Chennai Super Kings (CSK) continued their rise of late IPL 2026 with a strong eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad He announced after the game who he believes will lead the team forward this season. Gaikwad described the star batter as the “backbone” of the CSK batting unit, praising both his consistency and impact under pressure.
Notably, the five-time champions put in a complete team performance in Delhi, initially restricting DC to a modest total before comfortably chasing them down with 15 balls to spare. At the heart of the win was the batting brilliance of the star batsman, who once again demonstrated his ability to absorb pressure and finish games with authority.
CSK dominates DC in crucial away match
Delhi Capitals elected to bat first after winning the toss on a slow and somewhat difficult surface. However, CSK’s bowlers adapted to the conditions perfectly and never let the hosts gain momentum.
Akeal Hosein and Nur Ahmed played a key role in controlling mediums with disciplined spells. Hosein gave away just 19 runs and took one wicket, Noor struck twice and conceded just 22 runs. The spin duo forced Delhi’s batting into defense and made the batting game increasingly difficult.
Tristan Stubbs and tried to keep the batting stable with 38 runs Samir Rizvi Unbeaten on 40, Delhi Capitals could only manage 155/7 in 20 overs – a total that looked below par after conditions eased in the second innings. CSK’s chase started cautiously and they were reduced to 45/2 early on. It brought Sanju Samson and Karthik Sharma together in the decisive phase of the game. Samson took his time to settle, carefully assessing the pitch and conditions before accelerating at the right moment. His unbeaten 87 off 52 balls included seven fours and six sixes, while Karthik Sharma provided excellent support with an unbeaten 41 balls.
The pair added a 114-run partnership from just 66 deliveries, taking Chennai to victory in just 17.3 overs and increasing their net run rate significantly.
Ruturaj Gaikwad picks the ‘backbone’ of the CSK team
After the match, Gaikwad praised Samson for his consistent performance in pressure situations throughout the season. Samson is currently the only player to score two centuries along with a half-century in the tournament. With 402 runs already this season, he has firmly established himself among the leading contenders for the Orange Cap.
“On the batting side, I would say that I am very grateful to have Sanju by his side in the World Cup and even after the current tournament. So he is the backbone now.” Gaikwad said during the post-match presentation.
The CSK skipper’s comments reflect Samson’s growing importance in this year’s Chennai campaign. The wicketkeeper-batsman has been one of the most consistent performers in IPL 2026 and has bailed the team out of tough situations many times.
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Playoff hopes are still alive for the five-time champions
A win over Delhi Capitals has given Chennai Super Kings a huge boost in their playoff race. CSK is now placed sixth in the points table with 10 points from 10 matches and continues to fight for the top four. Historically, 16 points was usually considered a safe qualification mark in the 10-team IPL format. This means that Chennai will likely need to win at least three of the remaining four matches to secure a place in the playoffs.
If CSK could win all their remaining four league games, they would finish with 18 points – which could even propel them to the top two positions in the table.
Also READ: Fans go wild as Sanju Samson’s clinical knock propels CSK to a massive win over DC in IPL 2026.
