DC vs CSK Highlights, IPL 2026: Sanju Samson shines with unbeaten 87 as Chennai Super Kings beat Delhi Capitals by 8 wickets

Final preparations are underway at the Arun Jaitley Stadium as toss time approaches, with conditions currently stable despite threatening clouds around the venue. There is still concern about rain later in the evening, but organisers are hopeful the match can begin on schedule at 7:30 PM IST.

Both teams understand the significance of tonight’s clash. Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings are sitting outside the playoff spots with eight points each, while several teams above them have already reached 12 or more points. Another defeat could leave either side needing near-perfect results in the remaining fixtures.

Delhi’s poor catching efficiency and inconsistent home form remain concerns, but the side appears more balanced after recent changes to the overseas combination. Chennai, meanwhile, will once again bank on experience and their strong record against DC.

The toss could prove crucial, especially if rain becomes a factor later in the night.

Weather remains the biggest talking point around the Arun Jaitley Stadium with overcast skies continuing just under an hour before toss time. While no major rain has arrived yet, officials remain alert because of forecasts predicting thunderstorms later in the evening. Ground staff are regularly monitoring conditions as fans slowly fill the stands.

From a tactical perspective, Delhi Capitals could once again rely on skipper Axar Patel in the Powerplay. Axar has historically troubled several CSK batters, including Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Delhi may use spin early if conditions allow.

KL Rahul’s form at this venue is another massive boost for DC. The wicketkeeper-batter has already played two major innings in Delhi this season and will be key at the top alongside Pathum Nissanka.

For Chennai, pacer Anshul Kamboj could become important with the new ball after enjoying success against right-handers in the Powerplay throughout the tournament.

The pitch for tonight’s DC vs CSK game is expected to favour batters once again, although weather conditions could slightly assist seamers early on. Unlike the previous matches at the venue, a different strip has been prepared for this contest, but teams are still expecting another high-scoring encounter if rain stays away.

Delhi Capitals have experienced a rollercoaster season at home. In their last few matches here, they posted a record 264 only to lose, before being bowled out for just 75 in another heavy defeat. However, their successful chase of 226 against Rajasthan Royals has restored some confidence in the dressing room.

CSK hold the advantage historically, leading the head-to-head battle 20-12 and enjoying a strong record in Delhi. Chennai have won four of the last six meetings between the two teams since 2022. With playoff qualification hanging in the balance, both sides are under enormous pressure tonight.

Players from both camps have started arriving at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, with light drizzle reported in a few nearby areas but conditions currently remaining playable. The weather, however, continues to shift rapidly in Delhi after multiple days of unseasonal rain and thunderstorms. Fans entering the stadium are keeping a close eye on the skies as organisers prepare for possible interruptions later in the evening.

For Delhi Capitals, much of the attention is on their batting combination. Pathum Nissanka is expected to retain his place after impressing in the previous match, while bowling coach Munaf Patel has hinted there will be no major changes despite David Miller remaining on the bench.

Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, continue to deal with injury concerns. MS Dhoni has not travelled with the squad as he undergoes rehabilitation. CSK will again rely heavily on captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and the middle-order power of Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis.

The focus ahead of the Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium remains firmly on the weather as dark clouds continue to hover over parts of the national capital. The India Meteorological Department’s orange alert for rain, thunderstorms and possible hailstorms has already raised concerns about interruptions later in the evening. Ground staff have kept the covers ready, although there has been no heavy rain around the venue so far.

On the cricket side, both teams know the importance of tonight’s fixture. DC and CSK are level on eight points from nine matches each, making this a virtual must-win contest in the race for the IPL 2026 playoffs. A washout would only complicate matters further, as both sides would move to nine points with limited room for error in the remaining games.

Delhi enter the contest after an impressive chase against Rajasthan Royals, while Chennai are also coming off a convincing win.

The Chennai Super Kings have had a mixed run in their last five matches, registering 3 wins and 2 losses, but without managing to build a consistent winning streak. Their sequence - W, L, W, L, W - perfectly reflects an alternating pattern, where every victory has been followed by a setback, preventing sustained momentum. Their most recent result, an emphatic 8-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (May 2) with 11 balls to spare, showcased their ability to dominate chases.

