IPL 2021 Final, HIGHLIGHTS: Dhoni's Chennai wins 4th IPL title, thumps Kolkata by 27 runs

IPL 2021 Final, KKR vs CSK Live Score: Get the IPL final live score updates between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders from Dubai International Stadium.

Updated : Oct 16, 2021 00:48 IST

Dhoni's Super Kings celebrate their fourth IPL title triumph in Dubai.
Dhoni's Super Kings celebrate their fourth IPL title triumph in Dubai.
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Dhoni's Super Kings celebrate their fourth IPL title triumph in Dubai.


MS Dhoni:
"Before I start talking about CSK, need to talk about KKR. Difficult to come back and do what they have, if any team deserved to win the IPL, it's KKR. Huge credit to the coaches, team and support staff. The break really helped them. Coming to CSK, we shuffled players. We had match winners coming game after game and doing really well. Every final is special, if you look at stats, we may say we're the most consistent team to lose the final too. I feel it's important to come back strong, especially in the knockouts. Frankly no chats, we don't talk a lot [meetings]. It's more one-on-one, our practice sessions are meeting sessions. The moment you get into a team room, it brings about different pressure. Our practice sessions have been good. I would love to thank the fans, wherever we've played, even when we were in South Africa, we've always had a good number of CSK fans. That is what you crave for. Thanks to all of them, it feels like we're playing in Chennai. Hopefully we'll be back in Chennai for the fans. Again I've said it before, it depends on BCCI. With two new teams coming in...... we have to decide what is good for CSK. It's not about me being there in top-three or four. It's about making a strong core to ensure the franchise doesn't suffer. The core group, we have to have a hard look to see who can contribute for the next 10 years . No we need to see what is best.

Harsha to finish: You can be proud of the legacy you have left behind. Dhoni replies: "Still I haven't left behind...."(smiles) - Dhoni finishes off in Dhoni style!

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The trophy cabinet continues to grow for MS!
 

Sourav Gangulygives the winners' cheque of INR 20 crore to MS Dhoni.

Stephen Fleming, CSK head coach:  "We've had a number of finals, but getting across the line is a challenge you want to conquer. There was criticism about the age of our squad but it's rewarding to finish the four-year cycle with the trophy. Experience is important, guys who've been there and done it before add so much. We don't get too deep into analytics and numbers, we go with gut feel and developing relationships with players, it's old-school but it's works for us. The years tick by, we've done work over the years gone by, we've got some great memories. Very proud to have been with one franchise and have success."

Eoin Morgan : "We are extremely proud of the fight we have shown. The character and fight is trademark. Our owners - Shahrukh, Venky have been absolutely outstanding. Guys fought incredibly hard and performed. Iyer and Gill have been outstanding. Ventakesh is new to this platform. They have been the cornerstone of our batting. Tripathi left everything out there today. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury."

Brendon McCullum, KKR head coach : "We are super proud of what all the guys did. Congratulations to Super Kings, and their leaders. Just an amazing journey, and some things we can remember for a long time. When you fall at final hurdle, there is always a sense of what if. The way the guys stepped up and performed - particularly the young Indian guys. Big shout out to the owners, they give us immense support."

 

Faf du Plessis - Player of the Match: "That was a great day. I am really grateful for today. It was also my 100th game in the IPL. I have loved my time here. I have done almost ten years here - two seasons were a bit of a break. No. 4 in the trophy cabinet is really good. Gaikwad is a special talent. Indian cricket is blessed with talent. He is getting better. He's got a super, bright future ahead of him."

Time for the presentations!

That winning moment!


Youngest Captain to Win IPL Trophy:
Rohit Sharma (2013)
Oldest Captain to Win IPL Trophy: MS Dhoni (2021)*

Most IPL titles as Captain: 5 - Rohit Sharma 4 - MS Dhoni* 2 - Gautam Gambhir - Will MS return to continue the race?

