Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel admitted that lapses in the field made a significant difference as his team came up short by 23 runs against Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2026 encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. Patel felt the match swung after the power play, when wickets started to tumble in tight succession and momentum slipped away.
Patel points to fielding and wicket clusters
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Patel said the chase began well but unravelled quickly once the early overs were over.
He explained that after a positive start, the Capitals lost two or three wickets in rapid succession following the power play, which disrupted their rhythm. Patel also highlighted how wickets kept falling in pairs, making the chase increasingly difficult.
- Patel said the chase lost momentum after the power play due to two or three wickets falling quickly.
- He noted that wickets came in clusters, often in pairs, putting DC under sustained pressure.
- He described fielding as the defining game-changing factor.
Bowling kept CSK to a chaseable total—but catches mattered
Patel acknowledged that the bowling unit did an effective job in keeping the opposition to a total around the mid-200s range. However, he stressed that missed opportunities in the field undermined the Capitals’ efforts.
While he believed the pitch did not change much, Patel suggested dew may have offered some assistance to the CSK batters later on. He also credited CSK’s bowling discipline for limiting DC despite the Capitals viewing a target in the 213–215 range as achievable.
- Patel felt DC’s bowling did well to restrict CSK to roughly 215–217.
- He said chasing about 213–215 was realistically possible for the side.
- He argued that dropping one or two catches could have altered the result.
- On pitch conditions, Patel said nothing major changed, but dew may have made it harder for the chase.
CSK end skid with 23-run win at Chepauk
Chennai Super Kings, the five-time champions, registered their first victory of the season. The win ended a six-match losing streak for CSK at Chepauk Stadium, where they defeated Delhi Capitals by 23 runs on Saturday.
The triumph was driven by a standout batting display from Sanju Samson and a damaging spell with the ball from Jamie Overton, who broke through the DC innings repeatedly.
Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 115 and Overton’s 4-wicket burst decide it
CSK’s innings featured a sensational unbeaten century from Samson, while Overton’s four-wicket haul dismantled the Capitals’ batting lineup.
CSK innings: 212/2 powered by Samson and Mhatre
After being invited to bat, CSK saw skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad depart for 15. Samson then accelerated his innings alongside Ayush Mhatre, who supported from the other end.
- Samson reached his half-century in 26 balls.
- He finished unbeaten on 115 off 56 deliveries, striking 15 fours and four sixes.
- Mhatre made 59 off 36 balls with three fours and four sixes before retiring at the end of the innings.
- CSK posted 212/2 in their 20 overs.
- Shivam Dube contributed 20 not out towards the finish.
DC chase: early partnership but wickets fell in clusters
In response, Delhi Capitals looked good early as Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul put together a 62-run stand. However, once wickets began to fall, DC lost them in clusters, which disrupted their chase and made recovery increasingly hard.
Overton led the CSK bowling attack with figures of 4/18, while Anshul Kamboj took 3/35. Tristan Stubbs made a valiant effort with 60 off 30 balls, but the Capitals continued to lose wickets at key moments and were eventually dismissed for 189 in 20 overs.
- Nissanka and Rahul shared a 62-run partnership to start the chase.
- Wickets fell in clusters, breaking DC’s momentum.
- Jamie Overton: 4/18.
- Anshul Kamboj: 3/35.
- Tristan Stubbs scored 60 off 30 balls, but DC were bowled out for 189.
Points update: CSK climb, DC hold fourth
With the win, CSK moved to ninth place in the points standings, improving their record to one victory and three defeats. Delhi Capitals remain fourth with two wins and two losses.