Earlier in the stretch, CSK also secured a massive 103-run win over MI (April 23) and a solid 32-run victory against Kolkata Knight Riders (April 14), underlining their capability when both batting and bowling click together. However, losses to Gujarat Titans (by 8 wickets) and a narrow 10-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad exposed inconsistencies, particularly in maintaining control across phases. In essence, CSK are finding ways to win - but not consecutively - and that stop-start rhythm continues to define their campaign at a crucial stage of the season.

The Delhi Capitals have endured a turbulent run in their last five matches, managing 2 wins and 3 losses, with no sustained winning momentum to build on. Their sequence - W, L, L, L, W - tells the story of a side that started well, slipped into a three-match losing streak, and has only just managed to halt the slide.

The most recent outing, a convincing 7-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals (May 1) with five balls to spare, provided some relief and kept their campaign alive. However, the preceding losses exposed key issues: a heavy 9-wicket defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, a chase gone wrong against Punjab Kings (lost by 6 wickets), and a 47-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad that dented their net run rate significantly.

Their earlier win in this stretch - a tight 6-wicket victory over RCB with just one ball remaining - highlighted their ability to close games, but the inconsistency around it has hurt. Overall, Delhi’s recent form reflects a team struggling to string together performances, with brief highs interrupted by a damaging losing streak that has left them playing catch-up in the standings.

The Delhi Capitals find themselves in a far more precarious position at seventh with 8 points from 9 matches and a significantly negative net run rate (-0.895). A win would lift them to 10 points, drawing them level with a potential CSK win scenario and keeping them within touching distance of the playoff spots.

However, unlike others, Delhi’s poor net run rate means even victories need to be substantial to improve their standing meaningfully - they are unlikely to jump multiple positions without a big-margin result. On the flip side, a loss would leave DC at 8 points from 10 games, further damaging their playoff hopes and potentially allowing teams below, like Kolkata Knight Riders, to close the gap.

At that stage, Delhi would not only be chasing wins but also trying to repair their net run rate, making the qualification path significantly more complicated. In essence, for DC, the margin for error is almost gone - each game now carries near knockout-level importance.

For the Chennai Super Kings, currently placed sixth with 8 points from 9 games, every result now directly shapes their playoff trajectory. A win would take CSK to 10 points, immediately pulling them closer to the tightly packed top five, where multiple teams are locked at 12.

Given their neutral net run rate (0.005), even a convincing victory could significantly boost their standings, potentially allowing them to leapfrog at least one or two teams depending on margins. More importantly, it would tighten the mid-table scramble and keep CSK firmly in contention with momentum on their side. However, a loss would leave them stuck on 8 points after 10 matches, widening the gap to the top four and increasing scoreboard pressure in the final stretch.

With teams above continuing to accumulate points, another defeat could push CSK into a must-win territory, where qualification scenarios become increasingly dependent not just on their own results but on other outcomes as well.

For the Delhi Capitals, the Purple Cap conversation is notable more for who isn’t there than who is. Delhi have no bowlers in the top 20 of the wicket charts, which underlines a broader issue - there hasn’t been a consistent wicket-taking force capable of breaking into the upper tier this season. Their best bowler is skipper Axar Patel placed 23rd with 8 wickets from 9 matches.

The Chennai Super Kings find themselves strongly placed in the Purple Cap race, led by the impressive rise of Anshul Kamboj. With 17 wickets, Kamboj is level with the current leader Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Beyond him, there is presence in top 20 in Jamie Overton (10 wickets, No. 15) and Noor Ahmad (9 wickets, No. 19). Overton requires 2 wickets to break into the top 10 and 5 more to enter the top 5, while Noor needs 3 wickets to reach the top 10 and 6 more to climb into the top 5 bracket.

For the Chennai Super Kings, the Orange Cap conversation is currently anchored by Sanju Samson, who sits at No. 14 with 315 runs. Unlike Delhi’s situation near the very top, CSK’s leading batter has a significant climb ahead - Samson is 125 runs behind leader Abhishek Sharma (440) in the Orange Cap race. Positioned in the 11–20 bracket, his immediate target is breaking into the top 10, which would require 39 more runs to go past No. 10 Ishan Kishan (354).

Among the Delhi Capitals batters, only KL Rahul features inside the top 20 - and he’s not just present, he’s firmly in the thick of the Orange Cap race at No. 2 with 433 runs. Rahul is just 7 runs behind leader Abhishek Sharma (440), which means a single fluent innings could flip the leaderboard instantly. The absence of any other Delhi batter in both the top 10 and the 11–20 bracket underlines a clear dependence on Rahul’s consistency at the top. In essence, Delhi’s Orange Cap hopes are singularly driven - if Rahul fires, they stay in the conversation; if not, there’s no immediate backup pushing through the ranks.

