Right then, the first game of a double-header Saturday in the IPL is done and dusted and it is Delhi Capitals who remain unbeaten and at the top of the points table. The only other unbeaten side, Punjab Kings, are up next in action and they have opted to bowl first against a resurgent Rajasthan Royals side. You can simply switch tabs and catch our coverage of that game. Cheers!

KL Rahul is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fine knock in the first innings. Rahul starts by saying that it is how it is and he is used to batting at any spot. Adds that before the tournament began, he was setting up to open the innings but was told to fill in the number 4 slot and is happy to be back at the top of the order. Adds that it is more mental and getting used to walking in at a particular stage and once the body gets used to that, you get unsettled if you are shifted in the batting order and he's trying to go from ball one rather than not taking 2-3 balls. Reckons that he started off well and through the middle, it got a bit scratchy and a couple of good partnerships and those quickfire cameos set things up nicely, which allowed him to take some time as well and go deep.

Axar Patel, the Delhi Capitals skipper, says that he didn’t think it was going to be easy to go three in three but is happy with the performance of the side. Adds that they have discussed in the team meeting that having an impact on the game is important for them. Mentions that the strike rate is good for most of the batters and the execution is going well for them. Shares that he has a bit of an injury in his finger so he didn’t bowl much today. Says that their win is good, but they need to improve on areas and get better. Ends by sharing that they don’t want to get laid back and need to keep going as it’s a long tournament.

The Presentation ceremony...

Mitchell Starc is now down for a chat. He says that it's their first away game and it was a good performance overall with the batters adjusting to the conditions well and getting a par score and applauds the bowling unit as well. Mentions that the key to all cricket is that there are multiple contributions, and that's what they managed to do. Chuckles that it is as hot as in Vizag but the pace of the pitch is a bit different and this one took some turn as well. On his yorker, he says that people know it's coming but he still has to execute it and you can't afford to have an ego as a bowler in T20 cricket and need to adjust and try and stay a bit ahead of the batters.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Chennai Super Kings skipper, is down for a chat. He says that it has not gone their way since the last three games. Adds that they are trying their best but it’s not working for them. Shares that the Powerplay is a major concern in both departments, as things are not happening at the moment. Mentions that they are being more tentative and concerned, focusing on not losing wickets while batting, which is putting them behind. Tells that they need everyone to come together and click as a unit. Says that since powerplay, they were playing a catch-up game and were playing a batter short. Ends by adding that the plan was to take the game deep, but credits DC, who bowled well and did not allow them to get back in the game.

Earlier in the game, Axar Patel had no hesitation opting to bat first as it was a day game and the surface was likely to get slower. CSK, though, got the perfect start as Khaleel Ahmed sent JFM packing, but then came the counter-attack from Abishek Porel and KL Rahul, who put on a 54-run stand. The middle overs proved to be neck-and-neck as Rahul notched up a fine Fifty. However, Matheesha Pathirana bowled a stellar spell at the death to pull things back and DC had to settle for 183 on the board.

CSK began the 2025 campaign brightly with a win against their arch-rivals but have now lost three in a row, which is a big worry, as two teams that hadn't won in Chennai for more than half a decade have come here and done the job. The batting had been a worry before this game and it was a similar story yet again. The top 3 were undone inside the Powerplay with the middle order unable to do much damage either. The only one who got runs was Vijay Shankar and he even got multiple lives, but he finished unbeaten on 69 along with MS Dhoni, who scored 30 but off 26 deliveries.

The foundation of the win was laid up top by Mukesh Kumar, who got rid of Rachin Ravindra in the 2nd over. Mitchell Starc then followed it up with a wicket of his own and should have had two in the same over as well. Vipraj Nigam, entrusted to bowl the final Powerplay over, got the wicket of Conway and then even saw the back of the Impact sub, Shivam Dube, which really was the wicket that got DC the firm grip on the chase. After that, Kuldeep Yadav weaved his magic as the others chipped in and DC were able to breach the Chepauk fortress after 15 long years.

DELHI CAPITALS HAVE DONE IT! Yet another clinical showing and the Capitals keep their spotless record intact with 3 wins out of 3. It was a stellar showing with the ball as they suffocated the CSK batters, leaving the home side still without a successful run chase of over 180 runs since the 2019 IPL season.