IPL match preview: Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Capitals

The Super Kings will go into this match on the back of a convincing win over the five-time champions Mumbai Indians. Pace ace Matheesha Pathirana starred with the ball and opener Devon Conway with the bat for CSK in that match.

Chennai are grateful to have Deepak Chahar back. He had been sidelined by injury, but recently returned with a successful spell. He makes a great new-ball partner with Tushar Deshpande. The duo could capitalise against some of the out-of-form Delhi batsmen.

Delhi will be hard pressed to beat Chennai away from home. The Super Kings have turned Chepauk into a veritable fortress, winning many more matches than they have lost at this venue over an extended period.

The Capitals can look to Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh for significant contributions with the bat and ball. He has put in some big showings in both departments this season. Marsh is eager to impress before jetting off to the USA for the inaugural edition of Major League Cricket.

In their last five meetings, Delhi had strung together three successive victories before the Super Kings bit back with two in a row.

Pathirana has been compared to IPL and Sri Lankan great Lasith Malinga because of his slingy action. The CSK star took three wickets in the recent win over Mumbai and could put in another big performance here.

Proteas pace ace Anrich Nortje missed Delhi's last match after flying back to South Africa. It will be interesting to see if he is back for this fixture, as Delhi are already missing Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman.

CSK look like they are all but marching into the play-off stage of the 2023 IPL. They should be able to beat Delhi relatively comfortably, especially after doing so against Mumbai.