The contest between the Delhi Capitals and the Chennai Super Kings has largely tilted in Chennai’s favour over the years, but the rivalry carries more nuance than the numbers suggest. In 32 meetings, CSK have emerged victorious 20 times compared to Delhi’s 12, underlining a clear historical advantage built on consistency, experience, and their ability to handle pressure in key moments.

Yet, over the past year, the gap has begun to narrow slightly. Delhi have managed 5 wins in 13 games, while Chennai sit marginally ahead with 6 wins in 12 matches, reflecting a more competitive recent trend even if not a dramatic shift. Individual performances have also shaped this evolving narrative - KL Rahul has been prolific with 601 runs for Delhi, while Kuldeep Yadav has chipped in with crucial wickets.

For Chennai, contributions from players like Sanju Samson and standout bowling returns from Anshul Kamboj highlight their depth. Ultimately, while CSK’s dominance remains intact on paper, Delhi’s incremental progress suggests this is no longer a one-sided equation, making each new encounter a far more unpredictable and tactically intriguing contest.

KL Rahul has been exceptional at the top of the order for Delhi Capitals in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, and his form will be key if they are to finish in the top four.


DC are currently in seventh place in the points table with four wins in nine matches. They are set to clash with CSK in their next IPL fixture at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday night.


Speaking on JioStar's 'Superstars', Rahul shared his thoughts on his new opening partner, Pathum Nissanka and the clarity in his role.


Rahul weighed in on adapting to the aggressive style at the top of the order and said, "T20 cricket has evolved over the last two or three years, especially in the IPL. You can see patterns in how teams are winning, and recently, teams that win the Power Play often go on to win the game. A few years ago, games were usually decided between the 14th and 20th overs. The Powerplay was always important, but now it carries even more weight. For me, personally, it's something I've had to adapt to for the team."

The last time Sanju Samson was here at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, his international career was almost on the brink. Pencilled into the Indian XI only because Abhishek Sharma fell ill before the T20 World Cup match against Namibia in Feb, a deflated Samson walked off after scoring 22 off eight balls.

On Tuesday, he will be back here as the toast of the nation. Samson’s counterfeit Chennai Super Kings jerseys will make for the majority of the inventory with the street vendors.

Samson has been at the crossroads for much of his career. But seldom has his stock been so high. His turnaround at the back end of the T20 World Cup was an answer to years of doubts over his consistency.

Now that he has cemented himself as the biggest superstar in the CSK XI, it’s time he consolidated his IPL form to run for a spot in India’s 2027 ODI World Cup team.

Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Axar Patel could be a fine match-up for his side against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opening pair of skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.


The hosts, DC, who are optimistic and upbeat after a recent win over the Rajasthan Royals (RR) following a run of three losses, will be taking on CSK, who also kept their playoff hopes alive with a win over arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI). With both teams at eight points after nine matches, CSK are at the sixth spot and DC at seventh, still pretty much in the race for the final four.


CSK openers, as per Cricbuzz, have an aggregate of 205 runs at an average of 22.77, which is the second-lowest among all teams this season after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). This comes despite two centuries by Sanju, 315 runs in nine matches at an average of 45.00 and a strike rate of 167.55, with two centuries) And two successive fifties by Ruturaj (245 runs in nine matches at an average of 35.00 and a strike rate of 125.64).


They have had a competitive match against Axar, who has dismissed Ruturaj twice in seven innings. The CSK batter scored 63 runs at an average of 32.50 and a strike rate of 143.18 against Axar. Sanju has been dismissed twice in 13 innings by Axar. Sanju has scored 91 runs against him at strike rate of 122.97. Axar has managed to contain his free-flow of runs.


Axar, who has had eight wickets so far at an average of 29.87, could be bowling in the powerplay at the two batters.

Delhi Capitals bowling coach Munaf Patel said on Monday that Lungi Ngidi is ready to return after recovering from the head injury he suffered during a home match against Punjab Kings on April 25.

Ngidi had to be taken off the field on a stretcher and was hospitalised after the incident. It happened in the third over of Punjab Kings’ innings, bowled by Axar Patel, when Ngidi tried to take a catch off a shot by Priyansh Arya.

