IPL: Chennai Super Kings qualifies for playoffs defeating Delhi

Chennai Super Kings stormed into play-off stage beating Delhi Capitals by 77 runs in their last league stage match in New Delhi on Saturday evening. Opting to bat Chennai Super Kings made 223 for 3 in the stipulated 20 overs. For CSK Devon Conway scored 87 while Ruturaj Gaikwad made 79 runs. In reply, Delhi Capitals managed only 146 for 9 in 20 overs. Skipper David Warner made 86 off 58 balls.

We play ON! #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/L1vLx

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 20, 2023

Delhi Capitals were the first team to be eliminated for the race for the playoffs and they were soon joined by Sunrisers Hyderabad and then Punjab Kings after they lost their final match of the season to Rajasthan Royals. DC finished the season with just 5 victories from 14 matches.Delhi Capitals made a poor start to their chase of 224. Deepak Chahar and Tushar Deshpande were superb with the new ball and kept the lid on the scoring for Prithvi Shaw and David Warner. Shaw returned to the playing XI against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala and scored a rapid half-century but on Saturday he was dismissed cheaply by Deshpande thanks to Ambati Rayudu who took a stunning catch at mid-off.

Chennai Super Kings failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs only twice - in 2020 and 2022. They have reached finals a record 9 times and won 4 of them. CSK were suspended in 2016 and 2017 alongwith Rajasthan Royals but came back with a bang, winning the title in 2018.