DC vs CSK Qualifier 1 Highlights: Chennai enter final after beating Delhi by 4 wickets

PotM, Ruturaj Gaikwad: “Before matches, I just go through my normal routines and try to keep things normal.

The powerplay was a crucial stage, the wicket was holding a bit and we had to get off to a good start. Robin Uthappa batted really well, he took on bowlers and made it easier for me to stay till the end. At times you have to take a few risks.

I plan for two or three overs at a time, try to think about who I can target better. But you also need to take it one over at a time, and make sure the required run rate doesn’t rise too much.

MS Dhoni always encourages me to keep fresh, and try learning as much as possible. You can learn from every game, so I’m trying to do that and just stay humble.”

MS Dhoni: “My innings was a crucial one. Delhi exploited the conditions well, so we knew it would be tough. I’ve not done a lot in the tournament, so wanted to look for the ball and see what the bowler can do. But wasn’t thinking too much, if you think too much while batting then you mess your plans up. Shardul has done decent batting, as has Deepak. Robin enjoys batting at the top but Moeen has been excellent at No 3. But we have created a situation where either of them could bat at No 3 depending on the situation and the opposition.It’s the full team. It was tough when we didn’t qualify last time. Emotions were high. Credit goes to the support staff and everyone in the team.”

Robin Uthappa: “Feeling grateful and happy to be able to contribute. Today is my son’s fourth birthday. We knew we had to get to a good start. There is nothing serious with that injury. There is four days to go so should be good. There were when there were doubts. You listen to a lot of chatter that is happening outside. I just felt I would be able to contribute. This is one of the most secure franchises going around. That only makes a player give that much back to the franchise. The final is going to be interesting. Just wanted to say to everyone out there: let’s be kind.”

Rishabh Pant: Obviously, it’s very disappointing. The only thing we can do is rectify our mistake and move on to the next one.

Most of the time, the thought process is that whoever bowls well during the match should bowl the final over. Tom had bowled very well before that last over, so I thought it’s better to use him. 

I thought our score was decent, but we didn’t get enough wickets in the powerplay, and they were off to a flier.

As cricketers, we’re going to work on our mistakes, learn from them and move on.

Chennai Super Kings win by 4 wickets!

After 20 overs,Chennai Super Kings 173/6 ( MS Dhoni (C) (W) 18 , Ravindra Jadeja 0)

Tom Curran to see things through. HE’S GOT A WICKET! He offers up a juicy looking slower ball, and Moeen Ali falls for it hook, line and sinker, as he pulls into the hands of Kagiso Rabada on the boundary line! Four for MS Dhoni on the second ball, he’s hammered that over extra cover. Back to back boundaries, and this one’s thanks to a huge slice of luck as it gets a big inside edge and races off to the rope. Curran started this over so well, but he’s under serious pressure here. And he adds to that pressure with a wide! Four runs needed from three balls. MS DHONI NEEDS JUST ONE BALL! He’s hit a boundary, and Chennai are through to their ninth IPL final, and once again, it’s thanks to their hero MS Dhoni! Chennai win by 4 wickets. DC will now face the winner of the KKR v RCB match.

FOUR! Huge slice of luck for MS Dhoni, inside edge and boundary

FOUR! MS Dhoni finds the spot! He hit that through the covers beautifully!

OUT! Moeen Ali is lured into pulling straight to Kagiso Rabada at deep square leg! Moeen Ali c Rabada b Curran 16 (12 balls)

After 19 overs,Chennai Super Kings 160**/**5 ( MS Dhoni 6 , Moeen Ali 16)

Chennai Super Kings need 24 runs in 12 balls. Avesh Khan to bowl. He needs to come up with something good here, because at the moment CSK are cruising. HE’S DONE IT! Ruturaj Gaikwad’s excellent innings come to and end after he pulls a low full-toss right into the hands of Axar Patel at deep midwicket, it was a tough catch as well! Moeen Ali responds well though, he’s hit a four with a slice to deep point. Single and then Dhoni’s on strike. Bit weird, to be honest, you’d think Ravindra Jadeja would be the first port of call when a match needs to be finished off. Dot ball. Oh wow, Dhoni has just made me eat my words in seconds, he pulls over deep midwicket for six, that was hit with some force! Dot ball to end the over.

