The Delhi Capitals (DC) sparked their campaign in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with their first win, defeating the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 20 runs. The match, held at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, saw DC put forth a well-rounded team performance to overcome CSK, who had started the season in fine form.
Opting to bat first under batting-friendly conditions, DC introduced Prithvi Shaw in place of Ricky Bhui, pairing him with David Warner to open. Initially cautious, the duo gauged the CSK bowling attack, progressing to 24 runs in the first four overs. The game’s dynamic changed when Deepak Chahar came in for his third over during the powerplay, and DC’s openers shifted gears, cashing in 18 runs. Warner’s remarkable scoop for six was a standout. Mustafizur Rahman faced the brunt of Shaw’s aggression in the final over of the powerplay, conceding 20 runs, including three boundaries hit crisply by Shaw. By the end of the powerplay, DC had confidently moved up to 62/0.
The run fest continued post-powerplay as Shaw welcomed Ravindra Jadeja with a commanding six over long-on. DC maintained their momentum, scoring at over ten an over. However, Matheesha Pathirana made his presence felt, first with his fielding where he miraculously dismissed Warner attempting a reverse scoop, and then by catching Shaw off guard leading to a glove to MS Dhoni.
Following these quick setbacks, Rishabh Pant and Mitchell Marsh gathered to rebuild the innings. Although their striking brought occasional boundaries, the pace had slowed down. Pathirana returned to bowl in the 15th over, removing Marsh and Tristan Stubbs swiftly, putting DC in a challenging position at 134/4 with five overs left. Pant then took control, escalating his attack against both Mustafizur and Pathirana, which included a salvaged yorker turned into a six. Pant’s quick-fire half-century pivoted DC to a strong closing score of 191.
CSK’s chase was undermined right from the start, falling prey to Khaleel Ahmed’s exceptional swing. Ruturaj Gaikwad succumbed in the first over, and soon, Rachin Ravindra lofted a catch to mid-off. With tight bowling from Ishant Sharma and Khaleel, CSK was reeling at a low run rate during the powerplay.
The recovery phase was left to Ajinkya Rahane and Daryl Mitchell, who gradually found rhythm against DC’s bowlers. The duo escalated the scoring briefly, but once Mitchell fell to Axar Patel and Rahane succumbed to Mukesh Kumar’s double strike in the 14th over, CSK’s resistance started to crumble.
Despite the climbing required rate, Shivam Dube and MS Dhoni attempted late heroics, but Mukesh’s tight penultimate over ensured CSK stayed behind the needed pace. Dhoni’s explosive 37 off 16 balls in the final over ended in vain as CSK concluded their innings at 171, short by 20 runs.
The match not only marked DC’s first win of the season but showcased their potential to rectify early strategic lapses and leverage both batting and bowling prowess to seal crucial matches. Their performance has indeed sent a strong message across the league about their capability to rebound from setbacks with resilience and tactical acumen. On the other hand, CSK, despite their solid start to the season, will look to regroup and address their vulnerabilities exposed in this encounter.