The Process to Perfection! 🥳💥#DCvCSK #WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/YwZYYNLQi5

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 31, 2024

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It was in Visakhapatnam in April 2005 that a long-haired Dhoni won the hearts of a cricket-crazy nation with a sensational 148 against Pakistan. Nearly 19 years later, he enthralled his legion of fans once again. Same long hair, same city, same power-hitting, same aura. It’s the Mahi way.

In the ground of memories! 🦁🏟️#DCvCSK #WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/QNcOdBFt74

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 31, 2024

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Shaw returns, plays a role

That Prithvi Shaw was retained by Delhi Capitals ahead of the auction was a surprise in the eyes of many. That he was not even part of the match squads for their first two games was a bigger one. Injuries to a few facilitated his comeback to the opener’s slot and some tight overs at the start did rein him in. He threw the kitchen sink at a wide delivery from fellow Mumbaikar Tushar Deshpande that showed a glimpse of what he was once so good at. Even so, it was David Warner who had to do most of the early heavy lifting early on.

Delhi Capitals’ batter Prithvi Shaw plays a shot during the IPL 2024 match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, at Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, in Visakhapatnam, Sunday, March 31, 2024. (PTI Photo)

It was when he had the good fortune of facing a Mustafizur Rahman free hit that Shaw got a move on. A near-yorker on leg-stump was expertly flicked past short fine-leg, a length ball next up went in the same direction, but the third four in a row was the best – a back-foot punch through covers. When he slog-swept Ravindra Jadeja over long-on, Shaw was finally playing his part in the opening stand. The youngster has had a chequered time in the recent past, some of it of his own making, and any contribution is a welcome development.

An elegant leap

Pathirana..Dho Pathiya na! 🧲🔥#DCvCSK #WhistlePodu #Yellove🦁💛pic.twitter.com/VuDjcRBFg8

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 31, 2024

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David Warner didn’t quite middle the reverse scoop off Mustafizur Rahman. But he seemed to have found ample wood to evade the fielder at short fine-leg, Matheesha Pathirana. The Sri Lanka seamer reacted a fraction late, and the ball seamed floating over his head. Then he stretched his lithe frame, at full pelt, but frictionless to clasp the catch with his right hand, fully airborne. The landing was smooth and graceful, without any jarring or crash-landing of the elbow. Pathirana, usually reticent, held the pose and soaked in the appreciation from his teammates. Dhoni approved with a big smile. Warner, bemused, shook his head in disbelief. It was not the catch that might have stunned him, but the sheer effortlessness of it. After a torrid start, CSK needed a surge of inspiration and Pathirana provided that on the field before impressing with the ball in hand too.

It was all yellow, but some love for Rishabh too

A banner at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, in Visakhapatnam on Sunday for the game between Dc and CSK. (PHOTO: Deepak Malik / Sportzpics / BCCI)

At the toss in Vizag, Ruturaj Gaikwad was greeted with huge cheers. He smiled and said, “it’s definitely a home game for us.” Rishabh Pant had to channel some of Pat Cummins’ ideas as he hoped they can do well enough to turn things around in the stands. DC are playing their first couple of home games in Vizag of course, and the city is much closer to Chennai than it is to Delhi.

But amid all the yellow, there was a banner that stood out. In what seems to be a stand filled with Chennai fans, a poster read: “You will never walk alone,” with Pant’s photo. A fine touch. And Pant gave them plenty to cheer as he finished strongly to score his first half century since the comeback.