MS Dhoni’s CSK Rout KKR

Dubai: IPL titles in 9 finals with Chennai Super Kings! The aura of MS Dhoni, the leader keeps growing as CSK hammered Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the IPL 2021 final in Dubai on Friday. Dhoni’s men became only the second team in the history of the Indian Premier League to win more than 3 titles. It was a dream comeback for the Men in Yellow as CSK, who missed out on the play-offs berth for the first time in the history of the tournament in 2020, romped to the title in 2021, making a statement once again. MS Dhoni’s men came up with a nearly spotless campaign as they qualified for the play-offs ahead of the chasing pack and asserted their dominance in the knockout stages.

CSK have won their 2nd title since coming back from a suspension in 2018 and their 4th overall to go with the double they completed in 2010 and 2011. On Friday, things did not go MS Dhoni’s way at the toss as Eoin Morgan won the toss and Kolkata Knight Riders opted to bowl. It looked like it was an advantage KKR as teams batting second had won the last 8 matches in Dubai before the big final. However, Dhoni’s men brought in all their experience to put on a masterclass of handling the nerves in the final.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis did not let their captain down as they attacked the KKR new-ball bowlers with the ease that they displayed throughout the season. Gaikwad took up the aggressor’s role to hit a 27-ball 32. During the knock, Ruturaj also became the youngest man to win the Orange Cap for the most runs in an IPL season — 635 runs.

His senior partner Faf du Plessis was trying his hard to win the Orange Cap as he came up with a stunning 59-ball 85 during which he picked the bones out of the KKR attack. Du Plessis finished the season with 633 runs, 2 less than Ruturaj. in fact, Du Plessis went for a six off the final delivery of the CSK innings but he holed out at long on. However, du Plessis had done the job for his team, stepping up once again when the team needed an in-form batter to do the job. His 85 helped CSK post a mammoth total of 192 runs.

Everything went to script for CSK as KKR wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik missed a stumping opportunity to hand du Plessis an early life. Meanwhile, Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali played their roles to perfection as they never let CSK’s scoring rate dip after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s exit. Uthappa’s 15-ball 31 was worth the weight in gold as he went after the mystery spinners in Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. Uthappa hit 3 sixes as CSK scored more than 80 runs between overs 7 and 15, breaking the KKR bowling attack into pieces.