SIX! HUGE SIX FROM MS DHONI, IT SOUNDED LIKE THUNDER!

FOUR! Moeen Ali responds to the loss of the wicket in excellent style with a boundary

OUT! Ruturaj Gaikwad has batted very well tonight, but he cannot bat right through to the end. Ruturaj Gaikwad c Patel b Avesh Khan 70 (50 balls)

After 18 overs,Chennai Super Kings 149/4 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 70 , Moeen Ali 11)

Nortje to bowl his last over. Pant has options for the last two, Avesh, Rabada and Curran are all on three overs. Boundary for Ruturaj Gaikwad to begin, Shimron Hetmyer put in a decent effort at mid-off, but he can’t stop it from reaching the boundary. Dot and a single follow. Ali then goes for the pull, but it doesn’t have enough power on it. Luckily for him, it lands well short of deep midwicket. FOUR! Ruturaj Gaikwad reaches for a wider delivery, and he slices it over backward point for a boundary! Single to end the over.

FOUR! Finessed to deep backward point by Gaikwad!

FOUR! Ruturaj Gaikwad hits past mid-off!

After 17 overs,Chennai Super Kings 138/4 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 60 , Moeen Ali 10)

Avesh Khan to bowl his third over, and he starts off by conceding three single in a row. Make that four, Ali’s just run one more. Oooh, that’s such a graceful shot from Ruturaj, it’s a waist-high full toss and he whips it between fine leg and deep square for four! Single to end the over, nine from it.

FOUR! Gentle clip from Gaikwad, it’s very well placed!

After 16 overs,Chennai Super Kings 129/4 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 53 , Moeen Ali 8)

Five overs to go. The Chennai Super Kings need 51 runs in 29 balls. Nortje to bowl, he begins with two singles and a dot. Moeen Ali then swats to deep square leg and runs two. Ali then rocks back and pulls, bisecting the space between long-on and deep midwicket with surgical precision, that’s four! Good yorker from Nortje to end, that’s a dot.

Four! Moeen Ali finds the gap with great timing!

After 15 overs,Chennai Super Kings 121/4 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 52 , Moeen Ali 1)

Kagiso Rabada’s third over now. He starts with two dot balls to Ambati Rayudu. Rayudu gets off the mark on the third delivery with a single. Oh my word, Shreyas Iyer is really standing out in the field! Gaikwad and Rayudu try to run a quick double, but Iyer at long-on sends in a lightning-quick throw to Rabada at the non-strikers end, who whips off the bails! Rayudu’s a goner! Two more singles to end the over.

OUT! Ambati Rayudu is run out! Ambati Rayudu run out (Iyer/Rabada) 1 (3 balls)

After 14 overs,Chennai Super Kings 117/3 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 50 , )

Tom Curran’s third over now. Bit of a lucky break for Uthappa as he gets a bottom edge on it, sending it to fine leg. A single, and then a lovely catch from Shreyas Iyer on the boundary rope to send Robin Uthappa packing. Iyer almost made contact with the rope, but did well to throw it into the air, and then jump out and back in to ensure it’s a legal catch. It’s checked by the man upstairs, but there’s clear daylight between Iyer’s toe and the rope, it’s good. Uthappa was looking very dangerous, so this is a big break for DC. Quickly-run double and a single bring up Ruturaj Gaikwad’s half-century! Alright then, Shardul Thakur on strike, I suppose he’s going to go nuts and hit it as hard as he possibly can. Well, he’s done that, but it’s not got enough power on it, and it’s taken by Shreyas Iyer at long-on!

OUT! Shardul Thakur was sent out with a license to hit, but he hits it up into the air and it’s caught by Shreyas Iyer! Shardul Thakur c Iyer b Curran 0 (1 ball)

FIFTY! Half-century for Ruturaj Gaikwad now, he’s played a very composed innings as his teammate Uthappa went pedal to the metal, he’s really looking so confident and calm.

