Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings Indian Premier League, 2021

FOUR! Kagiso Rabada punches his hands in the air as he hits the winning runs! Full and sliding down leg, Rabada flicks it into the vacant fine leg fence. DELHI WIN A THRILLER BY 3 WICKETS!

OUT! CAUGHT! The game turns on it's head yet again! With just two needed off 4 balls, Axar Patel looks to play the expansive drive and end proceedings in style. One might question, was that really required? Full and wide, creamed straight to short cover. Moeen Ali takes a brilliant catch under pressure and Patel has to walk back. 2 needed off 3 balls now.

Seam up from Bravo. Length and wide outside off. A swing and a miss from Axar Patel.

TWO WIDES! Wild delivery from Dwayne Bravo, even he is feeling the pressure. The umpires are discussing whether it's a wide or a no ball as the ball has landed outside the pitch. A wide is signalled in the end. They scamper through for the single as the ball goes to Hazlewood who dives down at short third man.

Kagiso Rabada walks out into the middle.

Slower and well outside off. Hetmeyer leans in and swats it through the cover region. They come back for the second with ease.

Looks like MS Dhoni is going to come up to the stumps. He calls for his helmet and gets is quickly. He does not want Shimron Hetmyer to venture out of his crease.

Full and on leg stump, Hetmeyer heaves it down to deep mid-wicket for a single. 6 needed off the last over.

In the air...safe! Back of a length, around off. Hetmeyer looks to go downtown but gets a top edge. The fielders from long on and long off converge but the ball lands safely around mid off. They race back for the second.

6 needed in 6 balls. Dwayne Bravo will bowl the final over. Can he hold his nerve and take Chennai past the finish line?

SIX! BANG! Is that the game then? Josh Hazlewood continues to hit the length hard and this one is on the hips. Shimron Hetmyer makes room and dispatches it over the square leg fence for a biggie. 9 needed now off 8 balls.

Another dot ball! Back of a length, on leg and cramps Hetmeyer for room. Shimron Hetmyer looks to swing across but misses and gets hit on his body.

Short again and Axar Patel pulls it behind square on the leg isde for a single.

Banged into the pitch and Patel can't get the pull shot away. The fielder at short mid-wicket is sharp and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. If that had hit, Hetmeyer was a goner.

Full and straight, drilled down to long on for a run. 16 needed off 12 balls.

Full and sliding onto leg stump. Patel looks to play a cross-bat shot but misses and gets hit on the pads. A huge appeal but turned down, maybe sliding down leg. The ball rolls towards backward point and Hetmeyer wants the single but they don't get it.

A bit of cat and mouse going on between Bravo and Hetmeyer. Hetmeyer steps out of the crease and Bravo pulls back the length and bowls a slower one. Hetemyer works it towards mid on for a single.

Who will bowl the penultimate over? Josh Hazlewood, it is.

DROPPED AND FOUR! Could that be the game? A low full toss, around off. Hetmeyer gets low and looks to clear long on. He gets it off the toe end of the bat and straight down the throat of the substitute fielder, Krishnappa Gowtham. He spills it and to make matters worse for Chennai, the ball goes into the fence.

WIDE! Oh dear! This is an attempted slower ball, but way outside the tramline on the off side. Wided.

FOUR! Full and straight, Bravo goes searching for the yorker but serves a half-volley. Shimron Hetmyer hangs back and pummels it back over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Full and very wide again. Hetmeyer comes down the pitch and outside off again. A swing and a miss and no wide called this time.

WIDE! Bravo starts off with a full and wide one, a bit too wide. Hetmeyer did move a long way outside off but the umpire calls a wide.

Slower one, banged into the pitch. Hetmeyer looks to pull but is deceived by the lack of pace. He manages to guide it to the left of short fine leg, where Josh Hazlewood puts in the dive to stop it. A single to end the over and just five off it.

On top of off, Patel opens the face of the bat and steers it to third man for one.

Will Moeen Ali bowl out or will we see Dhoni make a change? Yes, he will! Dwayne Bravo is into the attack to bowl the 18th over!

A golden dot ball at this stage. Length again, around off and tapped to mid off.

A length ball this time and on off. Hetmeyer taps it through mid-wicket for a run.

Yet another single, Delhi need boundaries which they aren't able to get. Full and straight, punched gently back past the bowler for a single.

Pitched up, on off and crunched to mid on. Hetmeyer sets off for the quick single but Axar Patel hesitates a bit but they scamper through in the end.

Shorter one, on off and cut away off the back foot through cover-point for a single. 33 needed off 24 balls.

Ali holds this one back a bit and slides it in on leg stump. Hetmeyer looks to block but misses and gets rapped on the pads. Chennai players appeal but the umpire is unmoved.

