IPL 2021 Final, CSK vs KKR Highlights: Chennai win 4th IPL title, beat Kolkata in final to complete redemption

Dear viewers, thank you so much for joining us tonight and throughout IPL 2021. Our entire, consisting of Shivansh, Aditya, Aritra, Karan, Aakash, and Yash, had a great time bringing you the live action through the live blogs throughout IPL 2021. We hope you enjoyed the coverage as well.

This is all we have for from you this season. Yes, we will be back for the next edition but there is a lot that is going to happen before that. 

And we begin with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. 

So, see you there. Until then, it's goodbye! CIAO!

Once again, congratulations to CSK

Belief in the squad from management, owners. After last season was really disappointed. Owed it to the franchise, the fans to come up with a better performance. Don't get nervous (coming into a final). Have had good performance in different phases of the tournament. Faf and Ruturaj standout for us. To have these two guys scoring over 500 runs together. Experience beats youth anyday. Going to change the name from Mr. Champion to Sir Champion (Jadeja standing next to him). *breaks into song along with Jadeja*

"Fantastic. All the pictures on the wall of CSK. Full credit to the guys. Saved the best for last. Learning heaps. Such a senior team here, especially the bowling group. DJ been so helpful all the time. Little bit of downtime over the next week or so and then jump straight into the World Cup. Perfect preparation.

It is top of the moon feeling to win the orange cap and win the IPL. It is very very satisfying to win the IPL. It feels great. We didn't have a great season. Coming here, everyone believed and we are here. When you are performing well, you are confident on your lesser risk shots. You need to make sure you are there till the end.

"Can't describe how I'm feeling. To do it with this franchise is great. He's got no weakness (on Gaikwad who's standing next to him). He's so calm. Has got every shot. Hopefully in the future will play for India. So calm and so clear in what they want to do. No changes. Could've been dropped a couple of games ago. It's such a grounded and humble team."

CSK endured their worst season ever last year as they failed to qualify for the Playoffs for the first time in the history.

TODAY, IN 2021 ON THE SAME LAND OF UAE, they cruise to their 4th IPL title.

THAT'S THAT! WE HAVE OUR IPL 2021 CHAMPIONS!

Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to lift their 4th IPL title

Right then! CSK are 6 balls away from their 4th title. 

19.1 — DOT BALL

19.2 — 1 RUN

19.3 — 1 RUN

19.4 — DOT

19.5 — OUT! Mavi's 13-ball cameo is ended by Bravo on 20. A slower ball into the slot. Mavi goes big but finds Chahar at deep mid-wicket

Varun Chakaravarthy is the new man in

19.6 — 1 RUN AND CHENNAI WIN BY 27 RUNS

Mavi hit 17 off Bravo. He is now facing Shardul Thakur

NO-BALL! AND FOUR! What's happening suddenly? A high full-toss above the waist height and Lockie Ferguson does well to pull the ball behind square for 4. MSD is not very happy

WIDE! There is a fair amount of dew and this time, the knuckleball slips off his hands

WIDE! What is actually happening? Another wide and Dhoni's isn't amused at all. He just needs to bowl straight and there is a perplexed look on everyone's face.

SIX! It's a rank half-tracker from Shardul and Lockie muscles it over from long on for 6. 

KKR are 162/8 in 19 overs.

FOUR! Oh, hello! Where did that come from? Too little too late for KKR though. Wide yorker from Bravo, Mavi throws everything's he got it. The ball flies off the edge to third man boundary

SIX! Well, Shivam Mavi hasn't given up. Another wide yorker from Bravo. Mavi carves the ball over third man for six

SIX! OH MY MY! DO WE HAVE A LATE TWIST! Mavi can bat. This is a fantastic shot. Bravo now coming from around the wicket, bowls a full toss on Mavi's pads. The pacer flicks it over deep square leg for 6

He will keep strike

KKR are 145/8 in 18 overs.

Last 4 overs, 19 runs and 5 wickets.

KKR  are 127/8 in 17 overs, need 66 from 18 with 2 wickets in hand

OUT! A MOMENT OF BRILLIANCE FROM CHAHAR IN THE DEEP. Hazlewood is reintroduced and his short ball rushed Morgan into the pull. Chahar at deep square leg plucks it out of thin air, throws it back up before going over the ropes and then comes back in to complete the catch cleanly.

