DC vs CSK IPL 2024 Highlights: MS Dhoni lets fly but Chennai Super Kings lose to Delhi Capitals by 20 runs

DC vs CSK IPL Live Score 2024, Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings:

DC vs CSK IPL 2024 Highlights: Delhi Capitals' pacers Khaleel Ahmed and Ishant Sharma put an almighty stranglehold on Chennai Super Kings after they batted first and scored 191/5 in 20 overs. Openers Rurutaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra fell to Khaleel and CSK were tottering at 7/2 at the start of the third over. Ajinkya Rahane then gave them some impetus towards the end of the powerplay but CSK could never quite get going in their chase in the middle overs. Rahane eventually fell for 45 off 30, leaving Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube chasing a steepling required run rate in the death overs. Dube eventually fell to Mukesh, his third wicket, which meant that MS Dhoni walked in to bat for the first time this season.

Delhi Capitals earlier ditched their opening stand of Mitchell Marsh and David Warner by demoting the former and bringing in Prithvi Shaw in his place. While they got off to a sluggish start, both Shaw and Warner took off dramatically towards the end of the powerplay. The pair ensured that DC scored 62 runs for the loss of no wickets in the powerplay. Warner went past fifty but the stand ended soon thereafter with the Australian falling to a screamer of a catch from Matheesha Pathirana. His innings ended on 52 off 35 after which Shaw was dismissed for 43 off 27.

Pathirana then turned it on with the ball, dismissing Mitchell Marsh and Tristan Stubbs in the same over with two searing yorkers. Pant then let lose and scored his first half-century of the season. He was dismissed by Pathirana on 51 off 32 balls and DC eventually ended their 20 overs with a score of 191/5.

DC would be hoping for a change in fortunes as they play their first home game in Visakhapatnam. DC's batting order has looked quite frankly out of its depth. They were outplayed quite comprehensively by Punjab Kings in their opening match and then the Rajasthan Royals in their second.

This game in fact features two contradictory batting lineups. While CSK is so packed to the brim with talent that they haven't needed MS Dhoni to bat at all this season, DC don't have much apart from their opening pair of David Warner, Mitchell Marsh and then Rishabh Pant. Even there, Pant has made a promising start in his comeback trail but is yet to get a big score, albeit it might still be a bit too early to expect that. Meanwhile, Warner and Marsh have made quick starts but they haven't quite converted into a significant total. The rest of their lineup has fallen flat with hardly any performances of note.

Moreover, DC also have the tricky task of having to adjust to two home venues very soon. This is technically their first "home" match but it is being played in Visakhapatnam. They will play one more match here before moving to the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi to play the rest of their home games. CSK are at the other end of the form graph. They had crashed and burned the last time Dhoni handed over captaincy to another player in the team but that hasn't happened at all this time. CSK have looked almost perfect in the two games that they have played and won thus far. The crowd at Visakhapatnam, like the one at the Chepauk this season, would be hoping to get to see Dhoni bat but at the same time, his side would be hoping he won't have much to do. Dhoni walks in at No.7 after all.

If he does fire today though, it will be a nice throwback moment for longtime Vizag cricket fans in the stadium. For it was at this venue nearly 20 years ago that then-India captain Sourav Ganguly promoted a young Dhoni with shoulder-length hair to No.3 ahead of himself in an ODI against Pakistan and the 23-year-old grabbed that opportunity with both hands and more. Dhoni blasted 148 in just 123 balls, thus leading India to a 58-run win. Now Dhoni and Ganguly return to that venue, both about 20 years older with the former possibly playing the final leg of his illustrious career and the latter in the opposite dugout, having hung up his boots a long, long time ago.

Here are some highlights from DC vs CSK IPL 2024 match:

- Delhi Capitals won the toss and chose to bat first

- Their new opening partnership of Prithvi Shaw and David Warner put up a partnership of 93 runs off 58 balls

- Warner scored his 62nd IPL fifty

- Warner fell to a screamer of a catch from Matheesha Pathirana

- Rishabh Pant scored 51 in 32 balls

- Delhi Capitals scored 191/5 in 20 overs

- MS Dhoni batted for the first time this season