On off and eased down the ground for another one.

'Catch' is the shout from MS Dhoni but it's safe. Flatter one, on middle and Hetmeyer chips it towards sweeper cover for a single.

A touch short and wide, Hetmeyer whacks it through the cover region and Hazlewood cuts it out. Two taken.

Tossed up, on middle and pushed to covers.

OUT! CAUGHT! What a big moment into the game as Shikhar Dhawan loses his wicket, and it is Shardul Thakur, the man with the golden arm who strikes once again. This time he gets rid of the big fish as Dhawan was well set in the middle. Coming to the ball, he delivers a length ball, outside off. Shikhar Dhawan comes forward and laces his cover drive. Moeen Ali jumps and takes an overhead catch. The ball seems to have just stuck in his hands. No DRS is needed for this and Shikhar Dhawan has to walk back to the pavilion.

Back of a length, on leg. Shikhar Dhawan comes down the track and stabs the ball to mid-wicket.

Length ball, on middle and leg. Shikhar Dhawan taps it to mid off.

Strategic Time-Out! Chennai have turned things around nicely here. At one point, it looked like they would find it hard to stop Delhi's charge but they have kept picking timely wickets and have also removed the well-set Dhawan. Delhi needs 38 more in 30 balls and they still have Shimron Hetmyer and Axar Patel to take them home, but it will not be easy. Let's see who takes this game home.

NOT OUT! Short of a length, on leg. Shikhar Dhawan looks to pull but misses. MS Dhoni pouches this one behind the stumps and appeals for a caught behind. He seems very confident and the umpire agrees. Shikhar Dhawan opts for the review. UltraEdge shows a flat line as the ball passes the bat and Shikhar Dhawan survives. Good review from Dhawan.

On a length, on leg. Shimron Hetmyer gets on top of the bounce and tucks it to fine leg for a single.

DRS time! Shikhar Dhawan has been given out for caught behind but he refers this. Flatline as the ball passes the bat on UltraEdge and the on-field decision has been overturned. Dhawan survives.

OUT! BOWLED! Shardul Thakur has a knack for picking wickets and he gets one. He hurls a length ball, on middle. Ravichandran Ashwin is undone by the pace. He looks to flick but misses. The ball goes through the bat and pad and rattles the furniture behind him. Shardul Thakur gets the breakthrough and he is pumped.

Out walks Shimron Hetmyer!

Width on offer, outside off. Ashwin steers it to backward point for a single.

Flatter ball, outside off. Dhawan knocks it to mid off for one.

Bowling change. Shardul Thakur (2-0-7-0) returns.

Tosses it up, on off. Dhawan pats it back to the bowler.

Slower through the air, outside off. Shikhar Dhawan taps it to point.

On middle and leg, Ashwin goes deep in the crease and tucks it to mid-wicket for a single.

Loopy ball, on middle. Dhawan works it to long on for a single.

Flatter ball, on middle. Dhawan works it to mid-wicket off the back foot for a single. 6 runs and a wicket from the over.

OUT! CAUGHT! The debutant holes out! Flater ball, on middle, at 99.7 kph. Ripal Patel decides to take on and heaves it towards long on. Gets the height but not the distance. For a nanosecond, it looked like the ball will sail over the fence but Deepak Chahar settles himself under it and pouches it with ease. Delhi lose their fourth wicket.

Change. Moeen Ali comes back on.

In walks Ravichandran Ashwin!

On middle, tucked on the leg side for a run.

Deft touch again! Loopy ball, outside off. Ripal Patel dabs it down to third man. Ruturaj Gaikwad gives it a chase and dives to stop the ball. Saves a run for his team.

Flatter ball, outside off. Patel works it to cover.

On the pads, Dhawan tucks it to square leg for a single.

Slower and shorter on middle, Ripal Patel looks for the upper cut but misses. A good over from Shardul Thakur. Just 4 runs from it. 49 needed from 48 balls.

A low full toss on off, clipped to mid on.

Outside off, Patel pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Short of a length, on leg. Shikhar Dhawan pulls it to square leg for a single.

On a length, outside off. Patel steers it down to third man for a run.

Back of a length, outside off. Patel hangs back and works it to mid-wicket.

Quicker again, outside off. Ripal Patel pats in front of point for a single.

FOUR! Deft touch! Ravindra Jadeja fires a flatter delivery, on off, at 105 kph. Ripal Patel uses the pace and guides it to third man for a boundary.

Three dots in a row! On off, punched straight to cover.

Flatter ball, outside off. Ripal Patel dabs it to backward point.

Outside off, Patel defends it on the off side.

FOUR! What a shot! Flatter ball, on middle. Ripal Patel hangs back and smacks it towards cow corner. Shardul Thakur runs to his left to stop the ball but in vain. The ball wins the race to the boundary.

