IPL 2023 CSK vs DC: Gaikwad, Convoy seal Super Kings’ play-off spot

After winning the toss at Arun Jaitley International Stadium in Delhi, CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni decided to bat first, citing the pitch conditions that stated it would become dry considering extremely hot weather at 41 degrees Celsius.

Batting first, CSK scored a whopping 223 runs after losing three wickets, all thanks to the openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway. However, Delhi Capitals managed to score just 146 runs after losing 9 wickets and lost by 77 runs. With this, the CSK glided to the IPL play-offs, while the journey for Capitals is over in the 16th edition of IPL.

After this win, CSK is at the second poistion in the IPL points table and has reserved its seat for the play-offs with 17 points. Earlier, defending champions Gujarat Titans has sealed the first place after scoring 18 points. It is yet to play ist last league match with Royal Challengers Bangalore on 21 May.

As per the points table, two more teams will qualify for the play-offs and for that five teams — Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Gaints, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders — are giving their 100 percent. It will be interesting to see, who qualifies for the rest two spots.

CSK Innings:

After winning the toss, both the CSK openers – Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway – arrived in the pitch as if they have to rule the game.

Since beginning of the match, both the batters were driving the ball to the boundaries and kept the run rate at top.

Delhi Capitals’ bowlers who were seen dominated ahead of the CSK batters, got their first wicket as Gaikwad in the 15th over, when Chetan Sakariya bowled a slower delivery which Gaikwad tried to muscle it over deep square leg but got caught by Rilee Rossouw. Gaikwad scored 79 runs in 50 deliveries.

Following this, Shivam Dube (22) was sent, but he was dismissed by Khaleel Ahmed in the last ball of the 18th over.

Soon after this, in the 19th over, Devon Convoy was departed by Anrich Nortje’s slower delivery. He was caught by Aman Hakim Khan. Convoy scored a whopping 87 runs in 52 deliveries with 11 fours and 3 sixes.

After this, MSD and Ravindra Jadeja came on the pitch and by the end of 20 overs, CSK scored 223 runs by losing 3 wickets.

For DC, Khaleel Ahmed, Anrich Nortje and Chetan Sakariya clinched one wicket each.

DC Innings:

Chasing a target of 224 runs and that too against a team led by MS Dhoni is definately not an easy task.

When DC openers Prithvi Shaw and skipper entered the ground, they knew they had a huge target ahead of them. But like prior games, the opening pair disappointed again.

Shaw (5) was dismissed by Tushar Despande in the second over, while the consecutive batters Phil Salt (3), Rilee Rossouw (0) were departed by Deepak Chahar in the 5th over.

Following this, the batting order collapsed as one after the other batters came and went to the pavilion. Yash Dhull (13), Axar Patel (15), Aman Hakim Khan (7), Lalit Yadav (6) and Kuldeep Yadav (0) were all dismissed in a couple of overs.

However, skipper David Warner (86) remained on the pitch and kept scoring. But, after he was dismissed by Matheesha Pathirana in the 19th over, all hopes for DC was over to win this match. By the end of 20 overs, DC managed to score 146 runs after losing 9 wickets and lost by 77 runs.

For CSK, Deepak Chahar took 3 wickets, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana picked two wickets each, while Ravindra Jadeja and Tushar Deshpande clinched one wicket each.