Marshalled by MS Dhoni, CSK remind everyone that winning is in their DNA

From five straight defeats to winning four out of five, David Warner’s team briefly lifted the hopes of Delhi Capitals’ fans while remaining, mathematically, in the race for the IPL 2023 playoffs. Where once it seemed that this beleaguered outfit had made losing a habit, getting four wins put Capitals back in the fray, despite staying at tenth place on the leaderboard, because this year’s points table is a mad place to be.

But then they ran into the team with winning in its DNA, marshalled by the tactician who has a habit of turning no-hopers into title-winners. And just like that, Delhi were beaten by Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday night to remain at tenth and have their hopes of making it up the points table firmly snubbed. This was win that bore the unmistakable stamp of MS Dhoni, who put the finishing touches on a winning total by hitting 20 off nine deliveries, then amped up the pressure on Delhi during the chase by standing up to Deepak Chahar from the third over, after which his sharp rotation and field placements ensured Capitals were never in the hunt.

The loss extended a difficult season for Delhi, who remain at the bottom of the leaderboard on eight points with three matches to play. The task of bridging that three-point gap to make it to the playoffs has got a lot tougher.

Delhi landed in Chennai having only twice in attempts managed to win an IPL match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the previous being back in 2010. Prior to Wednesday night’s match, CSK had lost two of five matches at home this season, to Rajasthan Royals by three runs and to Punjab Kings by four wickets, both results going down to the last ball of these two respective fixtures. Narrow defeats, yes, but ones that showed that the mighty Chepauk fortress could be breached.

Come game day, Delhi did a lot of things right after Dhoni opted to bat. They limited the most dominant side in the Powerplay to 49/1 in six overs, then had them at 77/4 in the 12^th over. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav were economical and Mitchell Marsh extended his wicket-taking form with three scalps, but clutch innings from Shivam Dube, Ambati Rayudi, Ravindra Jadeja and Dhoni lifted the score to 167/8, which on that dry surface was match-winning.

You felt that perhaps if Delhi got a start inside the Powerplay, they could challenge CSK but it never happened. Warner slapped his second ball straight to Rahane at cover, and by the time Phil Salt miscued another attempt to hit Deepak Chahar into the stands, the chase was reeling at 20/2. Marsh was then sold down the river by Manish Pandey and run out for 5 to leave Delhi down and out at 25/3 in the fourth over.

This is where CSK stand out in the crowd. On the day in which Devon Conway, with four fifties and a 44 in his last six innings, was out for 10 and Moeen Ali failed to cash in on a batting promotion, CSK found heroes in Dube, Jadeja, Rayudu and Dhoni. Each fell in the twenties, but collectively turned a sluggish innings into a massive one, on that particular pitch.

Chahar, only recently back into the starting 11 after an injury layoff, suddenly found zip and lift off the deck to get two wickets in two overs. With Dhoni moving up to the stumps, Salt tried to manufacture a shot and fell to Chahar. The loss of their three best batsmen in 19 deliveries cut off Delhi’s chances, and from here all Dhoni had to do was marshal his bowlers. Jadeja wheeled through his four overs for just 19 runs, accounting for Rilee Roussow, and Moeen conceded just 16 from his quota.

CSK entered this season of the IPL as playoff hopefuls, and after a slew of injury concerns they have turned themselves into genuine title contenders. For that, Dhoni should get a lot of credit. Few teams have been moulded in the shape of how their captain envisions it, and fewer have managed to regroup from adversity in such successful fashion. After beating Delhi, CSK are just one point behind table-toppers Gujarat. Another warning shot has been fired.