Short again and this time Patel pulls it to fine leg for a single. Delhi are 74/2 at the halfway stage and they now require 62 runs off 60 balls.

Banged in short, on middle. Dhawan hangs back and short arm jabs it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

A length ball, on off stump. Patel punches it off the back foot towards long on for a single.

Third dot on the trot. Good-length ball, around off. Patel looks to drive but edges it down to backward point.

Right on the money from Thakur. A length ball, on top of off and Ripal Patel defends it out nicely.

Back of a length, around off. Patel taps it back onto the deck.

Full and straight. The debutant, Ripal Patel is off the mark with a single down to long off.

OUT! CAUGHT! The birthday boy has to depart and after surviving an early scare in the over, Pant has holed out. Ravindra Jadeja fires this one in fuller and quicker, on middle stump. Pant decides to take on the slog sweep but the ball skids on. The ball goes off the top edge and skies towards backward point. Moeen Ali waits for it to come down and takes a solid catch. Pant will be disappointed about the way he got out.

Flatter delivery, on the pads. Pant blocks it out.

FOUR! Fired in on middle stump and Pant just doesn't stop. Right after the stumping scare, he thumps this one down the ground for a boundary.

Strategic Time-Out! Delhi need 66 more in 67 balls and this game should be theirs if they bat smartly from this point forward, as they have already lost 3 wickets. Shikhar Dhawan is still out in the middle and he will want to stay out there until the end. Chennai will be looking to keep taking regular wickets and push Delhi on the back foot. Ripal Patel is the new batter in.

WIDE! Rishabh Pant survives for now. Jadeja sees Pant stepping out again and fires it in outside leg stump. Dhoni collects the ball and whips off the bails in a flash. Pant is quick to get his bat back in the crease and the replay confirms the same. Just the wide in the end.

This one is on the pads and Pant comes forward to work it through mid-wicket. He immediately calls for two and Dhawan races back for it. The bails come off but Dhawan is in.

On middle and worked towards cover-point for a run.

Is Rishabh Pant a goner? That was quick work behind the stumps from MS Dhoni to whip the bails off. The bat has been grounded before the bails come off and so, Pant is safe.

Looped up, on middle again. Pant strides out to defend.

Tossed up, around middle. Pant dances down the track and pushes it back to the bowler.

Floats it up, on middle. Pant defends it out.

SIX! BANG! Rishabh Pant steps out of his crease and gets to the pitch of the flighted delivery. Pant muscles it over the mid-wicket fence for a huge six.

Tossed up, on the pads and Dhawan plays it with soft hands towards mid-wicket and gets a single.

Nicely flighted, on middle and leg and sliding in. Dhawan looks to block and gets an inside edge back onto the pads.

LEG BYE! Quicker delivery, on the pads. Dhawan looks to sweep but the ball skids on and hits him on the pads. The ball goes towards square leg and they get a leg bye.

Jadeja gives this one some air and bowls it on the pads. Pant works it to square leg and picks up a run.

Flatter again, around off. Pant makes room and works it through covers for a couple.

Change in bowling. Spin from both ends as Moeen Ali is handed the ball.

This one is fired in around leg stump. Pant doesn't move his feet and looks to tuck it away. He misses and the ball flicks the pads. A huge appeal but turned down.

Down the leg side and Dhawan paddles it to short fine leg for a single.

Flatter one, on middle and leg. Dhawan pushes it back to the bowler.

NOT OUT! This is down the leg side and Pant looks to flick. Pant misses the flick and the ball kisses the pads on the way to the keeper. Dhoni dives down to pouch it but Hazlewood seems confident that there was an edge. Dhoni does go for the review but it did come off the pads and Pant survives. At the end of the Powerplay, Delhi are 51/2!

Change. Ravindra Jadeja is into the attack!

OUT! CAUGHT! Josh Hazlewood gets the breakthrough. Hazlewood hits the length hard and Shreyas Iyer is caught in two minds. His body moves one way and his bat the other. In the end, Iyer gets squared up as he looks to pull across the line. The ball goes off the outside edge and pops up to short cover. Ruturaj Gaikwad takes the simplest of catches and Delhi lose their second wicket.

DRS time! Is that caught behind? MS Dhoni certainly thinks so as he takes the review. No spike on UltraEdge as the ball passes the bat. Will be not out and Chennai lose their review.

Good-length ball, on off again and Dhawan guides it to third man for a run.

Who will walk out now? It is Rishabh Pant!

Back of a length, on off and angling across. Dhawan dabs it down to point.

Drop and run, good intent shown by the batters. A length ball, on off and nipping in. Iyer just dabs it on the off side and sets off for a quick run.

