MS Dhoni made a sensational 37* off 16 deliveries years ago but Chennai Super Kings could not win as Delhi Capitals won by 20 runs in Vizag. Mukesh Kumar picked up three wickets while Khaleel Ahmed removed two CSK openers to put the game in the hands of the home team.
DC won the toss and chose Dr. on their home field. Y.S.Rajashekar Reddy to bat first at the ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium. They started with a bang. David Warner and Prithvi Shaw put on a 93-run partnership in 9.3 overs before Warner took a stunning flying catch from Matheesha Pathirana at Short Fine Leg. He scored 52 off 35 balls with five 4s and three 6s.
Shaw was soon after scoring 43 off 27 balls with four 4s and two 6s. With this wicket, MS Dhoni became the first wicket-keeper to take 300 T20 wickets.
Rishabh Pant took charge after that. DC managed to maintain a run rate of at least 10 throughout the match, although Pant decided to return to form, there were some quiet overs as well. He finished with 51 off 32 with four 4s and three 6s.
It was Pant’s first IPL 50 since 2021, not forgetting the car accident he was involved in in December 2022, which ruled him out of cricket for 15 months. He received a standing ovation from the audience as he left. DC put Chennai 192 in the chase.
Unlike DC, CSK had a shaky start. Openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra went as soon as they batted. CSK were 7/2 with Ajinkya Rahane and Daryl Mitchell providing support from the start. Rahane’s 45 from 30 balls (five 4s and two 6s) had CSK 102/4 in 13.3 overs.
Outstanding Performance
It was Dhoni’s unbeaten 37 from 16 balls that set the stadium on fire. CSK needed 72 runs from 23 balls and stopped at 171/6. No one complained though. The entire stadium erupted as CSK fans cheered as they got their last year’s Mahi back.
Yes, CSK lost the match but no one cared.
