In a rare lapse on the field, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad found himself at the center of an uncharacteristic misfield that gifted Delhi Capitals a boundary during their innings at Chepauk. Known for his safe hands and sharp fielding sense, Gaikwad misjudged a crucial moment in the penultimate over, summing up a slightly off day for Chennai Super Kings in the field.
It was the fifth ball of the 19th over when Mukesh Choudhary bowled a slower full toss to Tristan Stubbs. The South African batter timed it sweetly, driving it straight down the ground. Gaikwad charged in, possibly eyeing a low catch, but misread the ball’s pace and trajectory. It landed just short and zipped past him, rolling to the boundary rope. The skipper’s hesitation to adjust after committing to the catch proved costly.
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Just a couple of deliveries earlier, Mukesh Choudhary himself had grassed a sitter off KL Rahul, adding to CSK’s woes in the field. The lapses weren’t many, but they came at crucial junctures, allowing DC to keep the scoreboard ticking.
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Earlier in the match, Delhi Capitals opted to bat first under the blazing Chennai sun. Jake Fraser-McGurk departed for a duck, but KL Rahul and Abishek Porel counterattacked with intent. Porel struck a brisk 33 off 20 before falling to Ravindra Jadeja, while Axar Patel kept the tempo high with a quickfire cameo until Noor Ahmad foxed him with a clever googly.
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Sameer Rizvi filled in for the injured Faf du Plessis and supported Rahul in building a solid partnership. Despite wickets tumbling at the other end, Rahul stood tall with a commanding 77 off 51 balls, laced with six boundaries and three sixes, before falling in the final over to Pathirana. His knock ensured DC posted a competitive 183, setting up an intriguing chase under lights.