Close! A length ball, on off and going across. Dhawan looks to tap it on the off side but it goes off the inside edge and past the stumps. They take a single.

Fuller in length, on middle. Dhawan pushes it to mid on. He keeps the strike by taking a single. An expensive over from Deepak Chahar. 21 runs coming from it.

Full and on middle, Shikhar Dhawan flicks it to mid-wicket.

SIX! 6,4,4 and now another biggie. What's next? Sensational batting from Shikhar Dhawan. Deepak Chahar comes 'round the wicket and delivers an off pace ball, outside off. Shikhar Dhawan uses his feet and hammers it over long off for a biggie.

FOUR! Shikhar Dhawan is on fire! On a length, outside off. Shikhar Dhawan rocks back and steers it late towards deep backward point for another boundary.

FOUR! Quality batting! Fuller in length, on the pads. Shikhar Dhawan whips it towards deep square leg. One bounce and into the fence.

SIX! Smoked! Length ball, on middle. Shikhar Dhawan dances down the track and muscles it over long on for a maximum.

Length ball on leg, Dhawan tickles it to fine leg for a single.

Full and on leg. Dhawan pushes it to extra cover.

On a good length, on off, angling in. Shreyas Iyer looks to work it on the leg side but misses. He gets hit on the thigh pad and the batters take a leg bye.

Length ball, around off. Iyer defends it on the off side.

On a length on middle, Dhawan dabs it down to third man for a single.

Good-length ball, outside off, at 136.2 kph. Shikhar Dhawan drives it towards covers.

A good over by Chahar as he gets the big wicket of Shaw! On off, defended out.

Outside off, on a length, Iyer slaps it this time but only finds point.

Around off, on a length, Iyer pushes it back to Deepak.

OUT! CAUGHT! Deepak Chahar draws first blood. Length ball, on off. Prithvi Shaw this time looks to clear the in-field but fails to do so. He miscues it in the air towards mid off. Faf du Plessis is stationed over there and he does not make any mistake. Prithvi Shaw was looking so good but has to take the long walk back to the pavilion.

Shreyas Iyer makes his way out now.

On a length, outside off. Punched towards point.

FOUR! Shaw has made his intentions clear. Fuller in length, on off. Prithvi Shaw steps put and whacks it towards long on. The bottom hand comes off the handle but he still manages to clear the mid on fielder.

WIDE! Short ball from Chahar on middle and leg, Prithvi Shaw sways away from it. Wide called for height.

On a good length, outside off. Shaw punches it towards covers. The fielder there does well to dive to his right and stop the ball. Keeps it down to a single. 11 runs from Josh Hazlewood's first over.

Back of a length, on middle. Shaw works it to deep square leg for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Stand and deliver! Length ball, on off. Prithvi Shaw stands tall and smashes it towards deep mid-wicket. The ball races away into the fence in a flash.

On the pads, clipped to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Shot of the highest quality! Good-length ball, around off. Prithvi Shaw lifts it over the bowler's head and fetches himself a boundary.

Good-length ball, outside off, Prithvi Shaw punches it but finds the cover fielder.

FOUR! Shikhar Dhawan is off the mark and in style. Length ball, outside off. Shikhar Dhawan reaches out and creams it through covers for a boundary. A positive start from Delhi. 8 runs from the first over.

A touch fuller this time, on middle. Dhawan pushes it to cover.

Who will bowl from the other end? It is the Aussie, Josh Hazlewood!

Good-length ball, outside off, Shikhar Dhawan slashes it but straight to covers.

Good-length ball, on middle. Prithvi Shaw punches it towards mid on. Dwayne Bravo dives to his left to stop the ball. Just a single.

WIDE! Length ball sliding down leg, Prithvi Shaw looks to flick but misses. Wided.

In the air, but safe! Short ball, on middle. Prithvi Shaw goes for the pull shot but gets a top edge. Lucky for him, the ball falls in the vacant deep mid-wicket region. The batters take a couple of runs.

Chahar starts with a good-length ball, outside off, shaping away. Prithvi Shaw blocks it out watchfully.

Fabulous final over from Avesh Khan! Full again, outside off. Ambati Rayudu drives it to extra cover for a single. CHENNAI FINISH WITH 136/5.

Brilliant from Avesh Khan! Fuller in length, wide outside off. Ambati Rayudu only manages to squeeze it back to the bowler.

Short of a length, on leg. Ravindra Jadeja pulls it towards deep square leg for a run.

Fuller in length, outside off. Ambati Rayudu eases it down to long off for a single.

Back of a length, on middle. Ravindra Jadeja has a swing at it but is too early. The ball pings off his body and drops on the leg side. The batters take a leg bye.