KKR are 125-8 in 16.3 overs.

OUT! Tripathi mistimes his lofted drive and holes out to Moeen Ali at long on. 

KKR are 125/7 after 16 overs

Lockie Ferguson is the new man in. KKR need 68 off 24 balls

An unfit, injured Rahul Tripathi, who can't run singles or quick runs, walks out to bat. 

KKR need 73 to win from 30 balls.

OUT! And it gets worse for KKR. Dinesh Karthik is caught by off Jadeja. He's gone for 9. 

OUT! JADEJA GETS ONE MORE AND THIS IS PLUMB! Jadeja fires one into the stumps and Shakib, the new man in, looked to play across the line. He's gone for a golden duck. 

This is almost over for KKR now. 

After 15 overs, they are 120-6. They need 73 to win from 30 balls.

SIX! First ball for DK and pulls it behind square for 6. What a start!

KKR are 117/4 after 14 overs, need 76 runs in 36 balls

FOUR! FIFTY UP FOR SHUBMAN GILL! He's played a really matured innings today. Brings it up in 40 balls. Gets there with a boundary through cover off Jadeja. 

KKR are 108-3 after 13 overs.

OUT! A disastrous way to get out for SHubman Gill. He goes for a ramp shot, something he barely does and is out plumb LBW. Doesn't even think of reviewing it. KKR are in trouble now

Dinesh Karthik is the new man in

3 wickets in 2 overs and CSK are right back in this game. Short from Hazelwood. Narine pulls the ball flat but finds the deep mid-wicket fielder on the full. Jadeja does well to stay inside the field of play.

He's gone for 2. Eoin Morgan is the new man in.

KKR are 97/3 after 11.3 overs

OUT! GOLDEN DUCK! A soft dismissal in the end. 

Thakur strikes again as Rana chips it to mid-on. 

KKR are 93/2 after 11 overs. 

Need 100 from 54 balls. Sunil Narine walks in next

OUT! THIS TIME, THE CATCH WILL COUNT! Thakur's delivery is sliced high in the air. Jadeja does well to collect a tough catch in the deep. He's gone for 50. 

KKR are 91/1 after 10.4 overs.

KKR are 88/0 after 10 overs, need 105 from 60 balls. 

SIX! Once again, Venkatesh Iyer tonks on into the stands and he is closing in on another 50.

FIFTY! He picks a single to get his 4th IPL 50. What a start this has been!

OUT! SCRATCH THAT! This rarely happens and today, in an IPL final, it has. Gill goes long and high. SKies the ball and is eventually caught by Rayudu. The replay showed that the ball came off the spider-cam's wire and hence, IT'S A DOT BALL!

FOUR! A reverser sweep over backward point for 4. Rubbing salt into the wound.

FOUR! Is this KKR's night? so much luck and the KKR openers are making every lease of life count. He swats the ball off the front foot for 4.

Another tight over from Bravo, giving away just 4. 

KKR are 72/0 after 9 overs, need 121 to win from 66 balls.

And there comes our spinner, just at the right time. With the field spread, it will be interesting to see how the KKR turks bat

SIX! There's our answer. Iyer has said I will just hit them into the stand. Tossed up for juicy half-volley. Into the slot. Iyer gets down on one knee and strikes the ball over long on for six. 

KKR are 68/0 after 8 overs.

Kolkata Knight Riders need 134 runs in 78 balls

Surprisingly, Dwayne Bravo has been introduced. Usually, Dhoni would bring on a spinner and Bravo usually comes on in the second half of the innings. 

He begins well. Gives away just 4 runs. 

KKR are 59/0 after 7 overs.

FOUR! FIFTY-RUN STAND! This is pure class from Gill. My goodness. That is a shot and a half. Deepak Chahar is back for third over. Gill skips forward, makes room, and creams the ball through cover for 4. 

Dhoni is now standing up the stumps to Chahar for Gill. 

KKR are 55/0 after 6 overs

FOUR! Luck certainly favouring Venky Iyer and KKR. A skiddy bouncer from Shardul Thakur. The ball balloons off Iyer's top-edge and Dhoni manages to get a fingertip but the ball has enough legs to run down to the boundary.

FOUR! POOR END TO THE OVER! Short and angling way down leg. Iyer helps the ball past the short fine leg fielder for 4.