Dhoni strolls past the centre casually even as the world around goes ecstatic in celebration. 300 T20s old as leader and he remains grounded, calm and composed as ever, and in the twilight of his career, he's remains the King of the ring!

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Yellow Army takes over Dubai!
 

KKR 165/9 in 20 overs: Just three runs from the first three balls as Bravo rolls his fingers over the ball. Dhoni still continues to adjust his field! Another dot. 29 off 2.  The whistles have taken over Dubai!  Slower one and Mavi holes out to the deep. No.167 for Bravo - he becomes the second leading wicket-taker in IPL history!  A dot finish and CSK clinches its fourth IPL title by 27 runs!  Dhoni's boys are back and HOW!!!

Bravo for the final over.

KKR 162/8 in 19 overs: A 10-ball over from Thakur! Extras aplenty from Thakur to finish and MSD is not pleased one bit! All little too late as KKR needs 31 in one over.

KKR 145/8 in 18 overs: KKR fans, hold on says Mavi. He clobbers Mavi for two massive sixes and a boundary to finish the over. Dhoni isn't pleased with the length and gestures angrily. KKR needs 48 in 12 balls.

Bravo is back. This is all but over for KKR. 66 needed from 18 balls.

KKR 127/8 in 17 overs: Hazlewood to Morgan. OUT! He fails to get hold of it again! Brilliant work from Chahar at deep fine leg and a horrendous season for Morgan ends in shambles.  Hazlewood tucks it short to Morgan's shoulders as he aims for an ambitious pull. Hazlewood gets hold off the ball and balances himself over the boundary and back while getting hold off the ball.  Eoin Morgan c Chahar b Hazlewood 4 (8b)

KKR 125/7 in 16 overs: Thakur to Tripathi. OUT! Another one bites the dust. Tripathi was in no position and condition to play a slog but the desperation gets the better off him. Thakur hits the slot and Tripathi mistimes it. Moeen has an easy grab at long-on.  Rahul Tripathi c Ali b Thakur 2 (3b)

KKR needs 73 in 30 balls. Thakur is back! Tripathi has finally walk out to bat with a niggle.

KKR 120/6 in 15 overs: Jadeja to Karthik. OUT! Pulls it straight to square leg!  That's a poor delivery to fell prey to. Jadeja fends it short and Karthik fails to get hold off the pull. The ball lobs up and dips straight to Rayudu. Shakib on strike.  Jadeja fires it from over the wicket and that's plumb again! Shakib falls for a first-ball duck! What an over from Sir Jadeja! Is that the game right there?  Dinesh Karthik c Rayudu b Jadeja 9 (7b 1x6), Shakib Al Hasan lbw b Jadeja 0 (1b)

KKR needs 76 in 36 balls.

KKR 117/4 in 14 overs: Chahar to Gill. OUT! That's plumb in front! Shaping in on the full and Gill attempts to paddle the seamer. The ball whiffs past the blade and hits him flush on the pads in front. Chahar doesn't even bother to appeal as he storms towards Dhoni in jubilation. Karthik in at 6, he slams Chahar over mid-wicket for SIX first ball!
Shubman Gill lbw b Chahar 51 (43b 6x4)

Chahar to bowl out

KKR 108/3 in 13 overs: Fifty for Gill and KKR crosses 100 in the process. Gill will need to take this deep but he will also require some moment from the other end. Can Morgan finally pull himself together tonight and turn this around?