OUT! What a lovely catch from Shreyas Iyer, Robin Uthappa is a goner. Robin Uthappa c Iyer b Curran 63 (44 balls)

After 13 overs,Chennai Super Kings 111/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 46 , Robin Uthappa 62)

Ashwin with his second, and once again, while bowling to Gaikwad, he pulls out of the delivery at the last second. Gaikwad’s not enjoying that, he takes a single and then has a moan at Ashwin about it. Oh, gorgeous from Robin Uthappa, he reverse sweeps over short third man, there was no stopping that, it’s gone for four. Another boundary for Uthappa, this one hit down the ground, one bounce and out for four. Three singles to end the over. Time for a strategic timeout now

FOUR! Hammered down thr ground by Robin Uthappa!

FOUR! Fine reverse sweep from Uthappa!

After 12 overs,Chennai Super Kings 99/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 44 , Robin Uthappa 52)

Rabada back in, and his first delivery is bowled right into Gaikwad’s feet, who can only stop it dead right in front of him. Gaikwad places a slash between third man and deep point, it doesn’t have enough on it to make it to the boundary rope but Gaikwad and Uthappa run their lungs off for three. Dot and then there’s a bit of a break as Uthappa undergoes treatment on his hamstring. Could he have hurt himself while running the third run? Single and then a shorter delivery to Gaikwad, who’s really not been having the greatest time playing these kinds of balls in recent weeks. Single to end the over, five from it.

After 11 overs,Chennai Super Kings 94/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 40 , Robin Uthappa 51)

Axar Patel is brought back in, and he starts off by conceding two runs, before being hit for six by Ruturaj Gaikwad over long-on! Rabada looked like he could have taken the catch, but he’d have had to be at least a couple of feet taller to get that actually. Gaikwad then goes right down the ground over Axar for four! Dot, single and dot to end the over, a big one this.

After 10 overs,Chennai Super Kings 81/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 27 , Robin Uthappa 51)

R Ashwin is brought on in place of Axar Patel. Two singles to begin. Uthappa tries a big pull, but he doesn’t get the contact right, and it lands in a safe space and rolls to deep midwicket. Oh, fabulous bit of trolling there on the part of Ruturaj Gaikwad! Ashwin runs in to bowl but doesn’t let go of the ball, maybe he thought Uthappa had strayed outside his crease. He then runs in again, but Gaikwad pulls out this time! Touche, Ruturaj. A quickly run double and two singles to end the over.

FIFTY! Half-century for Robin Uthappa, he’s been explosive today, particularly in that one over where he let loose and hammered two fours and two sixes.

After 9 overs,Chennai Super Kings 75/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 25 , Robin Uthappa 47)

R Ashwin is brought on in place of Axar Patel. Two singles to begin. Uthappa tries a big pull, but he doesn’t get the contact right, and it lands in a safe space and rolls to deep midwicket. Oh, fabulous bit of trolling there on the part of Ruturaj Gaikwad! Ashwin runs in to bowl but doesn’t let go of the ball, maybe he thought Uthappa had strayed outside his crease. He then runs in again, but Gaikwad pulls out this time! Touche, Ruturaj. A quickly run double and two singles to end the over.

After 8 overs,Chennai Super Kings 68/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 21 , Robin Uthappa 44)

Tom Curran’s in to bowl. He begins with three singles, he’s finding his length very well. Ooh, dangerous-looking delivery on the fourth, it whistles just past the outside edge! Single and a dot to end the over, only four runs from it.

After 7 overs,Chennai Super Kings 64/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 19 , Robin Uthappa 42)

That last over was massive, 20 runs off it. DC need this one to be a good one, preferably with a wicket. Axar will continue. Dot to begin, followed by five singles. It’s another quiet over from Axar. Strategic timeout signalled.

After 6 overs,Chennai Super Kings 59/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 16 , Robin Uthappa 40)

Another over for Avesh, lovely switch up of pace on the first ball and Uthappa fails to make contact with the ball despite taking a big swing. He swings again on the second delivery, it’s right in the slot and it’s sent sailing away into the stands over wide long on! He tries the same shot again, it doesn’t connect as well but it’s good enough for a boundary! Uthappa is looking so good tonight! OOOOH, CRISP HIT! It’s pummeled over the bowler’s head for six! AND HE GOES AGAIN! Another delivery in the slot, and this one is lofted over mid off and out for four, what a way to end the powerplay. Uthappa on song!

