Mumbai: Delhi Capitals Overcome Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings fans were left uneasy as they witnessed MS Dhoni’s 30* (26 balls) alongside Vijay Shankar’s unbeaten 69* (54 balls) during their match against Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The sixth-wicket partnership seemed almost routine by the end of the game.

Delhi Capitals, after choosing to bat first, posted a total of 183 runs and restricted CSK to 158/5, leaving them 25 runs short in this day match.

Upon Dhoni’s arrival at the crease in the 11th over, CSK needed 110 runs off 56 deliveries, with Shankar on 24 and half the team already out. Although the odds were tough on a sluggish pitch, fans still held hope for a classic Dhoni comeback, even though he hadn’t managed it this season. His loyal supporters greeted him with the loudest cheers, reflecting their ongoing belief in his talent.

At 43, Dhoni has continued to defy age, but his recent performances in the early matches of IPL 2025 suggest that he may be struggling to keep up with the fast-paced T20 format. The presence of Dhoni’s parents at the stadium fueled speculation about his potential retirement, though CSK’s head coach Stephen Fleming declined to address these rumors.

Delhi Capitals took strategic advantage of utilizing spin bowlers Kuldeep Yadav (4-0-30-1) and Vipraj Nigam (4-0-27-2) against Dhoni, who didn’t attempt any boundaries. Shankar, on the other hand, despite being fortunate with dropped catches, was also unable to score freely. The required run rate escalated to 18 runs per over in the last four overs, and when batting coach Mike Hussey suggested strategic options for Shankar, Dhoni seemed disengaged, perhaps acknowledging that his explosive batting days were behind him.

Shankar managed to hit a few boundaries, and the Dhoni-Shankar partnership ended respectably at 84* (57 balls), but they never posed a real threat to the target. With 41 runs needed in the final over, many spectators had already begun to exit the stadium.

In the beginning, CSK replaced Rahul Tripathi with Devon Conway as an opener, but Conway’s form was poor, producing only 13 runs off 14 balls. Once in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad fell early to Mitchell Starc, it was left to Shivam Dube to build momentum, but he failed to capitalize and managed only a brief stint.

KL Rahul emerged as the star for Delhi Capitals, scoring 77 runs off 57 balls. Originally set to bat in the middle order, he was shifted to open after Faf du Plessis’ injury, making a strong impact. He began aggressively, scoring runs off Mukesh Choudhary and effectively exploiting CSK’s key spinner Noor Ahmad. Rahul’s performance, alongside quick contributions from Tristan Stubbs (24* off 12 balls), helped Delhi set a winning target, ensuring a comfortable start to their campaign with three consecutive victories, while CSK now faces the prospect of three losses in their last four matches, reviving discussions about Dhoni’s future.