Jadeja is back

KKR 99/3 in 12 overs: Hazlewood to Narine. OUT! Pulls it straight to the deep! Jadeja with another sizzler!  Hazlewood fends short and Narine unleashes his favourite pull off the back-foot. The ball seemed to have clear the fence but Jaddu snatches it from thin air. Absolute livewire on the field! Captain Morgan walks in. Hazlewood continues to pepper the off-stump and finishes a top over. Sunil Narine c Jadeja b Hazlewood 2 (2b)

KKR 93/2 in 11 overs: Thakur to Iyer. OUT! Up in the air and it's Jadeja underneath it this time! What a catch from the champion athlete. Thakur rushes the ball off length outside off and Iyer skies it over covers.  Jadeja runs in from the point boundary and leaps in the air and gobbles the ball inches off the ground! Gill gets a single and Rana is on the strike. Thakur rolls the ball and Rana slaps it straight to mid-off! A safe catch from Faf as he leans forward to hold onto it. Two in the over LORD THAKUR!

Venkatesh Iyer c Jadeja b Thakur 50 (32b 5x4 3x6); Nitish Rana c du Plessis b Thakur 0 (1b)

KKR needs 105 in 60 balls. Thakur is back.

KKR 88/0 in 10 overs: Jadeja to Gill. OUT! High into the night sky and Rayudu latches onto it! CSK has its much-needed breakthrough!  Wait a minute, folks! How unfortunate is this for CSK! The umpires opted for a replay and the ball seems to have clipped the spider-cam - it's a dead ball! Gill rubs the salt into the wounds as he drills two sizzling boundaries behind point and mid-wicket.

KKR 72/0 in 9 overs: Bravo continues to keep it tight. He mixes up his pace and the batters are content to treat him with singles for now.

KKR 68/0 in 8 overs: Jadeja keeps it tight through the over before Iyer decides to smoke him over long-on for SIX! High and handsome and Kolkata does well to quell the pressure.

Jadeja into the attack.

KKR 59/0 in 7 overs: Top start for Bravo. Dhoni stands up to Gill behind the wicket and Bravo darts the slower-ones in. Gill struggles to lean in to reach the ball and gets off strike with a single. Bravo keeps Iyer in his tracks with a couple of excellent deliveries in the blockhole.  Timeout.

Bravo replaces Thakur

KKR 54/0 in 6 overs: Fifty up for Kolkata in the Powerplay. Gill advances and creams Chahar over extra cover for FOUR! There's something about high pressure chases in the final and the Knights, isn't it?

Chahar is back

KKR 47/0 in 5 overs: Slower bouncer from Thakur and Iyer gloves it over Dhoni by a few inches! He's hanging in there by a thread and continues to frustrate Chennai. He instantly finds the boundary once again as Thakur slides the ball down leg. Iyer swivels graciously to glide the ball down leg for four.

Thakur into the attack. Can the Lord be the difference once again?

KKR 36/0 in 4 overs: Gill flashes through cover and the ball skips off agonisingly close from Thakur at mid-off. The ball races to the boundary and Gill follows up with a single. Iyer then cuts Hazlewood for a cracking for through point. This is a top, top start for KKR.

KKR 24/0 in 3 overs: Iyer's off the blocks! Chahar drills it full and Iyer scythes it through point for FOUR! Chahar keeps it on the line outside off-stump and this time Iyer flakes it through extra cover for another gorgeous boundary. Dhoni would be absolutely ruing his miss. 

KKR 16/0 in 2 overs: Hazlewood to Iyer. OUT! Hold on. DROPPED by Dhoni! Hazlewood finds the outside-edge with a nagging delivery outside the off-stump. The ball zips past Dhoni's gloves, beats him with some extra bounce. The ball thuds the gloves and slips off Dhoni's reach. Iyer makes CSK pay as he swivels and pulls Josh for a six next ball.

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How costly will that prove to be MSD and Co.?
 

Hazlewood from the opposite end

KKR 6/0 in 1 over: Short to begin and Gill whips Chahar firs t ball over mid-wicket for FOUR! Chahar does well to correct his line. He keeps it tight on the stump to cramp Gill for room.

Deepak Chahar with the new ball. Gill on strike.

In walk the Yellow Army led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni in his 300th T20 game as captain!  Gill and Iyer at the crease for KKR.