Ravindra Jadeja comes in at number 7.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! A big wicket for the young Avesh Khan. He hits the hard length, outside off. MS Dhoni has a massive mow across the line. But he gets an underedge. The ball carries through to Rishabh Pant who gobbles up a low catch diving forward.

FOUR! Fuller in length, outside off. Ambati Rayudu slices it over point to fetch himself a boundary. He brings up his fifty as well. It is his 21st fifty in the Indian T20 League and has been a fighting knock from him so far. Can Chennai cash in and make the final over count?

Short of a length, on middle. Ambati Rayudu pulls it towards cow corner for a brace.

Back of a length, outside off. MS Dhoni slaps it to long on for a single.

Length ball, outside off. Ambati Rayudu has another swing at it. The ball goes off the inside edge towards the keeper for one.

SIX! What a shot! Slower delivery, back of a length, outside off. Ambati Rayudu stands tall and muscles it over deep cover for a maximum.

Fantastic yorker to start from Nortje! Outside off, Ambati Rayudu throws his bat at it but is too late.

Anrich Nortje to bowl the penultimate over.

Slower delivery, outside off. Ambati Rayudu goes deep in the crease and works it towards deep square leg for a single.

Full and outside off, Ambati Rayudu looks to smash it on the leg side. The ball goes off the outside edge towards third man for a couple of runs.

SIX! BANG! A low full toss outside off, Ambati Rayudu walks across his stumps and hammers it over deep square leg for a maximum.

WIDE! Short ball from Avesh Khan on middle, Ambati Rayudu charges down the track and swings but misses. Wide signaled by the umpire for height.

Back of a length, outside off. Ambati Rayudu tries to dab it down to third man but misses.

MISFIELD AND FOUR! On a length outside off, Ambati Rayudu gets into the line of the ball and smashes it towards deep mid-wicket. Shikhar Dhawan runs to his left and tries to stop the ball but fails to do so. His sloppiness leads to a boundary.

Short of a length, outside off. Ambati Rayudu has a wild swing at it but to no avail.

Beaten! Short of a length around off, MS Dhoni looks to pull but fails to get any bat on it. Another good over from Delhi. Just 5 runs coming from it.

On a length, outside off. Rayudu charges down the track and slashes it to deep point for a single.

An effort ball from Rabada on middle, Ambati Rayudu makes room for himself and looks to carve it on the off side but misses.

FOUR! That will release some pressure! A full toss on middle, Ambati Rayudu smashes it straight down the ground towards long off for a boundary.

Short of a length again, on middle, Rayudu knocks it to mid-wicket.

Short of a length, on off. Ambati Rayudu shimmies down the track and looks to heave it away but fails to connect. Pressure is piling up on Chennai now.

Kagiso Rabada (3-0-16-0) to bowl out.

Length ball, outside off. Rayudu backs away and flays it to deep point for one. Just six singles from the over.

In the air, but safe! Short ball, on middle. MS Dhoni pulls it towards deep square leg. Didn't hit it from the middle of the bat. Shikhar Dhawan carries the ball on a bounce and the batters take a single.

Fuller in length, on middle. Ambati Rayudu pushes it straight down the ground to long on. He rotates the strike.

Another single! Back of a length, outside off. MS Dhoni jumps and knocks it towards deep cover for a run.

On a length, outside off. Ambati Rayudu steers it through covers for a run.

Good-length ball, on middle, at 142.3 kph. MS Dhoni works it to deep square leg for a single.

Anrich Nortje comes in to replace Kagiso Rabada.

Tossed up, around off, worked to sweeper cover for one. Ashwin is done for the night too, as he ends with figures of 4-0-20-1. Really good.

On middle, Rayudu heaves this one towards long on for a single.

Good fielding from Nortje! Outside off, a touch shorter, Rayudu hangs back and slices this one towards short third man. Anrich Nortje slides to his right and makes a good stop.

MS Dhoni prods forward to this full ball and works it to point for a quick single.

Goes fuller now, on off, AR hits this through extra cover for one.

Serves it flatter and on off, punched through covers for one.

Ravichandran Ashwin (3-0-15-1) comes back in to finish his spell.

Just 3 off this over! Another good over for Delhi. Fuller in length, on middle and leg, Dhoni goes back and works this through mid on. One run.

Short, outside off, steered to third man for one.

Around off, on a good length, Dhoni pushes this to mid off and this time, decides to take him on. Shimron Hetmyer there fumbles a bit and they complete the run with ease.

Third dot on the trot! Chennai are finding it hard to keep the ante up. Short of a length, around off, pushed away to the point fielder.

Straight to the man! Fullish this time, around off, Dhoni drives but finds the mid off fielder.

On a length, on off, Dhoni eases this to covers.

