Delhi Capitals (DC) recorded their first points in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with a 20-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, witnessed a good all-round performance by DC that helped overcome the in-form CSK. 

In batting friendly conditions at their home venue, DC elected to bat first. Prithvi Shaw came into the side in place of Ricky Bhui and was sent to open the batting with David Warner. To begin with, the DC openers were cautious and getting a measure of the CSK bowling. In the first four overs, they moved to 24. 

When Deepak Chahar was introduced for his third over in the power play, DC batters decided to cut loose – picking 18 runs. Warner’s falling scoop behind square for six was the highlight. Mustafizur Rahman was brought in to bowl the last over of the power play. Shaw joined Warner in the attack with three crisp boundaries in an over that went for 20. At the end of the six overs, DC had jumped to 62 for no loss. 

The assault continued even after the powerplay as Shaw welcomed Ravindra Jadeja with a six over long-on. DC maintained a run-rate of over 10 an over. That is when Matheesha Pathirana announced himself in the game and helped CSK make a comeback. 

To start off, Pathirana’s first impact wasn’t with his slingy bowling but with an acrobatic effort in the field. In the 10th over, Warner tried to reverse-scoop Mustafizur through third-man. Pathirana, standing at short third, threw himself to his right and caught the ball with a magnificent dive. The batter was left shell-shocked. In the following over, Shaw got a thick edge to MS Dhoni’s gloves off Jadeja – a ball after smashing another six. 

𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥 🤩

Matheesha Pathirana takes a one hand diving catch to dismiss David Warner who was on song tonight

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Rishabh Pant and Mitchell Marsh set about a recovery job over the next few overs. While they picked occasional boundaries, the run-rate had dropped after the initial phase. Pathirana then came in to bowl the 15th over. Marsh was castled by the trademark slinging yorker that went under his bat and shattered the woodwork. A couple of deliveries later, Tristan Stubbs was bamboozled by another toe-crusher. At 134 for four in 15 overs, DC had their task cut out in the last five. 

Stump lights go 🔛 🚨

✌️breath taking deliveries 😯

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This is when Pant took charge and unveiled those aggressive shots. Over the next few overs, he gradually changed gears, managing to attack both Mustafizur and Pathirana. Mustafizur was pulled for six, while he managed to dig out an attempted yorker from Pathirana in the 19th over and lofted it over long-on for six. A couple of fours followed to take Pant past his half-century – a first since his celebrated comeback. Although he fell soon after, Pant had done enough to help DC score 191. 

CSK’s reply got off to a shaky start with Khaleel Ahmed getting copious movement early on. In the very first over, Ruturaj Gaikwad inside-edged one from outside the off stump into Pant’s gloves. Run-scoring was difficult in those initial overs with both Ishant Sharma and Khaleel keeping it tight. The pressure mounted on CSK when Rachin Ravindra tried to loft Khaleel in the third over but skied it to mid-off. In the powerplay, Khaleel had bowled three overs and scalped both wickets for only nine runs. 

It was up to Ajinkya Rahane and Daryl Mitchell to script a recovery. Rahane’s batting was positive from the outset as he drove Ishant for two fours in the fourth over. A pull shot for six off Anrich Nortje was the highlight. Mitchell got his eye in and ultimately attacked Axar Patel in the ninth over – lofting him for a huge six down the ground. Post the first time out, the CSK batters decided to change gears. Rasikh Salam, the Impact Player in place of Shaw, was smashed for two sixes as CSK made their intentions clear. However, Axar Patel struck in the next over with Mitchell hitting the ball back to him. 

These maximums 🤩

Some clean hitting tonight 👌

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Rahane was anchoring the innings and was well-set moving along into his 40s. However, in the 14th over, Mukesh Kumar delivered a double blow, by dismissing Rahane caught at long-on and getting Sameer Rizvi caught at short third-man first ball. This is when DC’s bowlers began tightening the screws.

The asking rate kept mounting for CSK as the slog overs approached. Things got even tougher when Shivam Dube holed out to long-off in the 17th over, with Mukesh getting his third wicket. That brought Dhoni to the crease amidst great fanfare – treating his fans to two boundaries to start off. In the following over, Dhoni almost nonchalantly lofted one over cover for a massive six off Khaleel. 

Vintage Dhoni 👌#TATAIPL fans were treated to some strong hitting by MS Dhoni

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Mukesh (three for 21) bowled a great penultimate over to nullify any outside chance CSK had. Dhoni (37 not out off 16 balls) entertained the crowds with a blitz in the last over, smashing 4,6,4,6 against Nortje, but the target was too far as CSK fell short by 20 runs.