The Delhi Capitals got off to an ideal start in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 with an emphatic, seven-wicket win against the Chennai Super Kings on Saturday. 

Shikhar Dhawan missed out on a well-deserved century as he was trapped lbw by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer Shardul Thakur at 85. However, the Delhi Capitals are closing in on an emphatic win, courtesy of Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan’s century stand for the first wicket. Earlier, Dwayne Bravo removed Prithvi Shaw for Chennai’s first breakthrough.  

Led by a brilliant Suresh Raina fifty, and a late flourish by all-rounders Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja, the Chennai posted a first-innings score of 188 runs against the Capitals in their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter on Saturday. 

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Here are the highlights of the match:

. Rishabh Pants finishes it off with a handsome boundary at long on, Delhi Capitals win by seven wickets. 

. Marcus Stoinis looks to end the game with a big hit, pulling a short delivery from Shardul Thakur, but mistimes it for Sam Curran to take a sharp catch in the deep

. Shardul Thakur traps Shikhar Dhawan (85) to deny him a century. Dhawan doesn’t go for the review as knows he missed the ball completely and it would’ve gone on to crash into the stumps.  

. Dwayne Bravo strikes to remove Prithvi Shaw for CSK’s first breakthrough. The damage has already been done, however, as Shaw’s 38-ball 72 has set Delhi on course for a win. 

. Shaw and Dhawan’s partnership has crossed the 100-run mark, as the two Delhi openers mow down the Chennai total.

. Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan bring up their 50-run stand in quick time as Delhi are off to a flying start. Shaw continues his form from the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 31 of the DC’s 58 runs.  

. Sam Curran (34 from 15) and Ravindra Jadeja (26 from 17) led a late onslught to ensure a finish strong and a competitive first-innings score for CSK. The two scored 51 runs in 26 deliveries before Woakes bowled Curran off the last delivery of the innings. 

. Avesh Khan strikes again for the key wicket of CSK skipper Dhoni. Its another duck for Dhoni and departs after facing just two balls. Looks to pull a half-tracker but only plays it onto his stumps.  

. Big blow for CSK, as a horrible mix-up with Ravindra Jadeha leads to Raina’s run out. 

. Tom Curran dismisses Rayudu to break CSK’s momentum. Rayudu is tricked with a slower one, which he mistimes as he was looking for a big hit. Caught by Dhawan at long-off. 

. Suresh Raina completes his 39th IPL fifty in his comeback match. CSK missed him dearly last season, and he’s showing why. Gets to the landmark with a six over the cow-corner region against Marcus Stionis. 

. Mishra gets the breakthrough, dismissing Moeen Ali to break up the partnership. Ali attempts the reverse sweep, but top-edges the shot, with Shikhar Dhawan running back from short third man to complete the catch.  

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. Moeen Ali and Suresh Raina have upped the ante after the early losses, stiching a 53-run partnership for the third wicket. The milestone comes up after Ali clubs consecutive sixes against spinner Amit Mishra. 

. Chris Woakes strikes three balls later, dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad (5 from 8). Another length delivery, swinging away from the batsman, induces an edge which Shikhar Dhawan collects with a diving catch in the slips.

. Pacer Avesh Khan strikes in his first over, dismissing CSK’s veteran South African Faf du Plessis, who registers a duck in his first IPL 2021 match. Beats du Plessis with a length delivery which crashes on his pads. Umpire lifts the finger and du Plessis knew he didn’t get an edge and doesn’t review.

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Delhi skipper Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to bowl first at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The Capitals have opted for the pace of Avesh Khan, with both Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav being left out of the playing 11, while Ambati Rayudu misses out for CSK with Ruturaj Gaikwad holding on to his opening spot. 

CSK will also be boosted by the return of Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina in the eleven. 

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The second game of IPL 2021 is set to present a much-awaited tussle, one between ‘the master and his apprentice’ – as some would refer to – with MS Dhoni and Pant looking to to open their respective campaigns with two crucial points. 

While all the eyes will be on Dhoni as he leads a Chennai Super Kings side that experienced its worst campaign in 2020, Pant – who has stepped in for regular skipper Shreyas Iyer – will want to announce his captaincy with authority.

Head-to-head, it is Chennai who lead Delhi 15-8, but a neutral venue and the Wankhede pitch offering decent bounce, Delhi will fancy their chances for this game. 

The yellow brigade will be boosted with the return of Suresh Raina to the squad. For the Capitals – the finalists last season – Steve Smith could make his debut and Chris Woakes could come in, considering both Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada will not be participating in the first game. The likes of Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma balances Delhi’s pace attack.