KKR are 47/0 after 5 overs.

FOUR! JUST SHORT AND 4. Gill charges down the track and flat-bats the ball towards mid-off. Shardul Thakur puts in a forward dive but the ball skips past him for 4. 

FOUR! Width on offer and Venky Iyer isn't going to miss out. Fnds four past point.

KKR are 36/0 after 4 overs

FOUR! JUST THE ELEGANCE IN HIS BATTING is so good to watch. From over the stumps, Chahar goes short of length, angling the ball away from the southpaw. On the up, Iyer drives the ball past point for 4. 

FOUR! THIS TIME, HE CREAMS THE COVER DRIVE off the overpitched delivery. 

What are you thinking if you are MSD right now. Still thinking about the drop catch?

KKR are 24/0 after 3 overs.

DROP! Oh, it's MSD of all people. Josh Hazlewood, who is known for bowling the hard length early on, draws an edge from V Iyer. Dhoni jumps to his left but the ball suddenly dies down on the way and hence, Dhoni was unable to collect it.

SIX! OH! ADDING SOME SALT TO THE WOUNDS! Iyer swivels off the back foot and just guides the ball over the long leg ropes.

9 off it. KKR are 15/0 after 2 overs.

FOUR! The required run-rate is close to 10 an over and hence, KKR openers have to begin on a high. Short and straight from Deepak Chahar, Gill charges down the track and pulls the ball through deep mid-wicket for 4.

KKR are 6/0 after 1 over.

There was a drone show before the start of the second innings to remind everyone to wear a mask, stay safe and take IPL 2021 closer to the end

Right, then! 193 needed from 120 balls. 
Here we go!

KKR openers Venkatesh Iyer and Shubman Gill walk out to bat. 

Dhoni leads his team out

Deepak Chahar to open the attack

CSK: Du Plessis (86 off 59), Mo Ali (37 off 20)

KKR: Narine (2/26 in 4 overs)

Well, well, well! So far, this match has closely followed the script of the 2012 final, which was also between the two teams. back then, KKR chased down 190+ to lift the trophy?

Can they do it again at 9.65 runs per over?

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS HAVE POSTED 192-3 IN 20 OVERS.

It is confirmed. Ruturaj Gaikwad wins the ‘Orange Cap’ by 2 runs! 

Shivam Mavi to bowl the final over. Can they get 15?

19.1 — 1 run to cow corner for Moeen Ali

19.2 — 2 runs to deep square leg for Du Plessis.

5 runs to Orange Cap, Faf

19.3 — 1 Run to Faf

19.4 - 1 Run to long-off to Moeen Ali.

What an excellent last over from Mavi so far!

19.5 - 2 runs to long off

2 runs to tie for Orange Cap. If he does, he will get it courtesy of a better strike rate

19.6 — OUT! THIS IS THE ANTI-CLIMAX NO ONE WAS READY FOR. Into the slot and he hits it directly to Venkatesh Iyer at long on. 

He is gone for 86 off 59. What a knock in the final, Faf!

FOUR! 50-RUN STAND! OH, BOY! There is no solace for any KKR bowler. Short from Varun Chakaravarthy and Moeen short-arm jabs the ball through deep mid-wicket for 4.

SIX! A proper half-tracker this from Varun and Moeen Ali creams the ball into the sight-screen. 

19 gone. CSK ARE 185/ 2 AFTER 19 OVERS.

MISFIELD ON ONE END BUT A BRILLIANT DIVING EFFORT IN THE OTHER. On the first ball of the over, Morgan failed to collect a regulation ball to concede 1.

On the second ball, Nagarkoti, the substitute fielder for Tripathi, covered quick ground down the fine leg, he dives and saves two. He was parallel to the ground. What an effort.

FOUR! That's a free-hit without it being a free-hit. Full and wide from Ferguson. Moeen Ali tonks the ball over cover for 4. No one in the deep saving the four there 

SIX! WHAT A SHOT, FAF! TAKE A BOW! Full and wide again from Ferguson. A slower ball into the slot was begging to be hit. Faf goes inside out on one knee and he hits six!

FOUR! 19 OFF IT! A HUGE, HUGE OVER! Du Plessis stays put, swivels and creams the ball over deep mid-wicket for 4.

