IPL: Chennai rattle KKR to bag the trophy

Chennai Super Kings outplayed Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2021 final to win the league for the fourth time.

CSK had set a 193-run target and restricted KKR to 162/9.

Chennai has had a remarkable turnaround considering how they were the first team to exit the last season.

They dominated the points table from the beginning and lived up to their hype.

Gaikwad wins Orange Cap

Ruturaj Gaikwad just edged past KL Rahul to bag the Orange Cap.

Playing his second IPL season, the 24-year-old has finished the season with a mammoth 635 runs, just two runs more than his opening partner Faf du Plessis (633).

While Gaikwad could score only 32 tonight, du Plessis ensured he proves himself as a veteran of the format.

His fiery 86 propelled Chennai to 192/3 in no time. Later, Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali covered the rest with their cameos.

Du Plessis and Gaikwad now average just above 45 this season, spanking bowlers of all franchises and giving their team fiery starts in almost every contest.

Speaking in a post-game interview, Gaikwad said he was on top of the moon to win the Orange Cap and the trophy in the same game.

He has also bagged the Emerging Player of the Season award, where du Plessis was awarded the Player of the Match trophy.

“Hard to describe in words, but amazing to win here after the season we had last year. I was part of the previous season where we didn’t qualify, coming here, everyone had the belief,” the 24-year-old opener said.

“I didn’t try to change [my game], when you’re performing well and confident of your shots with lesser risks, you get the rewards. Yes, sometimes you have to make sure you’re there till the end,” he continued.

Moeen Ali, who was 37* not out in the contest, also lauded Gaikwad.

“He is an amazing player, and he’s got no weaknesses,” the all-rounder said.

Ali has now become the first Englishman to have won an IPL final.

“Feeling amazing, can’t describe it. My first year, and been amazing. I could have been dropped a couple of games ago. I feel like it’s such a grounded and humble team, and great to be a part of,” Ali continued.

Iyer shines with the bat again

Regardless of the opposition and the intensity of the game, Venkatesh Iyer has been making full use of the powerplay in the UAE-leg of the IPL 2021.

He did the same tonight. The 26-year-old registered another fifty, but couldn’t carry on for a bit longer to ascertain a win for the KKR.

His two effortless sixes off Ravi Jadeja showed the kind of form he is in.

He may have given a tough time to the likes of KL Rahul, Gaikwad and du Plessis in their pursuit for Orange Cap had he been playing for the KKR from the start of the campaign.

Once he was dismissed, Shubman Gill couldn’t accelerate his innings and a flurry of wickets hurt the Riders’ cause.

Nitish Rana returned to the hut on a duck, while Rahul Tripathi departed on 2.

Skipper Eoin Morgan got caught on the ropes by Deepak Chahar on 4.

Chennai Super Kings 192 for 3 (du Plessis 86, Moeen 37*, Narin 2-26) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 165 for 9 (Gill 51, Iyer 50, Thakur 3-38, Hazlewood 2-29) by 27 runs.