Chennai Super Kings (CSK) finally have something to show for their season. After three horrible defeats, they returned to Chepauk and showed a performance that had been missing so far. A 23-run win over Delhi Capitals (DC) not only got them off the mark but also ended a six-match losing streak at home stretching back to last year.
Sanju Samson was at the heart of it all. He took charge early and never really let go on a surface that made strokeplay a lot simpler. He finished with 115 runs off 56 balls. It was the first century in IPL 2026 and only the fourth of his career. He is now behind Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler, Chris Gayle, and KL Rahul on the list.
With 212 on the board, CSK always had a cushion and the pressure of chasing got to DC. Delhi Capitals threatened briefly, but a cluster of wickets through the middle overs ensured the chase never quite settled.
Samson takes charge, CSK finally bat like CSK
This was not a typical Chepauk innings. The ball came on well, and Samson recognised that early. He scored 45 of CSK’s 61 runs in the powerplay, striking nine fours in that phase alone. At the other end, Ruturaj Gaikwad struggled, managing just one boundary in 17 balls before falling for 15.
Samson’s fifty came off 26 balls, but more importantly, he didn’t slow down after that. He was particularly severe on Lungi Ngidi and T Natarajan, taking the latter for 33 off just 13 deliveries. A dropped catch on 52 by Pathum Nissanka proved costly and Delhi never quite recovered from that moment.
Ayush Mhatre’s 59 added power, even if his innings stalled towards the end, forcing CSK to retire him out. That decision worked. Shivam Dube walked in and added a quick 20, while Samson pushed through to a 52-ball hundred and beyond. CSK scored 52 runs in the last five overs. At that point, 212 felt slightly above par. In hindsight, it was enough, largely because of what followed.
DC never got ahead in chase
Delhi Capitals did not begin like a side chasing 212 under pressure. They came out swinging. Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul raced past fifty inside four overs, taking 61 in the first five. For a brief period, CSK looked on the back foot. Then one wicket changed the entire match.
Rahul was cramped by Khaleel Ahmed, Nissanka followed soon after, and from 66 for no loss, DC slipped to 76 for 4. That phase decided the game. Anshul Kamboj and Jamie Overton were reasons to that turnaround.
Overton, in particular, was outstanding. His figures of 4 for 18 could be the best he ever bowl in the IPL history. He hit those hard lengths and DC missed a big partnership dearly. He broke partnerships and returned at the death to remove Tristan Stubbs, who had kept DC in the hunt with a well-paced 60 off 38 ball.
At one stage, DC needed 32 off the last two overs. Gettable, but they didn’t have any batters left. Overton’s extra pace and hard lengths took that window away. Once Stubbs fell, the chase ended. Kamboj finished with 3 for 35, cleaning up the tail, but the damage had already been done earlier.
IPL 2026 points table after CSK vs DC
| Rank | Team | P | W | L | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RR | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | +2.055 |
| 2 | PBKS | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 | +0.720 |
| 3 | RCB | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | +1.231 |
| 4 | DC | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +0.322 |
| 5 | LSG | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -0.359 |
| 6 | SRH | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -0.024 |
| 7 | GT | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.270 |
| 8 | MI | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.715 |
| 9 | CSK | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -1.532 |
| 10 | KKR | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -1.315 |
Next IPL 2026 matches
- April 12: LSG vs GT – Match 19 in Lucknow (3:30 PM IST)
- April 12: MI vs RCB – Match 20 in Mumbai (7:30 PM IST)
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