IPL 2025, CSK vs DC: Capitals thrash listless Super Kings for third straight win

Unfortunately for the sell-out crowd at the MAC stadium and the scores watching elsewhere, Chennai Super Kings produced one of the most listless performances in its history to go down by 25 runs against Delhi Capitals in an IPL match

Victory and defeat are part and parcel of professional sports. However, it is the competitive fight shown by the participants that keeps the fans hooked, irrespective of the end result.

Unfortunately for the sell-out crowd at the MAC stadium and the scores watching elsewhere, Chennai Super Kings produced one of the most listless performances in its history to go down by 25 runs against Delhi Capitals in an IPL match on Saturday (April 5, 2025).

The Capitals, electing to bat, made 183 for six thanks to K.L. Rahul’s measured half-century (77, 51b, 6x4, 3x6).

In reply, the Men in Yellow’s approach confounded everyone, as they showed no fight nor effort to chase the target and slumped to their third straight defeat.

As has been the story this season, the five-time champion lost the plot in the PowerPlay, losing three wickets. Mukesh Kumar and Mitchell Starc accounted for Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad, respectively, while Vipraj Nigam removed Devon Conway, leaving the host struggling at 41 for three in the sixth over.

On a red-soil surface that offered assistance for the tweakers, the visitor gave the five-time champion a taste of their own medicine, using spin to choke the runs. Vipraj (two for 27) and Kuldeep Yadav spun a web around the CSK batters and strangled them as the home team managed just one boundary between the seventh and 13th overs.

Vijay Shankar (69 n.o.) and MS Dhoni (30 n.o.) barely attempted to get the big hits going and threw in the towel long before the final delivery was bowled.

Earlier, Rahul showed that a proper game plan, timing and clever placement could work wonders even in the age of brute power hitting. The 32-year-old neutralised Noor Ahmad, CSK’s main weapon, by using the sweep effectively, smashing the left-arm spinner for a six and two boundaries. He never allowed the 

CSK spinners to settle down, taking calculated risks like stepping down to launch Ravindra Jadeja down the ground before raising his bat for a 33-ball half-century.

Abhishek Porel, Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs complemented Rahul with cameos to help their side get to an above-par total and secure a third-straight victory.

Published - April 05, 2025 05:43 pm IST