Chennai Super Kings beat Delhi Capitals in the 48th match of the Indian Premier League 2026. Delhi Capitals opted to bat first on a tricky surface and lost both their openers in the powerplay. It was a real struggle in the middle overs as they lost half their side. Sameer Rizvi coming in as the impact sub scored a crucial knock of 40 while Stubbs and Ashutosh played well in the end as Delhi Capitals posted 155 at the end of the first innings. Chasing the target, Chennai Super Kings lost their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad early but Sanju Samson smashed an unbeaten half century as he helped CSK chase down with a few overs spare. 

Kartik Sharma (translated from Hindi): 

(on his stand with Sanju) Yes, sir, it was fun. We had a good partnership for a long time. (on the pitch) Yes, sir, it was helping the spinners, stopping the ball and turning a lot. I knew it was not a big score, and we can take our time, which we did. (what did Sanju tell him?) Bhaiya said that it was a slow wicket, and told me to do what comes to me, which I did. (did you target any bowler?) No, no, sir, there was no such target. Just play in a good range and hit the ball. Play the ball, that's all.

Axar Patel | DC captain (translated from Hindi): 

(thoughts on the score) Obviously, the way the wicket was playing in the first innings, I felt that yes, 155 was a good score. But since we were playing with eight batters, I felt we were about 10-15 runs short. (on the pitch) I feel it got a little better, but I think the difference was made by the set batter. When a batter is well set, it feels like there is nothing in the pitch, but I still feel there was something in it. For a new batter coming in, it was not easy. Yes, it wasn’t easy for new players because, you know, the length balls were holding up, sometimes staying low, and occasionally even bouncing after holding. So I feel it was very difficult for new batters. But when set batters were playing, it looked easier. You could see the way Sanju took the game forward. (about their batting) Yes, obviously, considering our batting, I think that’s a positive. Even after losing five wickets, the way we finished at the end was good. So yes, that is a positive. But I feel in bowling, I missed my partner Kuldeep. (on their remaining matches) Yes, obviously, we cannot afford any mistakes now. So we have to go in with a clear mindset that whatever time or chances we get, we must win.

Ruturaj Gaikwad | CSK captain: 

(everything coming along nicely) "No, I think even initially after the second and third game, the talk was about, even Flem (Fleming) and myself, we were always positive. We thought that we were closer than what we thought than or what we were last year. I think we pretty much covered all the bases, what we had, Sanju coming in and then we had great middle-order as well. Our bowling was going good as well. So we just needed that couple of wins and then to get that momentum, you need that in T20 cricket. So I think after that, after the third game, we got those couple of wins and then, everyone just started to gel together. (good to see different players stepping up) Yes, definitely. On the batting side, I would say, I mean, more than grateful to have Sanju in the side after the tournament he had even in the World Cup and even now. So obviously he's backbone now, but bowling is something which, which wins you tournaments. And, you obviously, to have Akeal and Jamie do that job where, you know, everyone is going for, more than 10s or 12s. They're just coming in silently and doing the job. It gives you a lot of confidence. And then, you know, Anshul Kamboj is there as well, who's, obviously a smart bowler and knows what his strength. Yes, he had an off day today, but I feel it's someone who's already upset about it and eager to come back. (him and Sanju both similar, do you plan?) Nothing actually, it is, we don't really plan, we just kind of, let to know each other that what the wicket is exactly happening and, how we can assess and how we can move forward. That's the only talk. After that it is more about, how the over is going and how the match is progressing. So the talk is very less, more often than not, you rely on yourself to do the job. So definitely he's doing the job for me, so I'm really happy. (on Kartik Sharma) Well, I think the skill set was already there. I feel there's no development as such. But the skill set which he's showing in the last couple of games, it was already there. Just that he needed that, couple of games to start with. He didn't get that momentum and we were chasing high targets as well. So I think he didn't get the time. Last game he got some time, played a, 10-15 balls and after that he got into it. So we all knew what skill set he had. As I said, last game as well, he's not someone who's a wild slogger. He can rotate strike well. He can, hit the pockets really well. So he's someone who can play all around the game. So good to get the confidence that going for him.”

Sanju Samson | Player of the Match:

 (the crowd are calling you chetta, do you like that?) "Yeah, they are calling me Chetta, but I like Sanju more. (so much time to play your shots) Yeah, I think we try to find out what works really well for you and you try to stick to the basics and you trust your hands to do the job in this format. So I think I have been trying to do that from last two-three months. I have been working a bit on my initial movement a bit and it has been coming off nicely. (on his trigger movements at the crease) Yeah, I have been doing it from last three to five years. So I think comfort definitely plays a huge role in your mindset and the confidence which you have to go and bat in. And then definitely it's a tactical move as well. So according to the bowlers and the wicket, I try to move around a bit. (calmness about you) To be very honest, I am always like this. The biggest change is you are seeing me more in the middle now, so I think that's why people are saying he's very calm. Even I am sitting out, I am just very calm actually. So when I am batting, 'thoda zyaada ho raha hai, toh sab dekh raha hain ki, haan yaar, ye thoda zyaada calm hai [there is a little more happening, so everyone is watching that yes, this guy is a little more calm]. (on his knock) Honestly sir, I think looking at what we were chasing and how the wicket was behaving, I felt that even if we have like 30-35 runs for no loss or one wicket, we could easily, like knowing what I can do against the spin and in the middle-overs also, I know my gameplan pretty well. So I thought even if I take some extra time in the powerplay, with the type of shots which I have, I think I can capitalise in the middle-overs. So that was the plan and sometimes it comes off nicely. So today, it came off. Very happy. (this knock better than a 100?) No. Hundreds are always special, sir. I think so. (no desire to get to the 100 today?) Yeah, it was, but I was like I had to be a bit too selfish to get that. So I thought let's win the game and the other partner was batting really well. So I didn't want to tell him ' ek single dey de yaar, mai sau bana tha hoon [take a single, I will get my 100]. So I didn't say that. So I think really enjoyed, I think coming not out, finishing off the game gives you a better satisfaction. So I just enjoyed it and few more games to go. Let's see if I get those three figures once again. (the longer he bats, the longer he is calm?) Yes sir, yes sir.”

Chennai Super Kings have beaten Delhi Capitals in both their meetings in this season and Samson has been yhe player of the match in both games. It has been a special night and