IPL 2023: Chennai Super Kings qualify for playoffs with win over Delhi Capitals

Chennai Super Kings qualified for the playoff stage of the 2023 Indian Premier League season after beating Delhi Capitals by 77 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday. With the win, CSK are all but assured of a top-two place in the IPL points table. IPL 2023: Full coverage | Points table | Schedule | Results | Orange Cap | Purple Cap​ CSK are the second team to qualify for the IPL playoffs after table-toppers Gujarat Titans. As a result, GT are likely to play CSK in Qualifier 1 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals are the only teams who are out of contention for the IPL playoffs. With GT and CSK occupying the top-two positions, two of Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders will take the remaining two places. The hammering of Delhi gives Chennai a high chance of sealing a top-two finish. Unless, LSG win by 97 runs or more against KKR, CSK will play the Qualifier 1 at their home ground in Chepauk. For Capitals, the finish to end of the season came as the start - with a defeat. Once again, skipper David Warner was the only bright spot with an 86 run knock from 58 balls. The Aussie went after the CSK bowling, especially Ravindra Jadeja where he struck a four, six, six in consecutive deliveries, to fight even as others fell apart. After winning the toss, MS Dhoni opted to bat - as expected under 40-plus degrees and dry surface. Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad started well and never let the momentum go from their grasp. CSK brought up their fifty in just the fifth over with Conway slamming the 1000th six of the IPL season enroute. The Chennai openers were close in their attacking intent and run-scoring at that stage. Sixth to ninth overs saw just one boundary but after this mini blip, Gaikwad attacked Axar Patel with consecutive sixes. Two overs later, it was fellow spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s turn to come under the pump. Gaikwad got to the pitch of the ball and went 6, 6, 6 to significantly turn the game around. Gaikwad’s stay in the middle was brought to a halt by Chetan Sakariya at 79 runs from 50 balls. Conway kept the attack going with three fours and two sixes in the following two overs. In so doing, Conway brought up his 33-ball 50. Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja belted big hits late on even as the crowd yarned for MS Dhoni to produce some of his typical magic. In reply, Deepak Chahar took two-in-two to dismiss Phil Salt and Rilee Rossouw after Prithvi Shaw departed cheaply once again. With the top order back in the dugout before the powerplay overs got done, it was once again Warner’s battle. A battle that once again ended with a defeat. The Aussie brought up his fifty, sixth of the season, off 32 balls and upped the tempo against Jadeja. The left-arm spinner conceded 23 runs in the over and eventually posted figures of 1/50. With the required rate climbing well out of reach, Warner tried to focus on the individual milestone but even that was lost when he was outfoxed by a Matheesha Pathirana slower one. Maheesh Theekshana produced a two-wicket maiden final over to make it a CSK day from start to finish at a ground that resembled more of a CSK ground than Delhi’s stadium. Read all the Latest News, Trending News,  Cricket News, Bollywood News,  India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.