FOUR! Crunched over mid off by Uthappa!

SIX! Uthappa stands tall and smashes it over the bowler’s head!

SIX! Uthappa hammers a six over wide!

After 5 overs,Chennai Super Kings 39/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 16 , Robin Uthappa 20)

Axar Patel to bowl, and he begins with three dot balls. Uthappa then takes a single, before Gaikwad moves to the leg side and thwacks to extra cover for four, very nicely done. Another dot to end the over, five off it.

After 4 overs,Chennai Super Kings 34/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 12 , Robin Uthappa 19)

Ruturaj Gaikwad will face Kagiso Rabada now, and he begins by hammering a six down the ground! He just skipped down the pitch and sent it right into the stands. Three singles follow, and then Uthappa clips it square of the man for four, that looked effortless! Single to finish off the over.

FOUR! clipped behind square by Uthappa!

SIX! Ruturaj Gaikwad hammers a maximum down the ground!

After 3 overs,Chennai Super Kings 20/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 4 , Robin Uthappa 13)

Nortje continues, and he begins with a dot ball. Uthappa flicks to deep backward square leg and runs two. Two singles and a dot follow. Good over so far. Shorter delivery to end the over, Uthappa can’t make contact with it. Just four runs from the over.

After 2 overs,Chennai Super Kings 16/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 3 , Robin Uthappa 10)

Avesh Khan to bowl the second over. First one’s a wide. He’ll go again. Oh, lovely stuff from Robin Uthappa, he opens up the face of his bat and deftly caresses the ball past the slip fielder for four. Dot to follow, and then a single. Avesh has a wicket or two in him, he’s currently second in the wicket-takers’ table. Dot and two singles to end, eight off the over.

FOUR! Uthappa opens the face and sends it past the slip fielder!

After 1 overs,Chennai Super Kings 8/1 ( Ruturaj Gaikwad 2 , Robin Uthappa 5)

Alright then, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis are out and ready. They’ve been really good this season, and they’ll need to be good tonight as well, because there’s a daunting run chase awaiting them. Anrich Nortje to bowl to them, he’s a wily customer and he’ll be looking to get quick wickets. Single to begin, Gaikwad is off the mark. Faf gets a single as well. Another single, and then Nortje draws first blood! It’s a ripper of a delivery, 147.5kph! Lands on the seam and crashes onto the wickets, Faf du Plessis tried a flick but he was completely done in by the pace. Robin Uthappa on now, and he’s off the mark with a sublime drive through the covers that reaches the boundary ropes with ease for four! Single to end the over.

FOUR! Uthappa hammers the drive through the covers!

OUT! Anrich Nortje strikes very very early, it’s a cracker of a delivery and it sees Faf du Plessis make his way back into the dugout. Faf du Plessis b Nortje 1 (2 balls)

After 20 overs,Delhi Capitals 172/5 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 51 , Tom Curran 0)

Three dots from the first three ball but Pant manages to score eight off the next three. It’s a good final over by Shardul as Delhi finish the innings with a score of 172/5. Pant also gets his half-century with the double off the final ball. Prithvi Shaw and Shimron Hetmyer also played valuable knocks. It’s going to be a tough chase for Chennai. We’ll be back after a small break.

Low full toss outside off stump, Pant goes hard, gets an inside edge and the ball runs to the boundary behind the keeper.

After 19 overs,Delhi Capitals 164/5 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 43 , Tom Curran 0)

Afterb the one-handed six, Pant slices an outside off-stump ball in the air towards Chahar who comes up with a great effort for a catch. The ball falls just short of Chahar but he still does enough to stop the boundary. It’s a costly over but Bravo gets rid of Hetmyer. Tom Curran joins his skipper in the middle. This already look like a par score on this wicket.

Short ball by Bravo, Hetmyer goes for the pull, gets a top edge and the catch is taken by Jadeja. Hetmyer c Jadeja b Dwayne Bravo 37(24)

Another Pant special. The ball by Bravo is in the slot, Pant once again hits an one-handed shot and it is over the long-on.