CSK are 172/2 after 18 overs.

SIX! THAT WAS ASKING TO BE HIT AND IT INDEED WAS! Mavi begins his second spell with a slower ball pitched halfway down the pitch. Moeen Ali, who was 3 off 6, went to 9 off 7 by dispatching the ball into the stand over deep mid-wicket.

SIX! He began the over with a six and he ends with a six. 150 COMES UP! 14 OFF IT!

CSK are 153/2 after 17 overs.

FOUR! Faf welcome Ferguson with a four! A slower delivery from Lockie. it's short and outside wide. The ball flies off the outside edge and past the short third man fielder for four!

CSK are 139/2 after 16 overs.

A tricky, skiddy bowler in Venkatesh Iyer is introduced into the attack. 

Can he do V Iyer with the ball?

CSK are 131-2 after 15 overs.

SIX! Oh, Robbie! What a time to peak! What a time! This man looks as good as any when he is timing the ball well. Short from Narine. Uthappa stays put and lofts the ball over long on for 6.

HOW'S THAT? OUT! UTHAPPA REVIEWS! Uthappa fails to get any bat on the reverse sweep. The ball strikes his front pad in all honesty, he looks out! 

No edge and the replay shows the ball was going to hit the stumps! 

He is gone for a quickfire 15-ball 31. He has done his job.

Narine strikes again.

CSK are 124/2 after 13.3 overs.

Moeen Ali is the new man in

SIX! FIFTY-RUN STAND BETWEEN THE TWO! AND IT'S COME OFF JUST 26 BALLS. Down on one knee, Uthappa clobbers, absolutely clobbers, the ball over long on for 6. 

CSK are 116/1 after 13 overs.

7 off the Sunil Narine over. 

CSK are 104/1 after 12 overs.

SIX! FIFTY! Into the slot from Lockie Ferguson! Faf clears the front leg and smacks the ball over long off for six.

CSK are 97/1 after 11 overs.

FOUR! Short and straight from Lockie. It sits up nicely for Faf, at waist height, and du Plessis pulls it comfortably for 4

FOUR! Back of a length delivery from Lockie. Faf, off the back foot, slaps it through extra cover for 4. That is some shot! That was 147 KPH

SIX! Full and straight from Shakib. Du Plessis goes inside out over deep cover for six. He is now settled and that is bad news for KKR

SIX! This time. It's Robin Uthappa. Short and wide from Shakib. Robin stays put, out comes his front foot and he slaps it over deep mid-wicket for 6. WOW!

CSK are 80/1 after 10 overs.

OUT! It's that man, Sunil Narine. He dismisses Gaikwad on 32 to break the dangerous opening stand. Ruturaj charges down the track and looks to hoick the ball over long on. But he fails to clear the boundary and is caught by Shivam Mavi.

CSK are 61/1 after 8.1 overs.

Robin Uthappa is the new man in

The field spreads and Varun Chakaravarthy dries up the boundaries; this has been KKR's ploy this leg and it continues to work wonders. 

5 off it! CSK are 61/0 after 8 overs.

Rahul Tripathi, while fielding during Narine's over, was taken to the sideline after he was seen in some pain. It was probably something to do with his hamstring! Not sure if he will take any further part in this game. Huge blow to KKR if he doesn't

6 off Narine's over. CSK are 56/0 after 7 overs.

NO-BALL! FREE-HIT AND FOUR! Until the 4th ball, Varun had only conceded 2 runs. And Faf made it 6 off 5 as he thumped Varun off the backfoot by tonking the ball over his head. 

FIFTY-RUN STAND! A single off the final brings up yet another 50-run opening stand between the two.

CSK are 50/0 after 6 overs.

FOUR! Short from Mavi and Faf lifts the ball over mid-on for 4.

CSK are 42/0 after 5 overs.

ORANGE CAP IS NOW WITH GAIKWAD! He pinches a single to short third man off Mavi and with that, he overtakes KL Rahul (626) as the highest run-getter of this season

STAT ATTACK: Only once in 13 seasons has the “Orange Cap” winner gone on to win the IPL title with his team; that was Robin Uthappa with KKR in 2014. Can Gaikwad and CSK make it 2/14?

FOUR! When you are on song, cricket seems like an easy game! And at the moment, it is very true for Gaikwad. Charges down to Lockie Ferguson, who is bowling his first over, makes room and stretches wide to carve the ball through backward point for 4.

