Inconsistent Capitals face familiar CSK challenge at home

Delhi Capitals have been wildly inconsistent, mirroring the city's weather that swings between heatwaves and hailstorms. They posted 264 – their highest total ever – then crashed to 75 all out in the next game. Both ended in defeats. After five losses in six games, they bounced back by chasing down 226 against Rajasthan Royals – their highest successful IPL chase in 19 years.

Injuries and concussions forced changes, including benching David Miller to accommodate Pathum Nissanka and rejig the pace attack with Mitchell Starc and Lungi Ngidi. CSK are similarly placed – both teams have 8 points from 9 games, separated only by NRR. Both arrive on the back of comprehensive wins but can't be called "back in form" yet.

CSK have dominated this fixture historically, leading 20-12 overall and 6-2 in Delhi.

When: Tuesday, May 5 at 7:30 PM IST
Where: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Pitch: A fresh surface (pitch no. 4) prepared, should aid scoring. Average first innings winning total here is 210. GT are the only team to defend a total this season.

Head-to-head: CSK lead 20-12. Since 2022, CSK have won four times to Delhi's two.

Injuries & Availability: Lungi Ngidi available after ICC concussion protocol. Sahil Parakh still injured. DC likely to stick with same XI.

Tactics: CSK's opening partnership average of 22.77 is second-lowest after KKR. Axar Patel has dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad thrice and Sanju Samson twice in T20s – could bowl himself in the Powerplay.

Probable DC XII: KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel/Vipraj Nigam, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan

Probable CSK XII: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Urvil Patel, Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh/Akash Madhwal

Key stats:

• CSK have 20 wins against DC – their second-most against any team
• Delhi have lost three straight home games, only beating MI
• DC's catching efficiency of 65.2% is the worst in the tournament

Quotes:

• CSK bowling coach Eric Simmons on Ruturaj Gaikwad: "He's a surgeon in this world of chaos batting… He's starting to find that touch again."
• DC bowling coach Munaf Patel on benching Miller: "Pathum performed well. No need for further changes."