Chennai Super Kings spinners Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmed effectively constrained Delhi Capitals during their IPL match at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.
Despite starts from several Delhi players, the spinners maintained control throughout the innings.
Delhi Capitals posted 155 for 7 in 20 overs, aided by a 65-run partnership between Tristan Stubbs, who scored 38 off 31 balls with a four and two sixes, and Sameer Rizvi, unbeaten on 40 from 24 balls with four sixes, helping reach a respectable total.
Akeal Hosein bowled three overs in the power play, conceding only 15 runs and taking a crucial wicket of KL Rahul. Delhi Capitals managed 37 runs for two wickets during the first six overs. Since 2023, Akeal has been the most effective spinner in the power play in T20 matches, claiming 75 wickets at an average of 31.2, a strike rate of 25.6, an economy rate of 7.3, and a dot-ball percentage of 47. Maheesh Theekshana (55 wickets) and Imad Wasim (52 wickets) are the only other spinners with over 50 wickets in this phase during this period.
This season, Akeal has taken seven wickets in five matches at an average of 18.28, including a four-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians with figures of 4/17. His economy rate stands at 7.24.
Noor Ahmed applied pressure in the middle-overs phase (overs 7 to 15), taking 2 wickets for 22 runs in three overs, dismissing Nitish Rana and Karun Nair. Since 2025, Noor has taken 26 wickets in this phase at an average of 20.23 and a strike rate of 15.2, with an economy rate of 7.96 and dot ball percentage of 30.5. Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Krunal Pandya is the only other bowler with over 20 wickets (21) in this phase during the same timeframe. Among bowlers delivering at least 20 overs in this phase since last year, only Eshan Malinga has a better average, taking 12 wickets at 16.83.
In the current season, Noor has taken 11 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 27.45 and an economy rate of 8.38, with best figures of 3/21.
Both bowlers ensured that Delhi Capitals’ top four batsmen – Pathum Nissanka (19), KL Rahul (12), Nitish Rana (15), and Karun Nair (13) – failed to convert their starts, marking only the second time in IPL history that each of the top four scoring batsmen of a team reached double figures but none passed 20. The first occurrence was also by Delhi Capitals against Kochi Tuskers Kerala at the same venue in 2011: David Warner (13), Virender Sehwag (15), Naman Ojha (13), and Yogesh Nagar (18).
Delhi Capitals have struggled this IPL season, losing 21 wickets with a dot-ball percentage of 46.4. Their average runs per wicket is 23.85, which falls short of what their formidable top order is capable of, and their run rate remains modest at 8.35.