Chennai Super Kings are beginning to lose their grip on their once-impregnable fortress. For the second time this season, a visiting side that hadn’t won at Chepauk in 15 years completely outplayed them.
What followed was a surreal moment — a crowd that usually roars for MS Dhoni’s arrival, even celebrating their own team’s wickets in anticipation, fell eerily silent when he walked out to bat in the 11th over on Saturday.
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KL Rahul Steadies the Ship with Composed Knock Amid Testing Conditions
With Faf du Plessis sidelined due to fitness concerns, KL Rahul stepped up to open the innings for Delhi Capitals. The pitch, dry and slow, offered little assistance to the batters, making stroke play a challenge early on. Rahul took his time to adjust, reaching 25 off his first 20 deliveries.
The momentum shift came against Noor Ahmad, the leading wicket-taker of IPL 2025. Rahul didn’t go for all-out aggression, but he capitalized on slight errors with precision and poise, taking 20 runs off 9 balls from the spinner. A full delivery was dispatched for four, while a slightly shorter one with width was swept powerfully for six — calculated shots, not reckless hitting. Against tricky spinners like Noor, horizontal bat shots can be effective if the length is judged right.
Rahul’s innings then accelerated — from 25 off 20 to 36 off the next 18 balls — highlighted by a classy reverse scoop off Mukesh Choudhary, the only bowler he deliberately attacked. In fact, Mukesh was responsible for 40% of the boundaries DC managed in the innings.
CSK’s Chase Falters Early as Top Order Crumbles
Even as Rahul’s innings drew to a close, it was clear that stroke-making was becoming increasingly difficult. He managed just 16 runs off his final 13 deliveries — a sign DC picked up on quickly. Mukesh Kumar exploited the sluggish pitch, extracting a leading edge from Rachin Ravindra with a ball that held up in the surface.
Soon after, Ruturaj Gaikwad connected sweetly with a Mitchell Starc short ball but failed to find the gap. The moment Jake Fraser-McGurk completed the catch at deep backward square, Gaikwad reacted in frustration, throwing his head back in disappointment.
At 20 for 2 in the third over, CSK’s chase was already in trouble. And with the shadow of their eight-year drought chasing targets over 180 in the IPL looming large, this was far from the ideal start.
Vijay Shankar Struggles Through a Gritty Half-Century Amid CSK’s Stifled Chase
Vijay Shankar’s fifty was anything but fluent. He managed just one boundary in his first 31 balls, surviving a couple of close shaves — an lbw appeal and a run-out chance — along the way. Though he tried to make the most of those lifelines, nothing seemed to click. Delhi Capitals’ bowlers were relentless, consistently denying him the room to free his arms, while the sluggish pitch further blunted his efforts.
Despite battling on to score 69 off 54 deliveries, Shankar wore a pained expression more than once, reflecting the struggle at the crease. The contrast between both sides was stark: DC sought boundaries on 37 occasions and found success 21 times. CSK were slightly more aggressive, going after 38 balls, but managed to breach the rope only 12 times.
It was a masterclass from DC’s bowlers — tactically sharp and pitch-aware — as they turned the screws on CSK in conditions that the latter usually thrive in. In essence, DC beat CSK at their own game.
Dhoni’s Quiet Return Highlights CSK’s Growing Crisis
In the previous match, head coach Stephen Fleming explained that MS Dhoni’s batting time is being carefully managed due to his limited capacity to play long innings. That’s why he came in at No. 9 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru — there simply wasn’t a reason to send him earlier.
But this time, there was no option. With half the side back in the pavilion and just 10.4 overs gone, CSK were forced to bring Dhoni in. His arrival followed a moment of brilliance from Kuldeep Yadav, who bowled a dream googly to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja failed to read the delivery, and Kuldeep’s immaculate length ensured the ball beat both bat and pad to trap him plumb in front.
What followed was a rare occasion — Dhoni, a World Cup-winning captain, was walking out to bat with his parents in the stands, possibly for the first time. He managed a run-a-ball 30, but the match was already slipping away. CSK eventually lost by 25 runs, and ESPNcricinfo’s win predictor had already dropped their chances to just 9.51% midway through the chase.
Beyond the numbers, deeper issues are surfacing. Jadeja hasn’t completed his quota of overs in four games, Ashwin has bowled out in only two, and CSK have cleared the ropes the fewest times this season. Their middle order, once a strength, is now a major weakness — averaging just 21.23 and striking at a tournament-low 116.94. It was a somber evening for CSK fans, and a stark reminder of the cracks beginning to show.
FAQs
Why did MS Dhoni bat early against Delhi Capitals?
Dhoni was forced to bat in the 11th over after a top-order collapse left CSK struggling at 10.4 overs with half the side back in the hut.
How did KL Rahul perform against CSK in Chennai?
KL Rahul anchored DC’s innings with a composed 69 off 54 balls, overcoming a slow pitch and tight bowling to lead his team to a strong total.
What went wrong for CSK in their chase against Delhi Capitals?
CSK’s batting collapsed early, and they struggled on a slow, turning pitch, managing just 12 boundaries from 38 attempted big shots.
Is Chepauk still a stronghold for Chennai Super Kings?
CSK have started to lose their grip at Chepauk, with two teams this season breaking 15-year losing streaks at the venue.
What are CSK’s key concerns in IPL 2025?
CSK’s middle order is misfiring, their six-hitting is the lowest in the league, and key spinners like Jadeja and Ashwin aren’t bowling their full quotas regularly.