Back for the chase! One final innings of the season!

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A superb finish led by the top-order once again. CSK has rubbished all of Morgan's plans with the ball. KKR's sloppy fielding added to the woes and boy, we have a tantalising second-half in store. KKR has pulled off the big chases on the big nights twice in the past, but those are tales from the bygone. Can Knights pull off another heist? Stay tuned for the chase, folks!

CSK 192/3 in 20 overs: du Plessis falls off the last ball - he misses the Orange Cup by two runs! What a finish nevertheless. Mavi has cushioned KKR by taking a good 15 runs from the CSK total with some nippy bowling. du Plessis attempts to loft him long-on but holes out to the deep. What a night from the Proteas veteran to stand up and lead the way.  Faf du Plessis c Iyer b Shivam Mavi 86 (59b 7x4 3x6)


Mavi for the final over.
Moeen on strike.

Karun Nair on the field for Nitish Rana.

CSK 185/2 in 19 overs: Mo on fire! Chakravarthy has lost his sheen just a touch under pressure. Moeen whips over mid-wicket for four and follows it with a smash straight over the bowler for SIX!

Chakravarthy is back

CSK 172/2 in 18 overs: Du Plessis and Moeen steal a deft single as Morgan fumbles at extra cover. Flicked away fine by the England all-rounder next, but Nagarkoti's diving effort near the ropes saves a few crucial runs. Launched! Moeen goes for the big swing as the ball races away to the extra cover fence in no time. Du Plessis joins the party with a four and a six as well.

CSK 153/2 in 17 overs: Mavi has been greeted with a 90m monster off the blade of Moeen. And just when it seemed like Mavi had pulled things back under control with two yorkers, Moeen goes downtown again. Rampage!

CSK 139/2 in 16 overs: Du Plessis welcomes Ferguson with a boundary between short third and point. Eight runs come off the over.

CSK 131/2 in 15 overs: A top over from Iyer. Moeen is beaten with a nippy delivery outside the off-stump on length. du Plessis fails to clear the fence as Iyer hits the blockhole. Just the six runs come off it!

Iyer replaces Chakravarthy

CSK 125/2 in 14 overs: Narine to Uthappa. OUT! Massive wicket here for KKR! Uthappa was looking in some serious touch here. He attempts the reverse-sweep once again right after tonking Narine over long-on for SIX.  Narine fires the ball in and rushes past Uthappa's bat to hit the pads right in line. Uthappa has done his bit and it came at the right phase for CSK in regaining its tempo. Moeen in at 4. He gets off the mark with a single.  Robin Uthappa lbw b Narine 31 (15b 3x6)

CSK 114/1 in 13 overs: Robbie rampage! Chakravarthy toss it in and Uthappa cracks the perfect slog sweep. Miles in the air and sails over long-on for another SIX! CSK is on a roll here, folks.

Chakravarthy replaces Ferguson

CSK 104/1 in 12 overs: Proactive batting from Robbie and Faf! Narine keeps the ball around the stumps but Uthappa unleashes a reverse sweep besides the conventional stroke to reel in the runs.

Narine to continue

CSK 97/1 in 11 overs: Vintage FAF! Ferguson crams du Plessis with a fiesty delivery but he clears his front leg and heaves him over mid-wicket for FOUR! A shot of absolute class to follow as Ferguson dishes in a 147kph delivery off the length with an inward angle. Faf shuffles to his right and whips it over cover for another FOUR! A crackerjack to finish as he thwacks a length delivery over long-off for SIX! And that's fifty for du Plessis in the final!

Ferguson is back

CSK 80/1 in 10 overs: CSK regain the momentum! Shakib offers a hint of width and du Plessis whacks him off the slot over long-on for SIX! He nudges the gap and gets a single. This time it's Uthappa! Shakib drops short to Uthappa and he creams it over mid-wicket for a massive SIX! First boundaries after 17 singles in a row for CSK!

