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DC vs CSK Playing 11: The IPL 2026 Match 48 between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 5th features critical changes, with Lungi Ngidi expected to play for DC and MS Dhoni absent for CSK. The match is a high-stakes showdown at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where CSK holds a strong historical record.
DC vs CSK Points Table Snapshot
| Team | M | W | L | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSK | 9 | 4 | 5 | 8 | +ve (6th) |
| DC | 9 | 4 | 5 | 8 | -ve (7th) |
Both teams are locked at 8 points. It is a must-win playoff game for both teams.
Delhi Capitals — Probable Playing XI
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Pathum Nissanka
- Nitish Rana
- Sameer Rizvi
- Tristan Stubbs
- Axar Patel (c)
- Ashutosh Sharma
- Kyle Jamieson
- Mitchell Starc
- Kuldeep Yadav
- T Natarajan
Impact Players: David Miller, Karun Nair, Auqib Nabi Dar, Abishek Porel, Vipraj Nigam
Key Absent: David Miller benched | Lungi Ngidi is back from the concussion protocol
Chennai Super Kings—Probable Playing XI
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
- Urvil Patel
- Dewald Brevis
- Shivam Dube
- Kartik Sharma
- Jamie Overton
- Akeal Hosein
- Noor Ahmad
- Anshul Kamboj
- Gurjapneet Singh
Impact Players: Sarfaraz Khan, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Veer, Akash Madhwal
Key Absent: MS Dhoni – not traveling towards Delhi (calf injuries, gradually improving)
DC vs CSK Weather & Pitch Report
Weather — New Delhi (Match Day)
- Temperature: 26 °C- 31 °C (evening)
- Conditions: Partly cloudy
- Chance of rain 15% – There is a slight chance, but the full 40-over game is most likely
- Dew factor: Probably in the 2nd innings — the chasing team has an advantage
Pitch Report — Arun Jaitley Stadium
- The average 1st-inning score for IPL 2026 178
- Short boundaries favour aggressive stroke play
- A score of 200+ marks the standard for the first hitter to bat
- The pitch can be slowed down in the middle of innings, helping spinners
- Seamers begin to move earlier under the lights
- The last game played here: DC were bowled out by just 75 against the RCB pitch could be unpredictable
- The toss is called: Winning skipper likely to bowl first, and then exploit the dew
DC vs CSK Key Player Battles
Sanju Samson against Mitchell Starc. Samson scored his way to a 115-run unbeaten win against DC during the reverse match. Starc is back to the top of his game. This is the most anticipated duel of the evening.
Nitish Rana Vs Noor Ahmad Rana is performing at a high level—182 runs on SR 182 over his past four innings. Noor’s clever left-arm spin might be the ideal to counter.
KL Rahul, Anshul Kamboj, and Rahul have been DC’s anchors throughout this season (75 off 40 against RRR in the final game). Kamboj’s bounce and pace will test his skills.
Axar Patel vs. Ruturaj Gaikwad: Captain vs. Captain. Axar’s left-arm spin has been unreliable in terms of economy but has also taken wickets. Ruturaj is in need of a major knock.
DC’s Revival: From Chaos to Contenders
Delhi Capitals come into this match off an incredible 226-run chase over Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur—their best batting display this season. KL Rahul (75 off 40) was named “Player of the Game.” Pathum Nissanka (62 off 33) was the one who gave DC the explosive start they desperately required.
The reality is that DC has lost 3 out of four home matches at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Arun Jaitley Stadium in the current season. Their inconsistent play remains their biggest problem. Kuldeep Yadav is losing runs even though he has taken wickets, while T Natarajan has failed to finish off death overs successfully.
DC’s 5 most recent results: W * L * L * *”W Form for Home in the IPL of 2026: 1W + 3L
CSK’s Struggles
Super Kings Without Their King: Can CSK Manage Without Dhoni?
MS Dhoni is not in Delhi. He was captain in the past but is recuperating from an injury to his calf he picked up during preseason and hasn’t played in a single IPL 2026 game yet. With just 4 league matches left to play after today’s game, it is now too late for Dhoni to be back in the fold for an appearance in his much-anticipated return.
Their bowling is their greatest advantage—both spin and pace have been played admirably. However, the bowling has been uneven. Sanju Samson’s form has been inconsistent. He’s been hot and cold, while the middle order has failed to produce a fiery final, which leaves CSK 15 to 10 runs short during every game when they bat first.
CSK’s injury report has also been harmed. Ramakrishna Ghosh is among the most recent players to be excluded, which could pave the way for Akash Madhwal or Akeal Hosein.
CSK’s Last 5 Results: W * L * W * L * L
DC vs CSK Head-to-Head & History
Lopsided But Never Boring: DC vs CSK Record
Over 32 IPL games, CSK dominates with 20 wins against DC’s twelve, making it one of the most lopsided competitions in IPL history. At Arun Jaitley Stadium, in particular, CSK holds an impressive 6-1 record.
In the end, DC showed they can be competitive. At IPL 2025, DC defeated CSK at home—thanks to KL Rahul scoring 77. In the rematch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 11th, CSK won by 23 runs. Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 115 pushed CSK to 212. Jamie Overton took 4 wickets to bowl DC out for 189.
DC even took victory in the game at Chepauk in 2025, only the second time in the 2010 war, and proved that DC’s yellow army can be defeated.
Today’s forecast: Toss and dew will decide. CSK’s more powerful bowling gives CSK an advantage, but DC’s home-based confidence following an RR chase makes this truly 50-50.
Read Also: Delhi Capitals (DC) Playing 11 — IPL 2026, Match 43
Main Match Points at a Glance
- Both teams are on eight points. This is basically a knockout in the playoffs
- MS Dhoni absent—he’s not part of the Delhi team for CSK
- The Dew Factor favors the side of the chaser—toss is a huge
- Mitchell Starc returns to help DC’s rate of attack
- Sanju Samson scored 115 in the reverse fixture—DC must contain him
- Nitish Runa in extraordinary form—SR 182 in the final 4 innings
- CSK is leading the H2H 20-12; however, DC are peaking at the right moment
- Arun Jaitley averaged the first innings’ score of 171-200+ required for batting first
- Chance of rain: 15% unlikely to stop play
- Ruturaj Gaikwad requires a captain’s knock to raise CSK