Strategic Time-Out! A good phase of cricket overall but mostly for Chennai as they did not lose any wickets. Rayudu and Dhoni have steered the ship a bit but haven't been able to score freely. The two spinners of Delhi, Ashwin and Patel have kept things tight and everyone is just waiting for something to give. The game is on the edge and in the final phase of the innings, both teams will look to up the ante. Kagiso Rabada (2-0-13-0) is brought back into the attack.

Loopy, around off, Dhoni plays this gently through covers for one. A top spell by Axar Patel comes to an end. 4-0-18-2. Wonderful.

Flighted, around off, Ambati pushes this to the left of the extra cover fielder for one.

A touch flatter, around off, Ambati looks to go back and slash it away but he misses.

On middle, MS prods forward and taps this to covers for a run.

Tossed up, fuller in length, outside off, driven through cover-point for a single.

Fuller, around off, milked past covers for a run.

8 from Avesh's second over! Around off, defended out.

FOUR! That's a good hit from Rayudu! Slightly slower this time, outside off on a length, Ambati Rayudu lifts this one casually over covers for a boundary.

Fullish, around off, hit straight to point.

Around off, hit via the inner half of the blade to mid on.

FOUR! A little bit of room outside off and Rayudu pounces on this! Shortish this time, wider outside off, flayed behind point for a boundary.

Avesh Khan (1-0-10-0) comes back into the attack.

What a ripper to begin this spell! Around off, in the zone of uncertainty outside off, Ambati Rayudu looks to push but the ball shoots up after hitting the deck and whistles past his blade to Pant.

Just 3 off this over! Floated, around off, MS blocks this one out.

Another run as Ambati Rayudu works this past Axar at covers.

Given flight, landing outside off, pushed through point for a run.

Shortish again, outside off, worked to the cover fielder.

Fullish, around off, jammed out through mid off for one.

Shortish, around off, Ambati pushes this to mid-wicket.

Flighted ball, on middle. Ambati Rayudu eases it down to long on for a single. At the halfway mark, Chennai are 69/4.

Flatter ball, outside off. MS Dhoni prods and pushes it to cover-point for a single.

Full and on off, driven back to the bowler.

Full again, outside off. Ambati Rayudu drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

Flatter delivery, on off. MS Dhoni hangs back and punches it towards covers for one.

Full and on off, pushed back to the bowler.

Full, on middle and leg. MS Dhoni lunges forward and pushes the ball down to long on for a single.

Loopy ball on middle and leg, MS Dhoni works it with the spin towards deep square leg for a brace.

Tosses it up, on off. MS Dhoni pushes it towards covers.

Strategic Time-Out! Chennai have just lost their fourth wicket and it hasn't been a great outing for them with the bat so far. Chennai did get off to a flier but that was due to some poor bowling, but once the Delhi bowlers hit their marks, wickets started to tumble. Chennai, who didn't lose a single wicket in the Powerplay in their last four matches, lost two today. Axar Patel has been brilliant with the ball so far and has picked up a couple of wickets with Ashwin and Nortje chipping in with one wicket each. Can Chennai get a partnership going? Or will Delhi keep on piling the pressure? MS Dhoni walks out to bat now.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! The spinners are doing the trick for Delhi. Ashwin bowls a carrom ball, on middle. Robin Uthappa does not read it and gets down on one knee to slog it on the leg side. He only manages it to top edge it and the ball goes high up in the air. Rishabh Pant goes for the catch but Ravichandran Ashwin calls for it and pouches it with ease. Another one bites the dust for Chennai and are in a spot of bother now.

On middle, Ambati Rayudu rocks back and works it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Quicker delivery, at 97.4 kph, on off. Ambati Rayudu pushes it back to the bowler.

Loopy ball, on off. Ambati Rayudu pushes it to extra cover. He gets off the mark with a single.

Quicker ball, on off. Robin Uthappa pushes it to mid off for a run.

Ambati Rayudu walks out to bat now.

OUT! CAUGHT! Axar Patel bags his second. He bowls a flatter delivery on leg, Moeen Ali flicks it towards deep mid-wicket without any feet movement. Shreyas Iyer is present over there and settles under it to take the catch. Chennai lose their third wicket.

Flatter ball on the pads, Robin Uthappa works it towards deep square leg for one.

Flatter ball, on middle. Moeen Ali whips it towards deep mid-wicket. He crosses ends.

On off, Uthappa taps it towards covers and scampers across for a quick single.

Spin from both ends now as Axar Patel (1-0-4-1) is brought back into the attack.

Full and outside off, Uthappa works it to long on. He retains the strike by picking up a single. 8 runs from Ravichandran Ashwin's first over.

Floats it up around off, Robin Uthappa gets down on one knee and slogs it towards deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Tosses it up nicely, on middle. Moeen Ali tucks it around the corner for a run.

Tosses it up, on middle. Robin Uthappa clips it through mid-wicket for a run.