FOUR! CAN'T GIVE FAF ROOM THERE! Gorgeous cover drive from Faf! Half volley from Ferguson and Faf helps himself to 4.

CSK are 34/0 after 4 overs.

MISSED STUMPING! Shakib beats Du Plessis with the flight and he was marginally out of his crease. The ball spun into Faf but Dinesh Karthik failed to collect it cleanly

FOUR! Once again, it's Ruturaj Gaikwad finding the boundary. Tossed up nicely by Shakib, Ruturak just sweeps it through long leg for 4

FOUR! HE'S NOW FEELING ALRIGHT, IS RUTU! A rank half-tracker from Shakib. He over-corrects himself. Gaikwad hops onto the backfoot and swivel pulls it through deep mid-wicket for 4!

CSK are 23/0 after 3 overs

Shivam Mavi is sharing the new ball with Shakib!

Misfield from Varun. Gaikwad plays a late cut and the ball runs through Chakaravarthy's legs. Batters run 2!

JUST MISSES THE EDGE! There is some movement for the pacers here. Mavi beats Gaikwad's outside edge. He went for a drive and the ball nipped away just ever so much and zipped past his blade.

CSK are 9/0 after 2 overs.

FOUR! After both batters get off the mark with a single, Ruturaj Gaikwad sweeps Shakib Al Hasan through deep backward leg for 4. 
CSK are 6/0 after 1 over.

For the final time this IPL season:

10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1…. LET'S PLAY!

The Two on-field umpires lead out KKR and the CSK openers.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Fad du Plessis have walked out to bat.

Shakib Al Hasan will open the attack.

Will it be CSK winning their 4th title or will it be KKR winning a third?

Finals record (played - won- lost) CSK: 9-3-5 | KKR: 3-2-2

Let's find out!

How much damage will these West Indies' players cause for the opposition team?

All three Playoff matches so far this season have ended in the final over. 

Are we in for another thriller today? 
Only time will tell!

5: CSK’s players have played more than 5 IPL finals in their career.( Dhoni, Raina, Jadeja, Rayudu and Bravo).

• 2: Sunil Narine and Shakib Al Hasan are the only players from the current squad who were part of the previous 2 (2012 & 2014) KKR’s final winning XI.

• 24: runs Ruturaj Gaikwad needs 24 more runs to be the leading run getter in IPL 2021.

• 200: Ravindra Jadeja will be playing his 200th IPL match, if he takes the field vs KKR.

• 2: Ravindra Jadeja needs two more wickets to complete 100 IPL wickets for CSK.

• 100: Faf Du Plessis will be playing his 100th IPL match, if he takes the field vs KKR

• 1: six Ambati Rayudu needs to complete 150 IPL sixes.

• 84: runs Ambati Rayudu needs to complete 4000 IPL runs.

• 5: Dwayne Bravo needs 4 more wickets to become theleading wicket-taker in IPL.

• 19: runs Dwayne Bravo needs to complete 1000 IPL runs for CSK.

• 9: runs Eoin Morgan needs to complete 1000 IPL runs for KKR.

• 3: wickets Shakib Al Hasan needs to complete 50 IPL wickets for KKR.

• 200: Dinesh Karthik is 8 sixes away from completing 200 sixes across T20s.

• 200: Dinesh Karthik is 7 catches away from completing 200 catches across T20s.

• 50: Dinesh Karthik is 9 dismissals as wicketkeeper away from completing 50 dismissals for KKR in IPL.

• 50: Dinesh Karthik is 10 sixes away from completing 50 sixes for KKR in IPL.

• 150: Karthik is 3 dismissals away from completing 150 dismissals as a wicketkeeper in IPL.

• 50: Rahul Tripathi is 2 sixes away from completing 50 sixes in IPL.

• 50: Shubman Gill is 2 sixes away from completing 50 sixes across T20s.

• 1000: Sunil Narine is 48 runs away from completing 1,000 runs in IPL.

"We are looking to bowl first as well, initially it stops a bit and as the game goes on it settles down and toss is uncontrollable and we are prepared for both. We started T20 in around 2005-06 and most of the games have been franchise cricket and in the last five years there have been a lot of T20 games in international cricket as well. We are playing with the same squad. Often what really dictates terms is the result and I feel our international players are equipped to deal with whatever the situation maybe."

