Xplorich
Both sides are on eight points from nine games and with five matches remaining, there is no room left for error.
The Capitals put up a clinical batting performance in Jaipur on Friday night to get a welcome win after a hat-trick of defeats. Two of those losses came at home causing immense hurt in the dressing room as Punjab Kings chased down a record 265 before Royal Challengers Bengaluru exposed their fragile batting against a potent pace attack.
The defeats at Kotla also includes a harrowing one-run loss to Gujarat Titans, a game that DC should have definitely won.
The biggest positives going for DC heading into the CSK game is opener Pathum Nissanka finding his range alongside the ever consistent K L Rahul while speedster Mitchell Starc providing the much-needed bite to the bowling attack.
Kuldeep Yadav would be itching to make amends after being smashed for three sixes in his final over in Jaipur. He has also been rather expensive thus far in the tournament, leaking runs at 10.26 runs per over while taking only seven wickets in nine games.
Middle and death overs specialist T Nataran too has not compensated for his high economy rate, tallying five wickets in nine games.
Despite an up and down run, captain Axar Patel has managed to remain calm and pragmatic.
“You have to come every day and keep doing the same things. You can always turn things around. So very happy with the way the boys played. The way they batted and bowled, I think both departments were excellent and I’m very happy,” he said after the win over Rajasthan Royals.
