Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will lock horns with Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 17th match of IPL 2025 on April 5 at 3:30 PM IST at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. With both teams eyeing momentum, this clash promises to be a crucial early-season encounter. CSK, currently languishing at eighth place in the points table, have managed just one win in their three outings so far.
In their previous game, they narrowly lost to Rajasthan Royals by six runs despite a gritty 63-run knock from skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. The five-time champions will be desperate to get back to winning ways in front of their home crowd.
Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, are enjoying a solid run. They sit comfortably at second on the table, having won two consecutive games. Their most recent triumph came against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where Faf du Plessis struck a composed 50 and Mitchell Starc wreaked havoc with a five-wicket haul.
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Historically, CSK have dominated this rivalry, winning 19 of the 30 matches played between these sides. However, DC’s current form gives them a serious shot at closing that gap. With key players hitting form, this afternoon fixture could be a tightly fought contest.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s availability remains uncertain ahead of CSK’s clash against Delhi Capitals, with the team expected to make a late decision. On the eve of the game, Gaikwad only faced throwdowns and did not bat against bowlers in the nets, raising concerns about his match fitness. Meanwhile, Rahul Tripathi’s struggles against pace may prompt a reshuffle, possibly moving him down the order to counter spin. Interestingly, Tripathi has an impressive strike rate of 200 against DC’s lead spinner, Kuldeep Yadav.
Probable XII: Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Shivam Dube, Sam Curran, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (WK), Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed
Delhi Capitals (DC)
T Natarajan is close to full fitness but is unlikely to feature in this match, according to Kuldeep Yadav. All eyes will be on how DC handle CSK’s Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad, who has already dismissed Faf du Plessis three times in just ten balls. With spin expected to play a major role, Axar Patel’s inclusion could be key to countering Chennai’s potent spin attack at Chepauk.
Probable XII: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul (WK), Axar Patel (C), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
KL Rahul, MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Rachin Ravindra (c), Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Starc (vc), Kuldeep Yadav, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
KL Rahul, MS Dhoni (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Rachin Ravindra, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin (vc), Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Noor Ahmad
