Match 17 of the TATA IPL 2025 saw the Delhi Capitals (DC) triumph 25 runs over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in an exciting encounter at the venerable MA Chidambaram Stadium.
After a 15-year gap, DC broke their Chepauk jinx under KL Rahul leading from the front and Vipraj Nigam delivering a bowling masterclass, shocking fans and rewriting history in this high-stakes clash.
TATA IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals’s Historic Triumph
Although the Delhi Capitals had an undefeated run going into the game, defeating CSK at their home ground proved to be no easy chore.
Batting first, DC turned in a competitive 183/6 thanks to Rahul’s stunning knock of 77 runs off 51 balls and some late Tristan Stubbs fireworks.
Rahul and Abishek Porel steadied the ship with a vital partnership that defined the tone for the innings, even though Jake Fraser-Mcgurk was lost in the first over to a duck.
For batters, Chepauk’s pitch proved difficult since it slowed down gradually and favored spinners like Noor Ahmad, who claimed Axar Patel’s wicket early on.
Rahul’s innings told of tenacity and flexibility. Beginning slowly on a dry pitch with minimal speed, he changed gears as the bowlers of CSK stumbled in their lines.
One particularly remarkable moment of genius from his reverse scoop off Mukesh Choudhary highlighted his under-pressure inventiveness.
Rahul reached his first IPL fifty for Delhi Capitals in just 33 balls, then anchored the innings through the middle overs before falling to Matheesha Pathirana in the last over.
Bowling Turns the Tide: Vipraj Nigam
DC mostly depended on their bowlers for the defence of their total; thus, Vipraj Nigam did not disappoint.
Moreover, including key wickets of Devon Conway and Shivam Dube, his spell of 2/27 destroyed CSK’s top order.
Nigam’s mental toughness and tactical sense were shown by his capacity to recover after being struck for a six.
Kuldeep Yadav added that with his deceptive googly, he caught Ravindra Jadeja’s plumb in front, strengthening DC’s hold on the game.
Chepauk has been considered CSK’s stronghold for years; its spinner-friendly conditions and strong spectator support for MS Dhoni’s men make visiting teams hardly successful.
On this occasion, though, DC flipped the script with a clinical performance that subdued the home audience.
With only 158/5, Vijay Shankar’s heroic undefeated knock of 69 off 54 balls and Dhoni’s calm innings of 30*, CSK fell short of chasing down the target.
Key Highlights of CSK against DC Match Report
| Aspect | Performance Highlights |
| DC Batting | KL Rahul (77 off 51), Abishek Porel (33 off 20) |
| CSK Bowling | Matheesha Pathirana (tight slog overs), Noor Ahmad |
| DC Bowling | Vipraj Nigam (2/27), Kuldeep Yadav |
| CSK Batting | Vijay Shankar (69* off 54), MS Dhoni (30* off 26) |
Tweets
@bhogleharsha: Many issues for @ChennaiIPL to resolve. Not just the top order but also the inability of the middle to force the pace. For two games now, they haven’t been in a chase.
Many issues for @ChennaiIPL to resolve. Not just the top order but also the inability of the middle to force the pace. For two games now they haven’t been in a chase.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 5, 2025
FAQs
For Delhi Capitals, who excelled most?
With an outstanding 77-run knock, KL Rahul stole the show; Vipraj Nigam amazed with his bowling figures of 2/27. He also became player of the match.
What was DC’s target set for CSK?
After scoring 183/6 in their first-inning, DC set a target of 184 runs.
In their chase, how did CSK fare?
CSK battled to gather momentum during their chase and scored only 158/5, 25 runs short.
What made Chepauk difficult for batters?
As the match went on, the pitch slowed down to favour spinners and complicated stroke play.
When was DC’s most recent victory against CSK at Chepauk?
Before this historic win, DC last defeated CSK at Chepauk back in 2010.
