CSK lost their fourth match of the season (Thier second without Dhoni ) in the reverse fixture against Mumbai Indians on Friday. Yet, With 16 points in 12 games and also by virtue of RR's victory vs SRH on Saturday, CSK officially got into the playoffs for the 10th time. 

Delhi capitals, The current Delhi based team went through to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.They ended up being 3rd best in that edition after finishing first in the league standings. In the first two seasons of IPL, Delhi Daredevils was a semifinalist ending up fourth and third respectively in the tournament. In the league table standings, The team finished fourth and first After that

2010-5th/8
2011 -10th/10
2013 9th /9
2014 8th/8
2015 7th/8
2016 6th/8
2017 6th/8
2018 8th /8 

DC achieved the status by defeating RCB by a 16 run margin on Sunday. With a strong Indian core and a bunch of T20 specialists including overseas players, DC are well balanced in this season. Consistent batting from Dhawan, Pant and Shreyas Iyer and exceptional bowling display by Rabada with 25 wickets in 12 matches, Keep Delhi very much alive and kicking in contention for their maiden title. 

CSK on the other hand, Suffered a humiliating defeat to MI by a huge margin of 46 runs, When chasing a mere 156. While Santner displayed his all-around skills brilliantly in the previous match, CSK seems to be missing consistency from its batsmen, Excluding Dhoni.

The trio of Rayudu, Jadhav, and Watson seem to suffer even now, After having given a long rope. While Watson showed his heroics once against SRH at Chennai, Rayudu and Jadhav are yet to make their marks up to their potential.

DC would not possibly tinker their playing XI in order to maintain momentum. Dhoni is progressing, Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming said on the eve of the match. He's been pretty sick during the week. We'll make a call on him tomorrow but he's progressing, which is good.

Whether Dhoni plays or not, Capitals will know it's never an easy task to play Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Their away record - five wins in six games this season - should give them confidence, but if they haven't been quite as good at home - three wins in six games - it's because they haven't enjoyed batting on the slow, grippy surface at Feroz Shah Kotla. Only one surface this season has been slower and grippier this season - the one they'll play on tomorrow.

Like Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja and du Plessis were also absent ill from the match against Mumbai. Unlike Dhoni, both have recovered fully. Faf's been fine. Jadeja's also training well, Fleming said. Definitely in consideration

Having got a better track than what CSK had in their previous matches at home, Both Mi and MI put on underwhelming performances on Friday with the bat. The exuberant DC side would look to make a mark in their reverse fixture against CSK and would look to settle the scores straight for the six-wicket defeat they suffered at Delhi on 26th March.

Super Kings have won 13 and lost six of their matches against Capitals. If du Plessis features, he will be playing his 200th T20 match. Dwayne Bravo is one short of 300 T20 sixes, and also one short of 50 T20 wickets at MA Chidambaram Stadium. Suresh Raina has 49 fifties in T20 cricket. On the whole, A cracker of a match awaits. Will it be 6-1 or 5-2 for CSK in league phase at home? 

Time will tell.

-Kumaran Kumanan

Images courtesy: IPLT20 BCCI