“We are gonna have a bowl, the wicket looks good and there's some dew around. We are gonna give it everything tonight. We are going with the same team.”

As expected, both sides remain unchanged. This is already promising to be a really exciting final. 

Also, just as the toss host Ian Bishop was getting ready to speak to Dhoni, the crowd in Dubai went berserk and were so loud that Dhoni could not even hear the question. 

The popularity of this man!

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

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

Kolkata Knight Riders win the toss and they are going to bowl first

The final coin toss is just 2 minutes away. Who is winning this? And if you were to be the winning captain, would you bat first or bowl?

So many questions. Answers in just a couple of minutes. 

MS Dhoni continues to achieve one milestone after another. He is about to become the first player to captain a side for the 300th time in T20 cricket.

"I am not seeing it as a big game. Looking at it that it is another game which we need to win. I have worked really hard. It feels good to be recognised. I would try to help the team to win today. I feel if I am strong in academics, it makes me take smarter decisions. I have never tried to interchange either professions of mine. The coach and captain have advised me again like before to go out there and enjoy yourself as well as express yourself."

“Sometimes when you're playing back-to-back games there's a rhythm going. But sometimes when you've played 4-5 games together, and then you get a break of 4-5 days, that also can be good - helps in the body to recover. Our team meetings are always around two minutes long - our routines don't change.”

Chennai 2-0 Kolkata. Advantage “Yellow Army”?

Match 38 - CSK (172/8) beat KKR (171/6) by 2 wickets

Match 15- CSK (220/3) beat KKR (202/10) by 18 runs

"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," 

- Reckon Simon Doull and Matthew Hayden.

Our CSK Predicted XI vs KKR: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood, Dwayne Bravo

Our KKR Predicted XI vs CSK: Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi, Andre Russel

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, Andre Russell, Harbhajan Singh, Tim Southee, Ben Cutting, Karun Nair, Pawan Negi, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Sheldon Jackson, Sandeep Warrier, Tim Seifert, Prasidh Krishna, Rinku Singh, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Vaibhav Arora

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, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, Karn Sharma, Imran Tahir, Jason Behrendorff, Krishnappa Gowtham, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Santner, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Hari Nishanth, N Jagadeesan, KM Asif, Harishankar Reddy, Dominic Drakes, Bhagath Varma

vs DC: Won by 3 wickets

vs RCB: Won by 4 wickets

vs RR: Lost by 7 wickets

vs SRH: Won by 6 wickets

vs PBKS: Lost by 5 wickets

CSK have won 4 of their last 5 matches

vs DC: Won by 4 wickets

vs: PBKS: Lost by 6 wickets

vs: DC: Lost by 3 wickets

vs RR: Lost by 7 wickets

vs SRH: Won by 6 wicekts

Chennai Super Kings 181/0 vs Punjab Kings on 04 Oct 2020

Royal Challengers Bangalore 179/3 vs Rajasthan Royals on 17 Oct 2020

Chennai Super Kings 173/6 vs Delhi Capitals on 10 Oct 2021

• In the last three innings vs KKR, he has been dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy which is joint 3rd most dismissals by bower to dismiss Dhoni in IPL.

Zaheer Khan – 7 wickets | Pragyan Ojha- 6 wickets |  Jasprit Bumrah, Kieron Pollard, Varun Chakravarthy and Shane Watson- 3 wickets.

• Out of his 13 dismissals against KKR, 8 times he has been dismissed by a spinner. Dhoni averages 26.38 against KKR spinners which is the lowest among all the active teams.

• Both the captains have struggle throughout the season Morgan has 4 ducks which is the most by captain in an IPL season.

o 10 times he has been dismissed in single-digit scores.

Morgan has a strike rate of 98.47 and Dhoni has a strike rate of 106.54 which is 2nd lowest and 5th lowest by a skipper in an IPL season with 10 innings batted.

Highest Total Chased- 191 On May 27, 2012

Lowest Total Defended- 167 On Oct 07, 2020

Highest Total Chased- 203 On Apr 10, 2018

Lowest Total Defended- 134 On Apr 28, 2015

Along with the batting, KKR bowlers have risen to the occasion in the 2nd half of the IPL 2021.

