Cricket
Cricketers, fans praised the Chennai Super Kings attitude and belief to bounce back strongly after a poor 2020 season to win the IPL 2021.
Updated : Oct 16, 2021, 01:52 AM IST
Fourth trophy in 9 finals in 12 years for 'Thala' Mahendra Singh Dhoni as Chennai Super Kings successfully ended the four-year cycle with the second trophy in the period. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis were their big performers at the top, followed by rejuvenated Robin Uthappa in the last two games, Moeen Ali's inclusion, Ravindra Jadeja's finishing skills, Dwayne Bravo at the death, Shardul Thakur's purple patch and Josh Hazlewood's accuracy in the second half and the leadership, calmness, wicket-keeping, presence, the genius of MS Dhoni worked in collaboration for the men in yellow in the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Fantastic FOUR!
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 15, 2021
The @msdhoni-led @ChennaiIPL beat #KKR by 27 runs in the #VIVOIPL #Final & clinch their th IPL title. #CSKvKKR
A round of applause for @KKRiders, who are the runners-up of the season.
Scorecard https://t.co/JOEYUSwYSt pic.twitter.com/PQGanwi3H3
CSK lost the toss and were put in to bat by KKR skipper Eoin Morgan on a good Dubai surface and Faf du Plessis took his time initially as Gaikwad took the aggressor's role but once he was in his rhythm, he was seeing the ball like a football and started playing his shots on a surface where it was coming on nicely.
Gaikwad got out but Robin Uthappa continued from where he left off in the last game against Delhi Capitals (DC) as they never let the run rate go down. Du Plessis achieved his 22nd fifty in the IPL and was set and just kept taking on KKR bowlers. Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali provided the impetus in the middle-over with fast and fantastic cameos and let du Plessis play his game.
Uthappa smashed 31 runs off 15 balls, Moeen Ali remained unbeaten on 37 off 20 balls as du Plessis scored 86 runs off 59 balls to help CSK post a mammoth total of 192 runs.
KKR had to have a good start to try and chase down the total. They had their share of luck as MS Dhoni dropped Venkatesh Iyer when he was playing on 0 and he then went on to slam a fifty, his fourth of the season, in 10 games made CSK pay for their skipper's mistake.
However, there was 'Lord' Shardul Thakur to save the day. He dismissed Iyer and Nitish Rana in one over and KKR collapsed. Ravindra Jadeja too had some fun and scalped out Dinesh Karthik and Shakib Al Hasan in the same over and it was formalities afterward.
CSK's turnaround and MS Dhoni was praised by anybody and everybody after the win. Here are some of the reactions:
Congratulations @msdhoni and @ChennaiIPL on the 4th title.. #IPLFinal #cskvskkr2021
— Mask up and take your vaccine (@ashwinravi99) October 15, 2021
Lots to learn from this campaign of @KKRiders, great turn around.
Team India so strong our mentor just won the IPL Congratulations @ChennaiIPL #CSKvKKR #IPL2021
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) October 15, 2021
Ruturaj Moeen Uthappa this season highlight CSK’s greatness as a franchise. Players feel comfortable, secure, empowered.They produce performances they don’t elsewhere. Faf Jadeja Bravo Shardul Deepak Hazlewood, all led well by MS. So many heroes,Deserving champions! #IPL2O21
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) October 15, 2021
Cheteshwar Pujara to become an IPL champion before Virat Kohli. What a world we live in. #IPLFinal #CSK
— Shankar (@shankarstake) October 15, 2021
KKR middle order returning to pavilion#CSKvsKKR pic.twitter.com/r88wwH07ex
— Akash (@vaderakash) October 15, 2021
Cheteshwar Pujara to become an IPL champion before Virat Kohli. What a world we live in. #IPLFinal #CSK
— Shankar (@shankarstake) October 15, 2021
This might count as CSK's most satisfying IPL title after what they went through last season. Now who's going to count Dhoni out as captain next year?
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) October 15, 2021
#KKR had the biggest turnaround this season. #CSK the biggest turnaround from last season.
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) October 15, 2021
Iconic Team and an outstanding leader.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 15, 2021
Champion Super Kings. Congratulations on Trophy No 4 .#IPLFinal pic.twitter.com/m4460W4aJJ
The Legend Of MSD grows further!
— Gagan Chawla (@toecrushrzzz) October 15, 2021
Will be a decisive factor for India in the world cup!
Still one of the finest readers of the game!#csk
If THIS is indeed Dhoni’s last game, what a finish for him. Winning the IPL, a title heavyweights have struggled to win, in his last hurrah will just be the icing on what has been a marvellous cake. Well Played MSD @msdhoni #CSK #CSKvsKKR #IPLFinal
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 15, 2021
The most astute white-ball captain India has ever had deserved this, especially after the 2019 World Cup exit. #CSKvKKR #IPLFinal
— Gomesh S | கோமேஷ் ச (@theumpires_call) October 15, 2021
From 19:29 to 23:29
— Vedant (@thatcrickettguy) October 15, 2021
Congratulations captain on yet another IPL trophy! #CSKvKKR pic.twitter.com/U8SE7uKwWd
MS Dhoni this season: #CSKvKKR #IPLFinal pic.twitter.com/UIt6m9UI4A
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) October 15, 2021
Well they are Mahi’s Men. Did anyone expect anything else? Huge congratulations CSK Champions! #CSKvKKR
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) October 15, 2021
#CSKvKKR well played #CSK Third time in a row #KKR middle order failed and such big guns there! As expected No coming back against teams like #CSK But #KKR hold your heads high. well played, Iyer & Gill at the top and their spinners throughout!
— sachin varier (@sachin_varier) October 15, 2021
Is CSK finished after 2020 debacle? pic.twitter.com/VdDBoYzrPp
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) October 15, 2021