After 18 overs,Delhi Capitals 154/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 35 , Shimron Hetmyer 35)

Hazlewood goes for runs in his final over. He fails to get his lengths right as both Pant and Hetmyer punish him with boundaries. He finishes with a good yorker though as Pant blocks and can only take on run. 12 off the over, Hazlewood ends his spell with figures of 2/29.

Overpitched by Hazlewood, Pant swings his bat hard and the ball rushes to the deep mid-wicket boundary.

Full ball outside off, Hetmyer clears one leg and hits it straight down the ground.

After 17 overs,Delhi Capitals 141/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 28 , Shimron Hetmyer 30)

Bravo continues. Hetmyer gets the boundary with a lovely hit over mid-wicket. Pant somehow gets the bat to Barvo’s slow yorker, the ball takes an edge and runs through third-man as Hazlewoods dives and saves three runs. A boundary to end the over. Good over for DC as they score 13 runs.

Bravo manages to extract an edge but the ball is just wide of Dhoni. Four for Pant.

Short and wide of off stump by Bravo, Hetmyer connects it really well and smacks the ball to deep mid-wicket.

After 16 overs,Delhi Capitals 128/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 22 , Shimron Hetmyer 24)

The moment Pant plays the one-handed shot, it looked like the ball is going into the hands of the long-on fielder. But he hits the ball with so much power that it goes over the boundary. This is a typical Pant hit. No timing at all but good enough to go for a boundary. Costly over by Shardul who bowls two wides and concedes 14 runs. Timeout taken.

Wow! Slow low full toss by Shardul, The bat slips but Pant gets the ball over the long-on fielder with an one-handed shot.

After 15 overs,Delhi Capitals 115/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 12 , Shimron Hetmyer 22)

Dwayne Bravo for the first time tonight. As expected, he’s varying his length and pace. Hetmyer sees an opportunity to score a boundary and plays a really good shot to pierce the gap between short third man and backward point. The fielder dives but he’s nowhere near the ball. After the four, Bravo goes slower and full, Hetmyer is surprised but he ultimately blocks it. Seven off the over.

Full and wide by Bravo, Hetmyer guides it nicely between short third man and the point fielders.

After 14 overs,Delhi Capitals 107/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 11 , Shimron Hetmyer 16)

Moeen comes in for his final over. Pant hits the ball to the left of deep mid-wicket fielder, there’s a chance for the second run but Jadeja denies it with a superb throw. The next one is also hit towards Jadeja but this time he has no chance as the ball goes over the rope. 11 off the over and Moeen’s four overs are done.

Well played! Slightly short by Moeen, on the middle stump. Hetmyer goes back into the crease and whips it over deep square leg.

After 13 overs,Delhi Capitals 96/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 9 , Shimron Hetmyer 8)

Deepak Chahar is back into the attack. Hard lengths with change of pace to keep the big shots in check. Three singles from the first three balls. Chahar goes round the wicket and digs a short ball, Hetmyer pulls as the fine-leg fielder cuts it off. Just six off the over.

After 12 overs,Delhi Capitals 90/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 6 , Shimron Hetmyer 6)

Moeen continues. Pant misses out on a half-tracker as he doesn’t get the timing right on his pull. He takes only one run. Hetmyer collects two after a push to deep cover. Two more runs after playing a similar shot to the same area. A dot to end the over. Seven off it and another decent over by Moeen.

After 11 overs,Delhi Capitals 83/4 ( Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 4 , Shimron Hetmyer 1)

Shaw sees the ball and thinks this is perfect for a big hit over deep cover. He times it but goes wrong with the placement as Faf takes a good catch running from long-off. Shimron Hetmyer is the new batsman in the middle. Just four off the over.

Jadeja removes Shaw. The batsman takes the aerial route but hits it to the fielder at long-off. Big wicket for CSK. Prithvi Shaw c du Plessis b Jadeja 60(34)

After 10 overs,Delhi Capitals 79/3 ( Prithvi Shaw 60 , Rishabh Pant (C) (W) 1)

Moeen continues. Shaw takes a single with a push to mid-wicket. The spinner is tempting Shaw to go for the big hits by tossing the ball up but he doesn’t take the bait. Axar falls for it and he’s now back in the dugout. Moeen slows it and keeps it tight, Axar goes back in the crease to get the power but he fails. Pant is off the mark with a quick single, this would’ve been close if there’s a direct hit on the non-striker’s end.