He moved back while tracking the ball but was not in full control. He stretched to reach it but could not get a touch, and fell on his head. The game was stopped for more than 10 minutes, and Vipraj Nigam came in as a concussion substitute.

"Everyone is fit. Lungi is fit. He didn't play two games because of the criterion of six days' rest," said Munaf before the match against Chennai Super Kings.

Ahead of their 10th game of the season, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed to PTI that M S Dhoni has not yet regained full fitness, ruling him out of the game at Kotla.

Like DC, CSK too are walking on a tightrope and if they slip on Tuesday night, it would ensure another premature exit from the tournament, having finished at the bottom last season.

The lack of runs from skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad's bat cost them dearly in the first half of the season with Sanju Samson alone carrying the burden in a rather young looking batting line up.

But the captain has found a way to get back amongst the runs and goes into the DC game at the back of consecutive half-centuries.

Urvil Patel batting at number three ahead of Sarfaraz Khan after injured Aayush Mhatre's pullout has been debated.

A 12-ball 14 in the win over Mumbai Indians would do wonders for Patel's confidence. Same goes for Kartik Sharma, who struck his maiden IPL fifty on Saturday night.

Two of CSK's four wins have come against a struggling Mumbai Indians while one was against DC at the Chepauk. Gaikwad and Co. would carry the confidence of that performance in the return leg.

DC vs CSK Live Score, IPL 2026: Will MS Dhoni play vs DC? CSK bowling coach's blunt 'above my pay grade' reply goes viral

When will MS Dhoni play? Will he feature today? What is the status of his injury? These questions continue to dominate social media, with CSK fans eager to see their superstar in action. Dhoni is yet to play a game this season due to a calf injury, and the topic once again surfaced when Chennai Super Kings bowling coach Eric Simons addressed the media ahead of the IPL 2026 clash between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings.

Simons said Dhoni has not travelled for the away fixture against Delhi Capitals, though he is steadily improving.

More than half the season is done, with CSK set to play their 10th match in what has been an underwhelming campaign. As has been the case every season since his international retirement, there is intense speculation around the future of the 44-year-old Indian great in the IPL.

In the pre-match interaction, it was hardly surprising that the first question was on Dhoni, who has been batting in the nets recently.

"Update on MS Dhoni is way above my pay grade. He's not with us (in Delhi), but steadily improving. He'll be ready when he's ready, and he knows when he's ready to play," that was all Simons had to say on the team icon.

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary

Impact Sub: Kartik Sharma

Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): KL Rahul(w), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel(c), Ashutosh Sharma, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan

Impact sub: David Miller

When: Tuesday, May 5, 7:30PM IST

Where: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

Where to watch: Star Sports Network for live TV broadcast and JioHotstar for live streaming

The pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium is expected to be a paradise for batters. Conditions are likely to heavily favour stroke play, setting the stage for a high-scoring encounter when Delhi Capitals take on Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday. With short boundaries aiding big hits, batters are expected to enjoy their time in the middle and dominate proceedings.

Weather in Delhi on May 5 looks ideal for the IPL clash at Arun Jaitley Stadium. A sunny day will see temperatures peak near 33°C before easing to around 23°C in the evening. Clear skies and just a 10% rain chance reduce any threat of interruption. With humidity near 46% and a light northeast breeze, conditions should remain comfortable for an uninterrupted night game.

Chennai Super Kings hold a clear upper hand over Delhi Capitals in their head-to-head record in the IPL. Out of 32 matches played between the two sides, CSK have emerged victorious 20 times, while Delhi Capitals have managed 12 wins. There have been no no-results in their encounters.

Matches played: 32
DC won: 12
CSK won: 20
No result: 0

Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel (captain), KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Karun Nair, David Miller, Pathum Nissanka, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Nitish Rana, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Ashutosh Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera, Lungi Ngidi, Vipraj Nigam, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Abishek Porel, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Auqib Nabi Dar, Mitchell Starc, Kyle Jamieson and Rehan Ahmed

Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Kartik Sharma (wk), Dewald Brevis, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Mukesh Choudhary, Noor Ahmad Urvil Patel (wk), Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Matthew Short, Prashant Veer, Rahul Chahar, Shreyas Gopal, Matt Henry, and Spencer Johnson