In UAE KKR bowlers have picked 59 wickets in 9 matches so far which is 7 wickets per innings whereas in India earlier they pick 5 wickets per innings.

As a result, if we look at the bowling unit in this season so far, KKR’s bowlers have an economy rate of 7.48 and an average of 23.90 which is the best among all the teams.

Since 2014 Kolkata Knight Rider has played 6 matches at Dubai and has won thrice and three ended in losing cause.

KKR bowling unit has an economy rate of 7.39 which is the best among all the teams in this venue.

CSK’s opening pair of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis has given them starts and the top and as a pair has scored 695 runs in 15 innings, which is the 4th most by an opening pair in an IPL season.

Faf and Ruturaj have opened the innings twice against Kolkata and scored 189 runs in two innings.

o 74 at Abu Dhabi, 2021

o 115 at Mumbai, 2021.

MS Dhoni will be playing his 10th IPL final, Most IPL finals by a player:

o MS Dhoni-9 (8 with CSK and 1 with RPSG)

o Suresh Raina- 8 

o Dwayne Bravo, R Ashwin, R Jadeja, A Rayudu, K Pollard and Rohit Sharma- 6

KKR will be playing their 3rd IPL final and have won in both the previous Finals. Both their wins have come in while chasing a target.

o 5 times team chasing the target has won the Final.

o 8 times in 13 matches team batting first has won the Final.

KKR are storming into the Finals with 4 consecutive wins out of which 3 have come while chasing.

KKR has 9 wins in IPL 2021 out of which 7 have come in successful chases, which is 2nd most wins by a team in chases in IPL 2021.

In the UAE leg, KKR has won all the 6 matches when they were chasing a target in IPL 2021, which is joint 2nd most by a team in UAE in IPL.

On the contrary CSK under MS Dhoni’s captaincy haven’t lost a game in chases in UAE since last season, they have a streak of 7 consecutive successful chases

Kolkata will be playing their 3rd IPL final, having both their previous 2. Interestingly, IPL 2021's final will be a repeat of IPL 2021's final. 

Last time these sides met in the summit clash, KKR emerged victorious and won their maiden title.  

CSK posted 190/3 in 20 overs and in response, KKR chased it down in 19.4 overs with 5 wickets to spare

There is so much in common between the two captains. Both Dhoni and Morgan have captained a World Cup-winning side and both skippers are known for their big-hitting abilities. But Dhoni has the experience of winning an IPL title, that too thrice. So, advantage CSK and MS?

Best Bowling Figures:

5/32 By Arshdeep Singh (Punjab Kings) Against Rajasthan

Royals In 2021.

Highest Partnership:

181 By Shane Watson And Faf Du Plessis (Chennai Super

Kings) For 1st Wicket Against Punjab Kings In 2020.

Win Rate Batting First:

10% (1 Won; 9 Lost)

Highest Team Total:

219/2 By Sunrisers Hyderabad Against Delhi Capitals In 2020.

Lowest Team Total:

109/10 By Royal Challengers Bangalore Against Punjab Kings

In 2020.

Highest Individual Score:

132 By KL Rahul (Punjab Kings) Against Royal Challengers

Bangalore In 2020.

Chennai Super Kings -Qualifier 1- Beat Delhi Capitals by 4 wickets

Kolkata Knight Riders:

- Eliminator- Beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 4 wickets

-Qualifier 2 - Beat Delhi Capitals by three wickets

The IPL 2021 will be a battle between former champions. Today, we will find out whether Chennai will lift the title for the 4th time. If KKR win, it will be their 3rd title. Who have you got?

Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders have faced each other 24 times in the IPL and CSK lead the overall head-to-head battle 16-8. If KKR are to win the title, they have no choice but to make it 16-9.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the Final of IPL 2021 between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders being played at the Dubai International Stadium in the UAE. For MS Dhoni's CSK, it's about winning a fourth Indian Premier League title. On the other hand for the Eoin Morgan-led KKR, it is about lifting that glittering trophy for the third time. Both skippers know what a thing or two about leading their troops to a big title, ICC World Cup to be exact, and that is what makes this summit clash all the more mouth-watering. So, all my lovely viewers, fasten your seat belts, grab your snacks and beverages, sit back and relax! This is as big as it gets! This is the final showdown!