Gone! Axar Patel tries to whip the short ball but gets a top edge and the fielder at long-on takes the catch. Axar c (sub)Santner b Moeen Ali 10(11)

After 9 overs,Delhi Capitals 74/2 ( Prithvi Shaw 57 , Axar Patel 9)

Shaw can make a big score today. Even when he wasn’t getting the timing right, he still found runs in boundaries. He has already moved to 57 in just 30 balls. Jadeja’s second over goes for 10 runs and umpire signals a timeout.

Well done. Shaw sweeps it in front of the square and it’s in the gap.

Fifty for Shaw! Slight width by Jadeja. Shaw cuts it and beats the point fielder.

After 8 overs,Delhi Capitals 64/2 ( Prithvi Shaw 48 , Axar Patel 8)

Moeen Ali for the first time. He gets the ball to turn as Shaw is watchful and blocks it. The field has been spread so Shaw is not looking to take risks by going for the big shots. Four singles in the over. Good stuff from the spinner.

After 7 overs,Delhi Capitals 60/2 ( Prithvi Shaw 46 , Axar Patel 6)

Spin has been introduced by Dhoni. Ravindra Jadeja takes the ball. Could’ve been a decent over if not for the boundary. Dhoni was not happy with the ball as he gave a death stare to Jadeja for giving so much room to the batsman. Nine off the over.

First boundary for Axar. Jadeja bowls a wide one, Axar drives it in the air, Bravo looks set to stop the ball but he misfields.

After 6 overs,Delhi Capitals 51/2 ( Prithvi Shaw 43 , Axar Patel 0)

Ruturaj deserves credit for Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal. The ball goes high in the air after the leading edge, Ruturaj goes backward and got himself in a good position to take the ball safely. Another successful over for Chennai. Hazlewood goes for just one run. Axar Patel is the new batsman.

Hazlewood strikes again. Bowled on the pads, Shreyas goes for the flick, gets a leading edge and the catch is taken at point. Shreyas Iyer c Ruturaj Gaikwad b Hazlewood 1(8)

After 5 overs,Delhi Capitals 50/1 ( Prithvi Shaw 42 , Shreyas Iyer 1)

After the six, Shaw gets off strike with a single down to deep mid-wicket. Shreyas then plays a strong drive on the off-side but Jadeja dives and saves at least three runs. The final ball of the over a slow bouncer, Shaw goes for it, gets an edge and Dhoni comes up with an one-handed dive to his right but he fails to hold on to the catch. Tough chance for the keeper, maybe a younger Dhoni would’ve taken it.

Shaw is in the mood. Full, no swing, the batsman lifts it straight down the ground and clears the boundary.

Wow! Short and on the middle stump by Shardul. Shaw says thank you with a thumping hit over deep mid-wicket.

After 4 overs,Delhi Capitals 36/1 ( Prithvi Shaw 29 , Shreyas Iyer 0)

Just when the DC openers were starting to look dangerous, Hazlewood provides the breakthrough. Dhawan’s footwork was at fault and the ball also moves away after pitching. It’s a superb ball from a superb bowler. Shreyas Iyer is the new man in and he plays out the remaining four deliveries. Just four off the over, including a wicket.

Gone! Good length, outside off stump ball by Hazlewood, Dhawan with a lazy push and he nicks it to the keeper. Down the Dhawan c Dhoni b Hazlewood 7(7)

Down the track and Dhawan hits it straight down the ground for his first boundary.

After 3 overs,Delhi Capitals 32/0 ( Prithvi Shaw 29 , Shikhar Dhawan 3)

Deepak Chahar did not get his line right and Shaw punishes him. Four boundaries, two on the off-side and two on the leg-side. 17 off the over.

Short and wide, Shaw cuts and scores another boundary. Fourth of the over.

Slower ball by Chahar, Shaw flick this one behind square and it’s in the gap.

