patel and Sherfane Rutherford in his second over. Jadeja then nipped out Chris Morris, and Iyer’s wicket and the credit also goes to Dhoni for some sharp glovework. Iyer’s wicket was the final nail in the coffin as he scored 44 from 31. Delhi was eventually shot out for 99 in 16.2 overs eventually losing their fifth game of the ongoing season.