Chennai Super Kings Eye Comeback as They Host Unbeaten Delhi Capitals in Match 17. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to face off against the in-form Delhi Capitals (DC) at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai.

The Super Kings have endured a shaky start to their campaign, managing just one win from three outings. In their previous clash, they fell short by six runs against Rajasthan Royals while chasing 183. Despite a gritty 63 off 44 balls from skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK couldn’t build enough partnerships to see them through.

Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals have been clinical so far, remaining unbeaten with two commanding wins. In their last match, DC dismantled Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets. Mitchell Starc starred with a brilliant five-wicket haul, and Faf du Plessis followed up with a fluent fifty to help chase down 164 in just 16 overs.

With contrasting momentum on both sides, this clash promises to be an exciting showdown under the Chepauk lights.

Pitch Report & Weather Conditions 

Chepauk is renowned for being a spinner’s paradise, with its dry and slow pitches offering plenty of turn and grip. Since the start of the previous season, the venue has hosted 11 matches, with the average first-innings score standing at 163—suggesting a fairly balanced contest between bat and ball.

As for the weather, conditions are expected to be clear with no rain interruptions on the radar. The temperature should hover around a pleasant 25°C, setting the stage perfectly for a gripping encounter.

Players You Should Include in Your Playing Eleven 

Rachin Ravindra (CHE)
Rachin Ravindra kicked off his IPL 2025 campaign in style with a composed 65* off 45 balls against the Mumbai Indians. The New Zealand southpaw has shown impressive versatility, handling both pace and spin with ease. In his last five T20 outings, he’s been in fine touch—scoring two half-centuries and two 40s. His Last five T20 scores: 0 (4), 41 (31), 65* (45), 48 (37), 69 (39).

Matheesha Pathirana (CHE)
Sri Lanka’s slingy speedster continues to be a key figure in the CSK bowling unit. Since 2023, Pathirana has scalped 36 wickets in just 20 IPL appearances, maintaining an economy of 7.91. In the current season, he’s already picked up four wickets from two outings, displaying sharp form and death-over expertise. His Last five bowling figures: 2/28, 2/36, 0/23, 0/20, 1/26.

Mitchell Starc (DC)
Despite being a touch expensive, Mitchell Starc has been a wicket-taker in both games so far for the Capitals. After returning figures of 3/42 in the opener, the Aussie speedster came back even stronger, grabbing a fiery 5/35 to blow away SRH. His pace and bounce could pose a serious challenge for CSK’s top order. His last five bowling figures: 5/35, 3/42, 2/45, 1/21, 0/31. 

Captaincy & Vice Captaincy Picks 

Ruturaj Gaikwad (CHE)

The CSK captain has looked in sublime touch this season, registering two fifties in his three innings—both under challenging conditions. Gaikwad thrives at Chepauk, where he’s racked up 753 runs at an impressive average of 53 and a strike rate of 139. 

Since 2021, he has amassed 2,292 IPL runs at an average of 41, including two centuries and 17 half-centuries. His last five scores: 63 (44), 0 (4), 53 (26), 97 (48), 2* (1).

Noor Ahmad (CHE)
The Afghan wrist-spinner has been a revelation this season and particularly lethal at spin-friendly Chepauk. Noor leads the wicket-taking charts with nine scalps in just three matches, operating at a superb economy of 6.83. 

His standout spell of 4/18 against Mumbai Indians at this very venue underlines his threat. His last five bowling figures: 2/28, 3/36, 4/18, 3/25, 0/25.

Axar Patel (DC)

Axar Patel’s all-round capabilities could prove crucial at Chepauk. With recent promotions up the order, his ability to counter spin will be a key asset for DC. Over the last year, he has scored 522 T20 runs at a strike rate of 141 and an average of 27. 

With the ball, he has been steady, picking up 37 wickets in this period at a tidy economy of 7.23. His last five batting scores: 22 (11), 15 (11), 5 (4), 15 (16), 2 (3) and bowling figures  0/43, 0/18, 1/26, 1/19, 2/32.

Players We Are Tempted to Include 

We’re strongly considering bringing in Jake Fraser-McGurk, KL Rahul (w), Devon Conway, and Khaleel Ahmed to our playing XI—and for good reason!

With Rahul and Jake at the top, we’ve got the potential for an explosive start. Both are capable of tearing into any bowling attack from ball one. Conway, calm and calculated, can anchor the innings while keeping the scoreboard ticking. And then there’s Khaleel, who’s quietly becoming a wicket-taking machine this season—consistently striking at crucial moments.

It’s a tempting mix of power, precision, and momentum we don’t want to miss out on!