Length ball, outside off stump, Shaw punches for another boundary

Shaw tries to pull this one through mid-wicket but gets an inside edge and the ball is going to the fine-leg.

After 2 overs, Delhi Capitals 16/0

Josh Hazlewood is into the attack. He starts off bowling hard lengths. Two dots, a four and single as Shaw gets off strike. The ball to Dhawan is a slower one pitched back of length as the southpaw flicks and takes a run. A six to end the over.

Short, waist high, Shaw pulls, gets a top edge and this time the ball is over the ropes behind the keeper.

Hazlewood goes short, Shaw pulls, gets a thick edge and the ball flies over keeper’s head. First boundary of the match.

After 1 overs,Delhi Capitals 3/0 ( Prithvi Shaw 2 , Shikhar Dhawan 1)

Deepak Chahar with a false start so he’ll go again. Shaw punches the first ball firmly but it is straight to the point fielder. He’s off the mark with a gentle flick to the leg-side for one run. Two more singles by both batsmen in the over so this is a good start by the pacer.

Action to begin soon. This is for a place in the final. 

The players are out on the field. Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Prithivi Shaw set to take charge. Deepak Chahar has the ball and he will begin proceedings for CSK.

MS Dhoni: “Whatever games we have played so far, the guys felt there was a bit of help for the seamers initially, it’s a tough wicket, but it could get better later on. We try to keep it simple, irrespective of any game. We analyse our shortcomings and it has helped us.”

Rishabh Pant: “We are fine with the toss, but we’d have bowled first. Slightly nervous, but it’s part and parcel of the game. When you win games, the confidence level is high, but we’ll not take the match lightly.”

Chennai Super Kings Playing XI:

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood.

Delhi Capitals playing XI

Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Shreyas Iyer, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Tom Curran, Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje.

So, Marcus Stoinis is still not fit to play.

One change for Delhi Capitals. Tom Curran replaces Ripal Patel.

Toss news

MS Dhoni wins the toss and CSK will bowl first. No changes to their playing XI.

Not too long for the all-important toss. So stay tuned.

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Re-defined my whole batting strategy after 2018-19, says KS Bharat

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s latest star K S Bharat says a change in approach to batting, including not going after every ball, has allowed him to make instant impact in his debut IPL season.

Bharat smashed 78 not out off 52 balls and kept calm under pressure to loft Avesh Khan for a straight six with five needed off the last delivery to chase down Delhi Capitals’ target of 165. It could prove to be a career-changing knock for the wicketkeeper-batter.

DC expect Marcus Stoinis boost for first playoff against CSK

Australian allrounder Marcus Stoinis is expected to return to the Delhi Capitals for the first playoff against Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, skipper Rishabh Pant said.

Preview

Chennai Super Kings’ old guards, with an uncanny knack of owning the big stage at right moments, will start as favourites against a solid Delhi Capitals line-up led by ‘young pretender’ Rishabh Pant in what promises to be an exciting first IPL Qualifier.

Capitals were the best team in the league and their 20-point finish at the group stage was an indication of their consistent performances which didn’t dip due to the COVID-19 forced break. Similarly, CSK are now back in familiar settings of play-off rounds, something that they have done 11 out of 12 times, although losing three matches on the bounce wouldn’t have amused their all-powerful skipper MS Dhoni.

Preview

Chennai Super Kings’ old guards, with an uncanny knack of owning the big stage at right moments, will start as favourites against a solid Delhi Capitals line-up led by ‘young pretender’ Rishabh Pant in what promises to be an exciting first IPL Qualifier.

Capitals were the best team in the league and their 20-point finish at the group stage was an indication of their consistent performances which didn’t dip due to the COVID-19 forced break. Similarly, CSK are now back in familiar settings of play-off rounds, something that they have done 11 out of 12 times, although losing three matches on the bounce wouldn’t have amused their all-powerful skipper MS Dhoni.

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the IPL playoffs!

The first Qualifier is on tonight, and it will see league-leaders Delhi Capitals take on second-placed Chennai Super Kings in a battle for a berth in the final. These two have faced each other quite recently, and in their encounter six days ago, it was Delhi who came out on top, winning by three wickets. Stay tuned as we bring you all the latest updates!