IPL 2021: Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders in final to win fourth title

Chennai Tremendous Kings have been topped Indian Premier League champions for the fourth time after beating Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs within the closing.

Shubman Gill (51 off 43) and Venkatesh Iyer (50 off 32) hit half-centuries earlier than Kolkata collapsed, shedding eight wickets for 34 runs in Dubai.

Captain Eoin Morgan managed simply 4 as Kolkata reached 165-9.

Chennai, led by captain MS Dhoni, add one other trophy to the cupboard, having received the IPL in 2010, 2011 and 2018.

Dhoni refused to say after whether or not he was going to retire or play one other season, however added that “I have never left it behind but” when instructed he may very well be happy with his legacy.

For 2-time winners KKR, it’s a disappointing finish after a superb comeback on this yr’s competitors.

KKR had been second from backside when the match resumed within the United Arab Emirates final month, after it was suspended in Could due to a surge in coronavirus instances in India.

Match-winner Du Plessis & the race for the orange cap

It was a batting masterclass from Du Plessis, elevating additional questions as to why the 37-year-old was not chosen in South Africa’s Males’s T20 World Cup squad.

Du Plessis’s knock included seven fours and three sixes as he showcased a repertoire of photographs, from highly effective blows down the bottom to pleasant timing which discovered the gaps.

Lockie Ferguson endured a torrid time by the hands of Du Plessis, the New Zealand left-arm quick bowler ending with 0-56 from his 4 overs.

Du Plessis and fellow opener Ruturaj Gaikwad shared their very own sub-plot throughout the Chennai innings.

At first of the match, KL Rahul was the highest run-scorer on this season’s IPL with 626 runs, however each Du Plessis (547 runs) and Gaikwad (603 runs) had been within the reckoning to overhaul the Punjab Kings captain.

Gaikwad’s 32 from 27 balls shot him to the highest of the record and he seemed assured to take the coveted orange cap. Du Plessis had different concepts and, off the ultimate ball of the innings, he wanted three runs to dislodge his team-mate – however was caught within the deep, which means Gaikwad completed prime.

England’s Moeen additionally unleashed some big hits, together with three sixes, whereas Robin Uthappa contributed an essential 31 off 15 balls in a dominant CSK batting show.

Iyer & Gill get KKR off to tremendous begin

Within the 2012 closing, KKR chased 191 towards CSK. Within the 2014 closing, they chased 200 towards Kings XI Punjab.

Morgan’s workforce wouldn’t go and not using a battle and in reply they reached 55-0 after the powerplay – 5 runs forward of the place Chennai had been after six overs.

Iyer, 26, is arguably the discover of this season’s IPL and, as soon as once more, performed fearless cricket..

Drafted in by Kolkata when the match resumed final month, Iyer scored his fourth IPL half-century in simply 10 innings to complete with 370 runs at a median of 41.11.

With Kolkata at 88-0 after 10 overs, a detailed end was on the playing cards, however Shardul Thakur produced a improbable over to dismiss Iyer after which Nitesh Rana for a golden duck.

Thakur was the standout bowler, taking 3-38 and ending with 21 IPL wickets this yr.

Sunil Narine was dismissed for 2, Ravindra Jadeja – one of many best fielders in world cricket – taking his second catch as KKR began to crumble.

Gill, who scored 478 runs this marketing campaign, reached his third half-century of the season, earlier than he was out lbw to Deepak Chahar.

Morgan’s disappointing IPL

The stage was set for Morgan – who got here to the crease together with his workforce needing 96 off 51 – to play the kind of innings which has entertained England followers lately.

Whereas his captaincy has been pivotal in KKR’s comeback, Morgan has struggled with the bat, significantly for the reason that resumption.

And he might solely watch from the non-striker’s finish as Dinesh Karthik fell for 9, Shakib Al Hasan for a first-ball duck and Rahul Trapathi for 2.

Morgan’s night time got here to an finish courtesy of a surprising catch from Chahar on the boundary.

Chahar needed to fling the ball within the air as his momentum took him over the boundary rope, earlier than leaping again into the sector of play and taking the seize.

What subsequent for Dhoni?

A match which began on 9 April in Chennai, India, lastly ended 190 days later within the UAE.

CSK’s celebrations can be shorter than normal, with lots of their stars becoming a member of their respective worldwide groups for the T20 World Cup.

Focus is now prone to flip in the direction of the way forward for captain Dhoni.

The 40-year-old has led the workforce to all of their trophy wins for the reason that competitors launched in 2008.

Amongst his private achievements, Dhoni has performed probably the most IPL matches by any participant (230) and is eighth within the record of highest run-scorers (4,746).

Requested about his future on the post-match presentation, Dhoni mentioned it will depend on what occurs with two new franchises set to be added for the 2022 season.

“We’ve to resolve what is nice for CSK – it is not about me being there within the three or 4 retained gamers,” he mentioned.

“It is about making a robust core to make sure the franchise would not endure. We’ve to see who can contribute for the subsequent 10 years.”

Presenter and commentator Harsha Bhogle then mentioned he may very well be “happy with the legacy you have got left behind,” to which Dhoni replied: “I have never left it behind but.”

Regardless of the end result, his legacy of being one among – if not the – best IPL gamers and captains of all time has been firmly cemented.

‘I by no means thought I might win the IPL’ – response

CSK captain MS Dhoni: “We had match-winners coming recreation after recreation and doing very well.

“I might like to thank the followers. Wherever we have performed, we have at all times had a great variety of CSK followers. Hopefully we’ll be again in Chennai in full stadiums subsequent yr.”

CSK and England all-rounder Moeen Ali: “It is wonderful, I am unable to describe it actually. I by no means thought I might win the IPL and to do it with this workforce is wonderful.

“MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming are so calm and clear with what they wish to do. It is such a grounded and humble workforce to be a part of.”

Participant of the match, CSK opener Faf du Plessis: “That was an excellent day. I’ve liked my time at CSK.

“Ruturaj Gaikwad is a particular expertise. He is obtained a brilliant, vivid future forward of him. I’ve a phrase with him, however I do not assume he wants me.”

KKR captain Eoin Morgan: “I am extraordinarily happy with the battle we confirmed all through the match, particularly the character we confirmed after not getting the beginning we needed.”