Bengaluru, April 10: The Delhi Capitals got their season off to a strong start with a 7-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
Leading the Capitals for the first time, skipper Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bowl first. Though Chennai got off to a shaky start, losing their openers early, Suresh Raina put up a solid show to guide CSK to a modest start.
After missing out on the IPL last season, Raina dazzled on his comeback as he scored a quickfire 54 off 36 to help Chennai put up a modest total.
Regular wickets hurt Chennai, but Sam Curran’s quickfire knock at the end and a good show from Ravindra Jadeja saw Chennai reach a total of 188/7. Chennai skipper MS Dhoni lost his wicket for a duck as Avesh Khan put up a good show with the ball. Avesh and Chris Woakes pocketed two wickets each to keep Chennai in check.
Though the total looked comfortable, the CSK bowlers looked clueless as Delhi openers Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan stole the game away. An opening stand of 138 between the duo all but took the game away from Chennai.
While Shaw impressed with a solid 38-ball 72, his senior compatriot, Dhawan, scored a blistering 54-ball 85 to set Delhi up for a comfortable win.
Though Dwayne Bravo and Shardul Thakur halted their charge, Delhi notched up a comfortable win with 8 balls to spare. Captain Pant struck the final boundary to notch a 7-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings.
Here's how the Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals IPL match panned out.
A perfect start indeed. Missing key players, but that didn't hamper Delhi's chances.
Perfect start boys 💯 Keep it going @DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/TJXZAT8ss8
— Shreyas Iyer (@ShreyasIyer15) April 10, 2021
A warning shot from Shaw-Dhawan at the onset of the season. CSK will have to quickly recover after their dismal loss.
CSK impressive in recovering from two early blows to score 188 but terribly unimpressive defending it. Simple catches dropped, bowling lacking in discipline too. Hard work lahead. For DC, Shaw-Dhawan were excellent, serving notice to IPL opponents as well as national selectors
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 10, 2021
End of the match: Delhi picked up from where they left off last season. A seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings was the perfect start for Rishabh Pant's captaincy stint. Chennai Super Kings will be looking for a lot of answers. Apart from Suresh Raina's sizzling comeback knock, CSK failed to impress in their opening game of the season.
FOUR!! The skipper finishes the job with a boundary. Delhi Capitals begin the 2021 season with a seven-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings.
OUT!! Stoinis finds Sam Curran as he goes for 14 off 9. DC need 3 from 9
Shardul Thakur in for his final over. FOUR! A boundary of the first delivery. Just three to win for Delhi
7 needed from the last two overs
FOUR! Stoinis smashes it away for a boundary
Two singles to start Bravo's over. The all rounder has been the most economical for CSK tonight. DC need 13 off 15
14 runs come off the over. 17 needed off the last three overs
FOUR! Stoinis gets straight down to business as he finds a boundary to get off the mark.
WICKET!! And Dhawan's beautiful innings come to an end. A superb delivery from Thakur as he sends the opener back to the dugout. Dhawan goes for 85 off 54. DC need 22 from 20 to win. Marcus Stoinis the new batsman in.
Back-to-back fours from Dhawan!
FOUR!! A boundary to start Shardul's over
Seven runs come off Bravo's third over. 31 runs needed off the last four overs
FOUR! Bravo misses the length and Dhawan sweeps it away for a boundary
12 runs come off Chahar's final over. In his four over spell Chahar has given away 36 runs.
Chahar in for his final over. Four to begin the over
In comes Captain Pant. Delhi need 50 off 38 to win their first match of the season.
WICKET!!!! Shaw's superb innings come to an end as he finds the fielder this time. Bravo hands CSK the important wicket as Shaw goes for a sizzling 72 off 38. DC at 138/1 after 13.3 overs. The opening partnership between the DC openers was 138 and that has set DC up comfortably.
Dhawan keeps his wicket as he makes it back just in time
Run out opportunity. But Dhoni isn't too eager. The umpire still goes upstairs.
6-4! Back-to-back boundaries from Prithvi Shaw. The Delhi opener looks to be in super touch as he makes short work of the bowlers. 15 runs come off the 13th over. Delhi need 53 from 42
Free Hit. More misery for CSK. The Chennai side desperately need a wicket if they are to have any chance of winning the opener
A single to end the over. 8 runs come off Bravo's first over
FOUR! Dhawan finds the gap and sends this over square leg
Dhoni brings Bravo into the attack. A single to begin the over
FOUR! Shaw sends this through the covers. CSK are looking clueless at this stage.
50 comes up for Shikhar Dhawan! The Delhi opener brings up his half-century off 35 balls. The Delhi openers have handed Delhi a strong start in this chase. DC need 82 off 56 to win the opener
100 comes up for DC off 61 deliveries