On the pads, Ali tickles it to fine leg for a single.

WIDE! Loopy ball, down the leg side again. Moeen Ali looks to play it on the leg side but misses. Wide given.

WIDE! Floats it up, down the leg side. Moeen Ali looks to scoop but misses. Wided.

Ravichandran Ashwin comes into the attack for the first time tonight.

Quicker one, on middle. Moeen Ali blocks it out on the leg side.

Fuller in length, on the pads. Moeen Ali clips it in front of square on the leg side for a single. Chennai are 48/2 after the end of the Powerplay.

That was close! On a length, around off. Robin Uthappa pushes it to mid off for a quick single. Shreyas Iyer collects the ball and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Replay shows that a direct hit would have been curtains for Robin Uthappa.

Good-length ball, on off, angling in. Robin Uthappa looks to defend but inside-edges it on the leg side.

FOUR! Nicely done! Length ball on leg, Robin Uthappa tickles it towards fine leg and fetches himself a boundary.

Length ball on middle and leg, Moeen Ali works it to mid on for a quick single.

Back of a length, on middle, at 138.3 kph. Moeen Ali blocks it out right under his eyes.

A touch short, outside off, Robin Uthappa takes on the pull shot and heaves it to the left of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

On off, RU keeps this one out.

Moeen Ali is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT! The man-in-form, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been sent back here! An easy catch for Ashwin and the centurion from the last game goes back for just 13. He looked to take Nortje on, but falls in the process. Slightly short this time, around off, Ruturaj Gaikwad looks to pull this one over mid-wicket, but only mistimes this one high in the air towards mid-wicket. Ravichandran Ashwin moves across to his right and gulps this down. Both the Chennai openers have taken the long walk back and Delhi will look to continue this.

Good-length ball, on off, knocked to the left of mid on for a quick single.

Around off, worked to the leg side.

Anrich Nortje comes back into the attack.

On a shortish length, outside the off pole, Uthappa punches this one behind point and they run well to come back for the second.

6 off this over! On a length on the pads, whipped to deep square leg for one.

On middle, pushed back to Rabada.

Fuller, around middle and leg, Robin looks to flick but misses. The ball takes the pad and goes to the leg side. An appeal for LBW but turned down. Kagiso tries to convince Pant to take the review but the skipper does not take it. Looked to be missing leg.

Back of a length, around off, guided to third man for one.

FOUR! Delightful. Such a good cricketing shot. Overpitched delivery, outside off, Ruturaj Gaikwad just creams this one through mid off and gets a boundary.

Change from both ends as Kagiso Rabada comes into the attack.

Right on the money, is Rabada! Around off, on a length, Gaikwad taps it down on the deck.

A good over from Patel comes to an end, 4 runs and a wicket off it. Around off, tossed up, eased to long off for one.

Robin Uthappa is underway! Around off, pushed to point for a quick run.

Robin Uthappa comes in at number 3.

OUT! TAKEN! Axar Patel strikes in his very first over and Faf du Plessis has been sent packing. The Protea found the only fielder in the deep and this is a good bowling change by Pant. Patel hurls across a shortish ball, around off, quicker too, Faf du Plessis rocks back and pumps this one towards the deep mid-wicket region. No distance on this and Shreyas Iyer in the deep, runs to his right, gets low and pouches this.

Around off, floated, du Plessis checks his shot to the cover region.

Another single as this is milked down to long off.

A change in the bowling straightaway. Axar Patel comes in to replace Anrich Nortje.

Starts with a flatter ball, around off, pushed through covers for one.

Fuller, around off, RG nudges this to the mid-wicket fielder. 10 off Khan's first one.

On a length, around off, swinging away, pushed to the left of point for one.

FOUR! Another one. This one was asking to be hit and Faf does not miss out. Shortish, around off, it does not rise too much, Faf du Plessis camps back and then cracks this one through mid-wicket.

Outside off, pushed to the cover fielder this time.

FOUR! SLAPPED! Faf du Plessis gets off the mark with a boundary! On a length this time, outside off, there is width offered and Faf du Plessis crunches this one behind point for a boundary.

WIDE. Too full, wider outside off, left alone. Wide signalled.

Short of a length, around off, the ball lands and shapes back in this time, Faf looks to fend this one away but misses as the ball hits his gloves and goes to the off side. Avesh goes to Faf and ensures he is okay. All good.

Avesh Khan to steam in from the opposite end.

FOUR LEG BYES. An expensive start by Nortje. On the pads, on a length, Ruturaj Gaikwad looks to flick but the ball takes the pad and goes past Pant to the fine leg fence. 16 off this one.

Fullish, outside off, RG looks to dig this one out but fails to do so.

