Chennai Super Kings sailed into the playoffs with a resounding victory over Delhi Capitals in Match 67 of TATA IPL 2023 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Devon Conway’s explosive innings, complemented by Deepak Chahar’s impressive three-wicket haul, propelled Chennai Super Kings to a resounding 77-run triumph over Delhi Capitals in their final league stage match of IPL 2023.

CSK’s opening pair of Ruturaj Gaikwad (79 off 50) and Devon Conway (87 off 52) set the stage ablaze, forging a scintillating 141-run partnership. Shivam Dube (22 off 9) and Ravindra Jadeja (20* off 7) provided the finishing touch with impactful cameos, propelling CSK to a colossal total of 223/3.

Deepak Chahar then showcased his bowling brilliance, delivering an exceptional spell of 3/22. Backed by a collective effort from the bowling unit, CSK restricted DC to 146/9 despite a courageous innings from David Warner, who fought a lone battle with a brilliant knock of 86 (58).

In pursuit of 224, Delhi Capitals once again suffered an early blow as Prithvi Shaw departed in the second over due to a brilliant diving catch at mid-off by Rayudu, off Tushar Deshpande.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) applied pressure right from the start with accurate and disciplined bowling, conceding only two fours in the first four overs. However, David Warner managed to break free, smashing a six and a four over long-on off Deepak Chahar in the fifth over. Nevertheless, Chahar mounted a strong comeback, dismissing Phil Salt, caught at extra cover, and inducing Rilee Rossouw to drag the ball onto his stumps in the very next delivery. Warner concluded the Powerplay with a six as Delhi Capitals struggled to reach 34/3.

CSK continued to maintain a tight grip on the game, but Warner accelerated the scoring rate with a six and a four off Ravindra Jadeja. He also struck a boundary off Theekshana in the following over and reached his fifty off just 32 balls. Despite losing wickets at the other end, Warner single-handedly sustained the momentum. He witnessed Yash Dhull’s departure from the opposite end but continued to unleash his prowess, smashing three sixes and a four off Jadeja to accumulate 23 runs in the over. He then witnessed the dismissal of Axar Patel in the subsequent over as Chahar returned to claim the wicket of the DC all-rounder, reducing them to 109/5 in the 14th over. Chahar concluded with an impressive spell of 4-0-22-3.

Despite David Warner’s valiant effort, the required run rate climbed above 21 with five overs left. Aman Khan broke the impasse by striking the first boundary in 15 balls, whipping one wide of short fine leg for a four off Tushar Deshpande. Warner concluded the over with a powerful shot over extra cover and a chop to third man, adding another four to Delhi Capitals’ tally as they accumulated 15 runs in the 16th over. Matheesha Pathirana further unsettled DC by dismissing Aman Khan, caught at extra cover off a slower ball. CSK’s Impact Player bowled a fantastic over, conceding only six runs. With the required run rate soaring to 29 per over, it became an insurmountable task for DC. In the 19th over, Warner was finally caught at long on off Pathirana for 86 (58), and in the final over, Theekshana dismissed Lalit Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav off consecutive deliveries. As a result, DC fell well short, losing the match by a margin of 77 runs.

In the earlier proceedings, Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat. The away side stuck with an unchanged starting XI, while Matheesha Pathirana, Mitchell Santner, Subhranshu Senapati, Shaik Rasheed, and Akash Singh were named as their substitutes.

Delhi Capitals opted for two alterations in their starting eleven, as Lalit Yadav and Chetan Sakariya stepped in to replace Prithvi Shaw and Ishant Sharma. Mukesh Kumar, Prithvi Shaw, Pravin Dubey, Ripal Patel, and Abishek Porel were included in the home side’s substitutes list.

CSK made an explosive start with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway showcasing some exquisite stroke play. Gaikwad announced his arrival with a graceful flick off Khaleel Ahmed in the first over, finding the boundary. In the following over, he effortlessly dispatched a delivery from Lalit Yadav over deep mid-wicket for another four. Conway joined in the fireworks by smashing the 1000th six of IPL 2023 straight down the ground, accumulating 13 runs in that eventful over. Displaying excellent placement, Conway struck a couple of well-timed fours over mid-wicket and backward point off Khaleel. Gaikwad took on Axar Patel, lofting a magnificent six over extra cover. Continuing their momentum, Conway secured the 50-run partnership with consecutive fours off Anrich Nortje in the fifth over.

Chetan Sakariya entered the attack and bowled an economical over, the first one without conceding a boundary, allowing only two singles. At the end of the Powerplay, CSK reached 52/0.

The duo demonstrated a brilliant understanding as they effectively rotated the strike and found the boundaries at regular intervals. Gaikwad then shifted gears, unleashing two powerful sixes over deep mid-wicket off Axar, followed by a single that brought up his fifty off 37 balls. CSK amassed 15 runs in that eventful over, propelling the score to 87/0 at the halfway mark. While Conway primarily focused on fours, Gaikwad continued his onslaught with sixes, lofting a straight drive off Kuldeep Yadav and following it up with a massive hit over deep mid-wicket for consecutive sixes. Gaikwad’s assault against Kuldeep reached its peak as he hammered three more sixes in a row, all struck straight down the ground, accumulating 20 runs in the over. He added another six to his tally, pulling one over fine leg off Nortje’s bowling.

Conway reached his fifty in just 33 balls, displaying his prowess by lofting one over deep mid-wicket for another six off Khaleel. In the 15th over, Sakariya made a breakthrough, ending the impressive 141-run partnership, as he had Ruturaj caught at deep mid-wicket off a well-directed short ball.

Conway and Shivam Dube carried forward the momentum with their aggressive stroke play. They amassed 19 runs off Lalit Yadav’s over and followed it up with 12 runs off Nortje’s over. Dube unleashed consecutive sixes off Khaleel, bringing up the 50-run partnership in a mere 21 balls. However, Khaleel retaliated, dismissing Dube with a catch at long-on off the last ball, paving the way for MS Dhoni’s arrival at the crease amid a roaring reception.

In the subsequent over, Nortje claimed another wicket, having Conway caught at long-on after a brilliant knock of 87 off 52 deliveries. Ravindra Jadeja joined the action immediately, launching a six and a four off Nortje’s bowling. Finishing in style, Jadeja smacked a couple of well-placed fours. Dhoni and Jadeja added 16 runs in the final over, propelling CSK to a total of 223/3. Notably, CSK scored 75/2 in the last five overs.

Jadeja remained unbeaten on 20 off just 7 balls, while Dhoni remained not out on 5 off 4 balls.

In the second innings, Delhi Capitals replaced Khaleel with Prithvi Shaw as their Impact Player. On the other hand, CSK introduced Matheesha Pathirana as their Impact Player, replacing Shivam Dube, at the beginning of the second innings.