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Images from the Indian Premier League final between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, in Dubai, on Friday.
Chennai Super Kings turned in a superb all-round display to overwhelm Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the final of the Indian Premier League 2021, at the Dubai International Stadium, on Friday.
The victory gave Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 'band of old men' their fourth IPL crown, having previously emerged champions in 2010, 2011 and 2018.
The in-form Faf du Plessis paved the way for the triumph, hitting a magnificent 86 off 59 balls, which was laced with seven fours and three sixes, as Super Kings put up 192 for 3.
The Knight Riders, in reply, could score just 165 for 9 in their 20 overs.
Openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer gave KKR an excellent start, scoring 51 and 50 respectively. But a dramatic collapse from 91 without loss in the 11th over to 125 for 8 in the 17th ended whatever hopes Eoin Morgan's team may have entertained of emerging champions.
Shardul Thakur took three wickets while Ravindra Jadeja and Josh Hazlewood got two each as CSK's bowlers responded splendidly.
Earlier, Faf du Plessis saved his best for last, scoring a blazing 86 off 59 balls, as Chennai Super Kings put up an imposing 192 for 3.
The 37-year-old South African was well-supported by Robin Uthappa (31 off 15 balls) and Moeen Ali (37 not out off 20 balls) after the exit of fellow-opener Ruturaj Gaikwad (32 off 27 balls).
The former Proteas skipper got a reprieve in third over when wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik bungled an easy stumping chance. He went on to make full use of the ‘life’ by smashing seven fours and three sixes before finishing as second highest run-getter in the IPL behind Ruturaj Gaikwad (635).
Knight Riders won the toss and decided to bowl first.
Gaikwad and Plessis opened the batting for the Super Kings while left-arm spinner Shakib Al-Hassan commenced the bowling for KKR.
After a watchful first two overs, off which came six runs from the first and just three in the next, the pair got going. They got eight runs from the sixth over as CSK were 50 at the end of it.
The Knight Riders, however, got the breakthrough immediately after the time-out as Sunil Narine struck with the first delivery of his second over.
Gaikwad advanced down the track early and tried to loft a full delivery down long-on, but did not hit cleanly and Shivam Mavi took the offering at long-off.
Gaikwad was out for 32 off 27 balls, including 3 fours and a six, and CSK were 61 for 1, at the start of the ninth over.
Following Gaikwad's exit, du Plessis became the aggressor. He and new-man-in Uthappa went hard at everything thrown at them.
Du Plessis brought up his 50, which included 5 fours and 2 sixes, off only 35 balls, as CSK powered to 104 for 1 after 12 overs.
Uthappa hit Varun Chakravarthy for a huge six off the second delivery of the 13th over to bring up the 50-run partnership with du Plessis.
Narine returned for his fourth over and was also dispatched by Uthappa for a six over deep mid-wicket off a free-hit off the second delivery.
However, the West Indian had the last laugh when he trapped Uthappa leg before wicket off the next one.
The batter tried to reverse sweep, missed and was rapped on the pad. Uthappa took the review and ball tracking showed it was going to hit the stumps.
Uthappa scored 31 off 15 balls, including 3 sixes, as CSK were reduced to 124 for 2, in the 14th over.
Moeen joined du Plessis in the middle and he too fired on all cylinders as the Super Kings piled on the runs.
Du Plessis was out to the last ball of the innings, caught by Venkatesh Iyer at long-off off the bowling of Mavi. The
South African went after a fuller delivery but did not get enough on it.
He was out after a brilliant 86 off 59 balls, which included 7 fours and 3 sixes as Chennai Super Kings finished with 192 for 3.
Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer began KKR's chase of an imposing target.
Iyer got 'life' before he could open his account as Dhoni put down a straightforward catch off Josh Hazlewood's third delivery in the second over.Iyer maked most of the reprieve and smashed a six off the next delivery.
KKR were 55 without loss after six overs, with Iyer on 33 off 18 and Gill on 22, also off 18.
The Super Kings thought they had Gill's scalp when Ambati Rayudu took a well-judged catch off Jadeja's bowling. But just when they were celebrating the umpires' decision was reversed.
The aerial ball went really high and hit the spider cam. As the ball hit the spider cam, a dead ball was called and Gill returned to the crease.
KKR were 79 without loss at that stage, in the 10th over.
Iyer went on to complete his 50 off 31 balls before he was dismissed off the next delivery he faced, from Shardul Thakur, as Jadeja took an excellent catch, running in from sweeper-cover.
He was out for 50 off 32 balls, which included 5 fours and 3 sixes. KKR were 91 for 1.
Three deliveries later they lost their second wicket when Nitish Rana holed out to du Plessis, who pulled off a low catch to give Thakur his second wicket in the 11th over.
KKR were 93 for 2.
Things got worse for KKR when Sunil Narine was caught by Jadeja off Hazlewood for 2 off the third delivery of the 12th over.
It was another brilliant effort by Jadeja, who timed his run back and rose perfectly to hold on to the ball just inside the the deep mid-wicket boundary. KKR were 97-3.
Gill then brought up his 50 off 40 balls with a four off Jadeja but departed after adding just one more. He was trapped leg before by Chahar's second delivery in the 14th over and KKR were reduced to 108-4.
Jadeja then had Dinesh Karthik caught by Ambati Rayudu to reduce KKR to 119 for 5.
When Shakib Al Hasan was out leg before wicket to Jadeja without scoring, it was all over bar the shouting as the Knight Riders were reeling at 120 for 6 at the end of the 15th over.