Confident Delhi Capitals eye third straight win as CSK sweat over Gaikwad’s fitness

Big Picture: All Eyes on the Chepauk Pitch

The Delhi Capitals (DC) are flying high in IPL 2025, setting the pace alongside Punjab Kings (PBKS), while Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are struggling to find their rhythm. After a crushing 50-run defeat at home to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)—their heaviest loss at Chepauk—and a narrow away loss to Rajasthan Royals (RR), CSK are desperate for a turnaround on home turf this Saturday.

But their plans might suffer a blow, with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad nursing an injury. If he’s unavailable, expect MS Dhoni to step up once again to lead the side.

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming has openly voiced his frustration with Chepauk’s pitches, which have failed to support the spin-heavy attack CSK have banked on. Post the RCB defeat, he was seen in deep conversation with the pitch curator, signaling clear concerns over the lack of a true home advantage.

Three games into the season, CSK are still experimenting with combinations. Rahul Tripathi is struggling at the top, Vijay Shankar hasn’t made an impact, and Jamie Overton, handed the new ball, leaked 30 runs in two powerplay overs.

Meanwhile, DC look far more settled. Veterans like Faf du Plessis and Mitchell Starc are in top form, while youngsters Vipraj Nigam and Ashutosh Sharma have slotted in seamlessly. Starc already has 8 wickets from two matches, and du Plessis continues to defy age at 40.

If spin comes into play at Chepauk, DC are well-equipped with Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Nigam to exploit the conditions—and perhaps end their 15-year winless streak at the venue. The last time they beat CSK in Chennai was in 2010, when current coach Hemang Badani was part of the CSK squad as a player. Could his return mark a change in fortunes?

Form Guide

• CSK: L L W

• DC: W W

Team News: Gaikwad Injury Cloud Hangs Over CSK

If Gaikwad is ruled out, Devon Conway may slot in at the top. Jamie Overton could also make way for a local seamer like Anshul Kamboj.

CSK (probable XI):
Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt)/Rachin Ravindra, Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Jamie Overton/Anshul Kamboj, MS Dhoni (wk), R Ashwin, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana

DC are likely to stick to their winning combination unless T Natarajan proves fit.

DC (probable XI):
Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abhishek Porel (wk), KL Rahul, Axar Patel (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar, Mohit Sharma/T Natarajan

Big Question: Should CSK Bring in Conway?

While Conway has slipped from New Zealand’s top white-ball plans, he remains a consistent performer for CSK and their affiliate franchises. Given the top-order issues, there’s a strong case for his return.

Fan Poll:
Should CSK bring in Conway?

• Yes, they need more experience at the top – 90.6%

• No, they are fine with Tripathi and Rachin – 9.4%

Spotlight: Khaleel Ahmed & Faf du Plessis

Khaleel’s swing bowling has stood out amid CSK’s early woes. He’s moving the ball both ways, arguably outperforming Deepak Chahar. However, he struggles in day games: just 2 wickets in 5 innings at an average of 64 and economy of 11.63.

As for du Plessis, he’s still dominating at 40—leading, fielding, and attacking in the powerplay. His longevity in T20 cricket is remarkable, and he’ll be eager to deliver against his former franchise at Chepauk.

Pitch & Conditions

Chepauk has been unpredictable, offering little to no home edge, according to Fleming. Expect hot and humid conditions for the only day game scheduled in Chennai this season.

Key Stats to Watch

• CSK have the lowest powerplay run rate (7.27) and worst economy (10.22) among all teams this season.

• Matheesha Pathirana has a solid record against Tristan Stubbs: 4 dismissals for 19 runs in 22 balls.

• Jake Fraser-McGurk has smashed 72 runs off 35 balls against left-arm seamers since IPL 2024 (SR 205+), despite being dismissed three times.

• Veterans galore: Dhoni (43), du Plessis (40), and Ashwin (38) will all be in action.

• Ruturaj Gaikwad is just 10 runs shy of 5000 T20 runs. If he gets there on Saturday in his 143rd innings, he’ll be the joint-fastest Indian to the milestone, alongside KL Rahul.

Quotes

"The environment is amazing, and the vibe is perfect. Obviously, when you win, you celebrate and that's the most important thing."
— Kuldeep Yadav on DC's momentum

"He hasn't exactly got going just yet, but we have full faith in him, and he's training really well, so I feel like a big score is just around the corner for him."
— Michael Hussey on Rahul Tripathi

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