EDGY FOUR! He gets a lucky boundary now but he will not care. Outside off, on a length, Ruturaj Gaikwad skips down the track and swings at this. The ball catches the outside edge and flies away to the third man fence.

Ruturaj Gaikwad opens his account! Around off, on a length, punched sweetly past extra cover for a couple of runs.

WIDE. Way outside off, RG reaches out but fails to get bat on this. Wided.

Review taken by Chennai for an LBW decision. UltraEdge shows there's no bat involved. BallTracker shows that the ball was doing too much and missing leg stump. The decision is reversed and Chennai retain their review as well.

NOT OUT! The review saves Gaikwad and he does not go back this early in the game. Around off again, on a length, Ruturaj Gaikwad looks to clip this to the leg side but gets beaten as he gets pinged on the pad. An appeal and after a couple of seconds of thinking, the umpire raises his finger. It looks to be out but Faf du Plessis presses Gaikwad into taking the review. A good decision as UltraEdge shows no bat and Ball Tracker shows the ball to be missing the wickets. A smile on Gaikwad's face and the on-field decision has been overturned.

FIVE WIDES! A freebie and Chennai open their account. Norjte steams in and slips in a length ball down the leg side, Ruturaj Gaikwad looks to clip this but misses. Pant dives to his left but fails to stop it. The ball runs away to the ropes.

OH! What a ripper to begin. Hello, Ruturaj Gaikwad, says Nortje! Around off, on a good length, it lands and nips in wonderfully, Ruturaj Gaikwad looks to defend but the ball seams in and misses his inside edge, goes over the middle pole to Pant.

We are ready for play. The umpires make their way out in the middle followed by the Delhi players. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis are the openers for Chennai. Anrich Nortje to get us underway with the ball.

Chennai (Playing XI) - Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa (In place of Suresh Raina), MS Dhoni (C/WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo (In place of Sam Curran), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar (In place of KM Asif), Josh Hazlewood.

Delhi (Playing XI) - Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Ripal Patel (Debut) (In place of Steven Smith), Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan.

MS Dhoni, the Chennai skipper, says that they wanted to bat first but were not too sure regarding the same as the deck feels slightly tacky. Informs that they have quite a few changes in this game as Dwayne Bravo replaces Sam Curran, Deepak Chahar comes back for KM Asif and Suresh Raina has a back injury and Robin Uthappa replaces him. Says that it is important to mentally be ready to play 3 games in 5 days but the boys are geared up for his game. Opines that finishing in the top two is important and if you have a bad day, then you have another shot at making the finals.

The Delhi skipper, Rishabh Pant says that they will bowl first. Mentions that whatever they are doing, it's working for them and they will just focus on their basics. Informs that there is one change. Ripal Patel comes in for Steven Smith. Adds that it is always great learning from MS Dhoni but right now he is a rival and they will just focus on the game.

It's TOSS time! MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant have made their way out into the middle. Heads is what MS calls and it falls tails. DELHI ELECT TO BOWL FIRST!

PITCH REPORT - Matthew Hayden and Simon Doull are inspecting the deck. Simon Doull says that it is the same surface that Hyderabad and Kolkata played on. Matthew Hayden opines that there is nothing wrong with the wicket but there is no great deal of spin available. Adds that the ball is coming on nicely and it's a pitch of two halves, in the first ten overs, it's nice to bat on but the surface could slow down as the innings progresses. Opines that the batters should make the most of the batting powerplay.

An interesting thing for both teams will be to see if they make a plethora of changes or if they go ahead with the same team with which they played in the last game. Steven Smith was not at his best in the last game and we might see Sam Billings make his way into the playing XI. Delhi's bowling looks really solid and it will be a surprise if they do tinker with the same. Chennai, on the other hand, suffered a blip in their last clash against Rajasthan but will be wanting to bounce back. Will Dwayne Bravo make a comeback after their last loss? Who will he replace though? The picture should be more clearer, come the toss.

In terms of how this game will shape up, keeping in mind the table, luckily, for these two teams, they have nothing at stake, as they have both qualified to the playoffs and now are just playing to ensure that they finish in the top two places. A win here should, more or less, confirm their place in the top two places for sure. No pressure on the cards for these two and they will be looking to go out there, have some fun, put in their all and hopefully, win the game and add two more points to their kitty.

MS Dhoni vs Rishabh Pant. The old guard vs the new fire. What a clash we have on our hands today. It is the battle of one of the most prolific and iconic wicketkeepers and captains who will be facing off against one of the most exciting young players to grace the Indian game. Also, the cherry on the top of the cake is that the best and most consistent performers in the Indian T20 League lock horns. Chennai and Delhi will be brushing shoulders and this should be a very exciting clash. On that note, a warm welcome to the coverage of this game.

... MATCH DAY ...