On Saturday, April 5, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will host the Delhi Capitals (DC) for their third home game of the season at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The first game of the doubleheader day will be the afternoon match against Chepauk.
The two teams’ current 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) campaigns have been quite different thus far, with CSK finishing in the bottom part of the standings and DC in second place.
With two victories from two games, DC is one of just two clubs that have not lost thus far, along with Punjab Kings (PBKS). While CSK began the season with a victory over the Mumbai Indians (MI), they lost their next two games, one away from home against RR and one at home against RCB.
In the 30 prior meetings between the two teams, CSK has won 19 of them and DC has won the other 11. Here are the three player battles to look out for in the contest as they prepare for their 31st meeting:
1. Jake Fraser-McGurk vs Khaleel Ahmed
Khaleel Ahmed, who is currently a member of the CSK lineup, and Jake Fraser-McGurk, who were teammates until the tournament’s final edition, will face off. The Australian was kept, but Ahmed was freed by DC prior to the huge auction and enticed by the five-time champions.
This will be the first time the two have met each other in competitive cricket; they have only ever faced each other in the nets. Despite having a strong start for CSK, Khaleel hasn’t performed as well since the opening match.
Despite having a rough tournament debut, Fraser-McGurk recovered in the opening innings of DC’s second game. He struck four fours and two sixes in a well-played knock of 38(32). This will be a match to watch since Ahmed is eager to get started in the powerplay overs and the Australian is having trouble with his form.
2. KL Rahul vs Noor Ahmad
KL Rahul earned his way into the starting lineup for DC’s second game after missing the first one due to the birth of his first child with his wife, Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty. Rahul was removed off the fifth after scoring 15 runs off the first four deliveries he faced while batting at No. 4.
Noor Ahmad, who has been performing brilliantly with the ball in the middle overs, has been trusted by CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and the team management. Thanks to his clever bowling, he’s currently the Purple Cap holder of the tournament with nine wickets from three games.
It will be intriguing to watch who wins this match between two powerful middle-over players, with Rahul too determined to continue where he left off in the last game and Ahmad in excellent form.
The duo have met off in just two innings earlier, where Rahul has scored 22 runs off the 19 deliveries faced against Noor while batting at a strike rate of 115.78.
3. Shivam Dube vs Kuldeep Yadav
Shivam Dube, who has become a superb spin player in recent years, is having trouble returning to his typical level. When Wanindu Hasaranga fashioned a web to trap the six-hitting machine, he was unable to defeat the beast inside of him.
In the middle overs, CSK has depended on Dube, who is a reliable performer who can help move the scorecard along. He is an excellent acceleration in the middle overs and changes gears with ease. Kuldeep Yadav is one guy who can put an end to Dube’s fireworks against DC.
The CSK batsman will face difficulties due to Kuldeep Yadav’s ability to modify the pace of his deliveries, even though Dube against spin usually equals destruction and an influx of runs. It will also be more of a tussle between the spinners because both teams have some of the best spinners in cricket.
