NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings kept their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with a commanding eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, riding on a clinical bowling effort and a composed unbeaten knock from Sanju Samson.Opting to bat first on a tricky surface, Delhi’s decision backfired as they stumbled to 69 for 5 before eventually posting a modest 155 for 7. CSK’s bowlers read the conditions perfectly, with Noor Ahmad (2/22) leading the charge, well supported by Akeal Hosein (1/19). The pace trio of Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh and Jamie Overton chipped in with a wicket each to keep DC under constant pressure.Early collapse derails DC inningsDC never quite recovered after losing early wickets in clusters. Tristan Stubbs (38) and impact substitute Sameer Rizvi (40 off 24) attempted a rescue act with a 65-run stand for the sixth wicket, but the lack of momentum upfront proved costly.Returning from a concussion layoff, Lungi Ngidi made a brief impact with the ball, dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad early in the chase. However, the total was never going to be enough against a determined CSK batting unit.Samson anchors smooth chaseChasing 156, CSK lost two early wickets but Samson steadied the innings with remarkable composure. The wicketkeeper-batsman struck an unbeaten 87 off 52 balls, mixing caution with calculated aggression.He found an able partner in Kartik Sharma (41), as the duo stitched together a match-winning 114-run stand to guide Chennai home with 15 balls to spare. The win marked CSK’s fifth in 10 matches, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a playoff berth.“More than grateful to have Sanju in the side… bowling is something which wins you tournaments,” said Gaikwad, underlining the team’s balanced performance.Playoff race heats upFor Delhi, the defeat — their sixth of the season — dealt a significant blow to their playoff aspirations. “We cannot afford any mistakes now,” admitted skipper Axar Patel.With the league stage entering a decisive phase, the race for the top four is intensifying. Attention now shifts to Hyderabad, where third-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad take on league leaders Punjab Kings in a crucial clash that could reshape the battle for the top spot on the points table.