Shakib returns

CSK 65/1 in 9 overs: Narine to Gaikwad. OUT! Holes out to long-off! A shot out of pure desperation there. Pressure cripples his lofted stroke over the off-side as he mistimes it completely. His stellar season with the blade comes to a tame ending. Uthappa in at 3. He gets off the mark with a reverse-sweep for a single! Just the four runs off it and Narine's acing his role to perfection once again. Ruturaj Gaikwad c Shivam Mavi b Narine 32 (27b 3x4 1x6)

Narine to continue.

Timeout

CSK 61/0 in 8 overs: KKR slyly pulling things back. Gaikwad and du Plessis continue to play out Varun watchfully and just five runs come off it. Uthappa is waiting on the sidelines, seems like he's itching to have a blast at the middle. Will the pressure get the better off the openers?

CSK 56/0 in 7 overs: Excellent over from Narine as Gaikwad and du Plessis play along the ground for six singles. CSK has found the start but hasn't run away with it.  Varun and Narine hold the key for KKR.

Narine into the attack


CSK 50/0 in 6 overs:
Varun mixes up his length but keeps the tight on the crease. He oversteps and Faf tonks the free-hit over the bowler for four. A single to finish and that's Fifty for CSK in the Powerplay!

Chakravarthy replaces Ferguson

CSK 42/0 in 5 overs: Streaky, streaky and Faf clears mid-on! Mavi rushes it again to du Plessis' waist but he finds some wood on the ball, just about enough to clear Morgan near the inner-circle to find four runs. This is a confident start for the CSK openers and with the pitch remaining intact, Morgan will have some serious thinking to do.

Mavi from the other end

CSK 34/0 in 4 overs: Elite level batting from Faf and Gaikwad! Ferguson cramps Faf to start with but he sneaks in a tight single with Gaikwad diving full-length at the striker's end. Ferguson drills one into the blockhole as Gaikwad steps out. He slices the yorker behind point with finesse and panache and it races for FOUR! Wow, what a stroke that is from Rutu! Faf doubles up with another smoking drive through covers for four.

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Faf special!
 

Ferguson replaces Mavi

CSK 22/0 in 3 overs: DK misses a stumping! Shakib tosses the ball in once again and cramps du Plessis as he moves to his right. He goes off-balance and outside the crease for a bit as Karthik fails to gather the ball cleanly. Gaikwad's on strike and he whips Shakib past backward square for another four! He's in some nick! Shakib drops marginally short and Gaikwad rocks back to slam him over mid-wicket for a maximum!

CSK 9/0 in 2 overs: Cracking start for Mavi here. He brings the ball in sharply to Faf who wades it off the stumps with a solid defence. Mavi continues to push the ball inward and Faf flicks it to square and gets off strike. A sly outswinger greets Gaikwad. The ball clips the outside edge and rushes to Chakravarthy at short third. He misfields and concedes two. A jaffa from Mavi! He pushes the ball in the fine channel outside off and squares up Gaikwad who has a tentative push at it.  Gaikwad's getting a bit iffy here as he struggles to keep Mavi off the stumps.

Shivam Mavi from the opposite end

CSK 6/0 in 1 over: A nice start for Shakib. He rolls in an arm ball that slides in to Gaikwad who tucks it to mid-off to get off strike. Tight run there but he makes it. du Plessis pokes to the on-side and finds another single. Shakib fends short and this time Gaikwad unleashes a fine sweep to the square-leg fence for four.

Shakib Al Hasan with the new ball. Gaikwad on strike.

HERE WE GO! It's an electrifying atmosphere in Dubai tonight and in walk the CSK openers Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Morgan's Knights take their positions.

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Both teams are unchanged for the final clash. Could be a win-win situation for both sides, folks? It's a fresh wicket out there and Chennai could cash in if the openers get their eye in! Perhaps the second-half could get even better for batting and KKR's bowlers will have a hefty task tonight.

