Chennai, April 11 – Seam-bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton led a dominant bowling performance, taking 4-18 as Chennai Super Kings secured a 23-run victory over Delhi Capitals to get their first win of IPL 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.
Overton's clinical spell – the best figures of the ongoing season so far – stifled Delhi's chase after their openers, Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul, had crossed the 50-run mark in just the fourth over. The momentum shifted decisively when CSK took three wickets in three overs, leaving the visitors' middle order in disarray.
Despite a fighting 60 off 38 balls from Tristan Stubbs, Delhi fell short of the target and were bowled out for 189 in 20 overs, with CSK's fielding also supporting the bowlers well. Apart from Overton's accurate bowling, debutant Gurjapneet Singh's disciplined lines caused constant trouble, while Anshul Kamboj was at his best, taking 3-35.
The lack of sustained partnerships also proved to be Delhi's undoing, as Chennai Super Kings got their first win in Chepauk after losing six consecutive games. Chasing 213, Delhi began brightly as Nissanka and Rahul scored 16 runs off Khaleel Ahmed in the second over and reached 50 in the fourth over. Nissanka hit five fours and two sixes in his 41, while Rahul looked fluent with two boundaries and a six before mistiming a pull to Khaleel.
At 61/1 after five overs, Delhi seemed well-placed, but Chennai Super Kings had other plans – Kamboj dismissed Nissanka in the next over, with Dewald Brevis taking a catch at mid-on. Gurjapneet then took a wicket on his debut, as Axar Patel cut straight to Sarfaraz Khan at backward point.
Sameer Rizvi briefly resisted, but was dismissed by Overton after pulling straight to Brevis at deep square leg. David Miller and Tristan Stubbs attempted to rebuild Delhi's chase, scoring runs off Noor Ahmad and Khaleel. The duo had a 45-run stand before Overton dismissed Miller with a fast delivery.
Ashutosh Sharma's cameo of 19 off 10 balls, including two sixes, briefly gave Chennai Super Kings a scare, but Noor lured him into a lofted drive that was well caught by Kamboj at sweeper cover. Auqib Nabi followed soon after, caught by Akeal Hosein at extra cover off Overton.
Meanwhile, Stubbs continued to bat well, scoring 50 in 30 balls with the help of two sixes off Gurjapneet. However, the required run rate kept increasing. Stubbs' knock, which included four fours and three sixes, ended when he miscued Overton to Noor at mid-off. His dismissal in the 19th over effectively sealed the victory, as Kamboj dismissed Kuldeep Yadav and Lungi Ngidi to close the game in favor of Chennai Super Kings.
Brief scores:
Chennai Super Kings 212/2 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 115 not out, Ayush Mhatre 59; Axar Patel 1-39) beat Delhi Capitals 189 all out in 20 overs (Tristan Stubbs 60, Pathum Nissanka 41; Jamie Overton 4-18, Anshul Kamboj 3-35) by 23 runs