IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals on the ascendant, beating CSK in Chepauk is very special

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A fortnight into the 18th edition of the Indian Premier Legue, it is clear, the teams have evolved. Wins and losses at an early stage are not proof of the work which has gone in as preparations in IPL 2025.

For those who had tuned in to the Chepauk in Chennai on Saturday (April 5) afternoon/evening, watching Chennai Super Kings losing so tamely to Delhi Capitals was a shocker. Actually, it was not a shocker, since CSK were beaten in their own backyard and in their own game, losing to Delhi by 25 runs.

The margin of defeat conveys nothing. What stood out, this CSK side is no longer about the ability of MS Dhoni to force the pace and produce aerial shots and the 'helicopter' stuff which he had patented.

If anything, the sluggish wicket, something which they like, did not suit them. Strategy in the IPL is something which has been conceived and worked upon over the years. CSK are still sticking to old patterns while DC have changed and made innovations in plenty.

There is no point in blaming Dhoni for being unable to force the pace and smash the ball. On this kind of a track, slow and where the ball was not coming onto the bat, shot-making was tough. No excuses, but both Dhoni and Vijay Shankar struggled.

For the poor CSK fans, who turned out in large numbers in the canary yellow jersey, Saturday was doom and gloom. As it were, with MS Dhoni's entire family in attendance, wife, daughter and parents included, there was intense speculation if MS was going to play his last match.

That turned out to be like the April 1st joke, since the die-hard fans inside the stadium laughed at social media. As Stephen Fleming clarified later, there has been no talk at all on Dhoni calling it a day!

So, what is Dhoni supposed to do? Quit, retire, and tell social media users they will decide his fate. No way, Dhoni is the last cricketer who has to be told to leave. He quit captaincy in Test cricket in Australia in the 2014-15 series midway and then mentored Virat Kohli as leader.

It is no secret, Kohli owes a lot of his captaincy acumen to Dhoni. None can drop Dhoni on the basis of his batting. His wicket-keeping skills are still electrifying, he flashes the bails in a jiffy. The whole CSK batting order is all jumbled up and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad appears clueless.

How the CSK management deals with it, will never come out in public domain. CSK is a side which respects its players and the ethos is very different. Yes, no team plays the IPL to lose but they are not losing sleep over these losses.

For a statistician, CSK losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, first, after ages and losing to Delhi Capitals after 15 years is an interesting nugget. If you think CSK will say sorry for all this, forget it. They have faced such situation before also, when the team had not done well.

What course correction can be done from here remains to be seen. For those who have followed the IPL since its conception in 2008, no team gets buried so easily. The CSK management will deal with losses. And for those who report or write that Dhoni never said a word to Stephen Fleming on retirement, don't forget Mahi is a stake-holder!

If there is one cricketer who will leave when he has to, it is Dhoni. And even of he does so, it will be minus fanfare. When he plays his final match in the IPL, even the most ardent fan will not get to know. As for now, keep guessing!

So, what does one make of Delhi Capitals bouncing back so hard in the IPL 2025, winning three matches in a row? Obviously, a whole lot of things have changed at the top. The control of the team is in the hands of GMR and not JSW for the next few years.

When GMR threw out dead wood, Sourav Ganguly included, it may have caused a ripple. No, they brought in Hemang Badani and Venugopal Rao as head coach and director. Most recent, naming Kevin Pietersen has worked well for Delhi Capitals.

There is zip and zing in the Delhi side under Axar Patel, who himself said he has learnt so much from Dhoni. That recent video of Axar speaking on how Dhoni has influenced him and guided him is a must-watch.

It puts in perspective what Dhoni has done for so many players without seeking publicity on social media platforms, or engaging 'journos' to push his agenda. Dhoni the batter may be unable to hit hard and score runs. His unbeaten 30 off 26 was not enough. At the same time, Vijay Shankar scoring 69 off 54 balls at a poor strike rate of 127.78 has come in for caustic criticism.

If Delhi could race to a total of 183 for 6 in 20 overs, KL Rahul played his role to perfection. Even though he was dropped once, it turned out to be expensive, with the villain being Mukesh Choudhary. Rahul has adapted to any role assigned to him. To be pushed as an opener, he has no qualms.

On a sticky wicket, his 77 runs off 51 balls was a superb effort. Six fours and three big sixes plus his keeping skills are vital to DC. Now we know why KL preferred to play just as one more member and not take on any leadership role with Delhi Capitals! The pressure is not worth it, after a rough ride with LSG.