 

Kolkata Knight Riders  (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik(w), Eoin Morgan(c), Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy

Chennai Super Kings  (Playing XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood

 


TOSS TIME!

6:59PM IST: The pundits reckon it's a belter out there. Who will the toss favour tonight? Coming up in a minute!

6:52PM IST: Pitch report:  "Statistically, chasing looks to be the best bet. The last eight matches at this venue have been won by the chasing team. This pitch hasn't been used since game number one (19 September). Chennai put 156 on the board and they defended it. It looks an absolute belter, runs on the board might be just good enough," - from Simon Doull and Matthew Hayden.

6:48PM IST: It's no. 300 for MSD - the first T20 captain to the feat!

 

6:28PM IST: Two teams with remarkable comeback tales this season. One's going home a champion!

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Certified Kiwi day in Dubai.
 

5:35PM IST: Numbers Game


5:30PM IST:
Prepping for a spectacle!

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The Ring of Fire is set for the finale!
 

MATCH PREVIEW

Chennai Super Kings comprehends the art of winning on big occasions.

Three straight losses in the league after becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs, CSK ambushed table-topper Delhi Capitals in Qualifier-1 to seal its place in the final.

And big players have a sense of occasion.

M. S. Dhoni’s delightful match-winning unbeaten cameo that sunk DC would have instilled CSK with immense belief. And CSK will be up against a resurgent Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL summit clash at Dubai on Friday.

It should also be a captivating duel between two best captains in the competition, Dhoni and Eoin Morgan. The England captain might be short of runs but is smart on the field.

 

KKR, turbo-charged after the inclusion of dashing opener Venkatesh Iyer, can dish out intelligent, winning cricket. It has seemed a different unit in the Middle East, with Venkatesh and Shubman Gill firing at the top of the order.

Karthik reprimanded for breaching code of conduct

Lockie Ferguson and Shivam Mavi have delivered thunderbolts and the spinners, the versatile Sunil Narine - he turned games with the bat as well - and the skilful Varun Chakravarthy, battling a knee injury, are tying down the opposition. Star all-rounder Shakib-al-Hasan - the injury to the explosive Andre Russell has not hurt the side - and the intrepid Dinesh Karthik and the unsung Rahul Tripathi can swing games.

Multi-dimensional cricketers

The ambience in CSK encourages cricketers to express themselves. Ask Ambati Rayadu, such a dangerous customer with the willow.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, with his footwork, balance, and timing, has delighted at the top of the order. Ruturaj and Faf du Plessis have formed a formidable opening pair with the South African innovating and creating scoring opportunities.

Dhoni's finishing act against DC 'emotionally great' for CSK - Fleming

It is here Uthappa’s return to form at No. 3 - he is such a sweet timer of the ball - becomes crucial. It provides CSK with a solid base. Then there is Moeen Ali who can scatter the field with his free-spirited left-handed strokeplay apart from sending down useful off-spin.

CSK is not short of multi-dimensional cricketers. Ravindra Jadeja’s tight left-arm spin and a blaze of left-handed strokes make him a game-changer. Dwayne Bravo can give the ball a thump and also send down canny deliveries, including yorkers, with pace variations.

Deepak Chahar’s swing and Josh Hazlewood’s wicket-to-wicket bowling and subtle movement can cause dents.

The final should be a mouth-watering clash.

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Predicted XIs

CSK Predicted 11: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w/c), Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar

KKR Predicted 11: Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan(c), Dinesh Karthik(w), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy, Prasidh Krishna


Dream11 Prediction

Wicketkeeper –  MS Dhoni

Batsmen – Ruturaj Gaikwad (C),  Faf du Plessis, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi

All-rounders – Venkatesh Iyer (VC),  Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja

Bowlers –  Shardul Thakur, Varun Chakravarthy, Deepak Chahar

CSK: 7/11, KKR: 4/11

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