Two captains. Two contrasting countenances at the post-match interview. Delhi Capitals’ (DC) Axar Patel fronted up to the first question with a wide grin despite the gut-wrenching, last-ball defeat to the Gujarat Titans (GT). Ruturaj Gaikwad wore more of a resigned, nervous smile after Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) lower order managed to cushion the blow against a marauding Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 

The dissimilar body language reflected how the season has panned out for both sides ahead of their meeting at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. For the Capitals, the loss was a minor blip in an otherwise positive start to the season, which included two wins in two. The mood is far more sombre in the home team’s camp. 

Sanju Samson, the latest poster boy of the franchise, has failed to get going in yellow after his exploits with the bat in the business end of India’s T20 World Cup win, as has his opening partner Gaikwad.

CSK’s triumphant 2023 and 2021 seasons were built on the openers doing most of the heavy lifting. The first-wicket partnerships averaged 56.6 and 47.25 in those campaigns. It is only three games into the season, but Samson and Gaikwad average only 12.33. The expected Yin-Yang of the opening pair is yet to take effect. 

Against the Capitals, the batting could be bolstered by the return of Dewald Brevis from a side-strain-induced layoff, though coach Stephen Fleming remained non-committal on his return. His potential return, along with Sarfaraz Khan’s aptitude in innovative shots during the middle overs, could force one of the INR 14.20-crore signings in Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer to sit out. The wait to see MS Dhoni in action will also drag on for the CSK faithful, with the former captain still making his way back from a calf problem.

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While the batting issues stem from a temporary lack of form, the bowling poses more pertinent questions. New Zealand pacer Matt Henry, who has taken up the role of the lead overseas pacer after Nathan Ellis’ injury, has looked a shadow of his past self, unable to create any breakthroughs or stem the flow of runs.

Noor Ahmad’s wily wrist spin too has been unable to break the opponent’s resistance, leaving the side short of options to create middle-over incursions. Gaikwad and Co. might be better off playing Akeal Hosein, who can also double up as a PowerPlay wicket-taker, in place of Henry. 

Despite the tight loss on Wednesday, things seem far more settled for DC. Nitish Rana’s lack of returns this season could propel the think tank to bring in Ashutosh Sharma to add some lower-order depth to the team, which was solely dependent on David Miller’s heroics to take it to the cusp of victory against GT, before the decision-making went askew. 

It is still early in the season, but the result at Chepauk on Sunday will push the scales down further for the teams. Another home loss for CSK, the seventh in succession, will plunge it further down the road in the scurry to avoid the wooden spoon – a sight all too familiar from last year. Alternatively, a defeat for DC will result in a multi-team melee in the middle of the table, which the Axar Patel-led side has historically finished on the wrong side of. 

Published on Apr 10, 2026