Indian Premiere League
In an exhilarating encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, Delhi Capitals (DC) continued their unbeaten streak in the TATA IPL 2025 with a commanding 25-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 17. This win marked DC’s first-ever victory over CSK in Chennai since 2010, with a collective team effort led by KL Rahul’s brilliant batting and Vipraj Nigam’s stunning bowling performance.
Delhi Capitals Set the Tone with Batting Dominance
Batting first, DC made a tactical adjustment by opening the innings with KL Rahul and Jake Fraser-McGurk, filling in for regular opener Faf du Plessis. Unfortunately for DC, Fraser-McGurk’s stay was short-lived as he was dismissed for a duck by Khaleel Ahmed in the first over, leaving DC at 1/1 early in their innings.
Despite the early setback, Delhi remained unfazed. Abishek Porel came out swinging, attacking Mukesh Choudhary with a 19-run blitz in the second over. This aggressive approach kept the CSK bowlers under pressure, and Porel added 54 runs with Rahul for the second wicket before being dismissed for a brisk 33 off 20 balls by Ravindra Jadeja.
KL Rahul, looking in sublime form, found a steady partner in DC’s captain, Axar Patel. The duo kept the scoreboard ticking, rotating the strike and adding crucial runs to the total. Rahul reached his maiden IPL fifty for Delhi in just 33 balls, anchoring the innings through the middle and slog overs. Although Noor Ahmad, the tournament’s Purple Cap holder, sent Axar back for 21, Rahul continued his assault, eventually being dismissed for a well-made 77 off 51 balls by Matheesha Pathirana in the last over.
Pathirana was the lone bright spot in the CSK bowling attack during the death overs, conceding only 13 runs in his final two overs and dismissing Rahul. The Jadeja-Dhoni duo also executed a brilliant run-out to remove Ashutosh Sharma as DC ended their innings at a competitive 183/6.
CSK’s Chase Never Gained Momentum
Chasing a target of 184, CSK’s innings got off to a rocky start. Rachin Ravindra, their in-form batter, was dismissed early by Mukesh Kumar, and a sharp bouncer from Mitchell Starc sent Ruturaj Gaikwad back to the pavilion, caught by Jake Fraser-McGurk at deep square leg. With CSK at 20/2, the pressure was already mounting.
Vipraj Nigam then delivered another blow, removing Devon Conway in the sixth over, and the Capitals’ bowlers kept up the pressure. Just as Shivam Dube and Vijay Shankar seemed to be building a partnership, Nigam returned to dismiss Dube right after he had hit a six, further tightening DC’s grip on the match.
Kuldeep Yadav joined the party, trapping Ravindra Jadeja plumb in front with a beautifully disguised googly. With CSK needing nearly 12 runs per over in the final stretch, MS Dhoni and Vijay Shankar tried to rebuild, but the required run rate was always beyond reach. Shankar remained unbeaten on 69 off 54 balls, while Dhoni finished with 30* off 26. However, their efforts weren’t enough as CSK ended their chase at 158/5, falling short by 25 runs.
A Complete Team Performance
This victory for DC was a perfect blend of batting firepower and disciplined bowling. KL Rahul’s 77 anchored the innings, while the bowlers, especially Vipraj Nigam, who finished with impressive figures, restricted CSK at every stage. DC’s win was built on teamwork, with every player contributing at crucial moments, whether with bat or ball.
With this victory, Delhi Capitals continue to show why they are one of the strongest teams in the IPL 2025 season. They now look forward to maintaining their unbeaten run and challenging for the top spot as the tournament progresses. For CSK, it was a disappointing loss, but they will surely look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
Key Performers:
- KL Rahul (DC): 77 off 51 balls
- Vipraj Nigam (DC): Key wickets and tight bowling in middle overs
- Vijay Shankar (CSK): 69* off 54 balls
As the season heats up, IPL 2025 promises more thrilling contests, and Delhi Capitals have certainly announced themselves as one of the teams to watch out for!