IPL 2021 Playoffs, DC vs CSK (Qualifier 1) LIVE UPDATES: MS Dhoni lands Chennai in the final

Dhoni has done it again, as he hits the winning runs to place CSK into the final. DC did it well, until the last over when pacer Tom messed things up. However, DC still has a chance in Qualifier 2 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) or Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who play tomorrow. Read the full match report here....

OUT! Gaikwad c Axar b Avesh 70 (50), Moeen c Rabada b Tom 16 (12). CSK 173/6 (19.2). Batting: Dhoni 18 (6), Jadeja 0 (0).

No further harm done to CSK, but the pressure is on, and we could have a close finish here. Can Gaikwad still steer his side home? 24 needed off 12.

CSK 149/4 (18). Batting: Gaikwad 70 (48), Moeen 11 (9).

Out of nowhere, three wickets have fallen for CSK, as Uthappa, Thakur and Rayudu have departed. As we were saying, DC has sprung back into the game. 52 needed off 30.

OUT! Uthappa c Iyer b Tom 63 (44), Thakur c Iyer b Tom 0 (1), Rayudu run out (Iyer/Rabada) 1 (3). CSK 121/4 (15). Batting: Gaikwad 52 (39), Moeen 1 (1).

Uthappa has scored his 25th IPL half-century, as CSK is well within the chase and a favourite now. Can DC make a surprise return in this game? 74 needed off 48.

CSK 99/1 (12). Batting: Gaikwad 44 (32), Uthappa 52 (38).

Still no harm done, as the same story continues from the CSK batters and DC bowlers. 98 needed off 66.

CSK 75/1 (9). Batting: Gaikwad 25 (20), Uthappa 47 (32).

No further harm done to CSK, while Uthappa seems to be in a deadly form out of nowhere. 114 needed off 84.

CSK 59/1 (6). Batting: Gaikwad 16 (10), Uthappa 40 (24).

CSK is off to a shaky start, losing du Plessis early to pacer Nortje. However, it should not be the time to panic yet, despite DC on top.

OUT! du Plessis b Nortje 1 (2) . CSK 20/1 (3). Batting: Gaikwad 4 (5), Uthappa 13 (11).

Pant has scored his 15th IPL half-century, while DC is past170. CSK needs 173 to win, while DC needs some good bowling to head into the final.

OUT! Hetmyer c Jadeja b Bravo 37 (24). DC 172/5 (20). Batting: Pant 51 (35), Curran 0 (1).

Pant and Hetmyer are in total control now, as they bring up the 50-run stand. Is 170 on the cards?

DC 153/4 (18). Batting: Pant 35 (26), Hetmyer 35 (22).

Pant and Hetmyer get going for DC. CSK bowlers seem to be tide strulling.

DC 111/4 (15). Batting: Pant 12 (15), Hetmyer 22 (15).

A couple of more wickets are down, as Axar and Shaw have gone back. CSK might just have gotten back into the game, but Pant and Hetmyre can change things quickly.

OUT! Axar c (sub) Santner b Moeen 10 (11), Shaw c du Plessis b Jadeja 6 0(34). DC 90/4 (12). Batting: Pant 6 (7), Hetmyer 6 (5).

No further harm done to DC, as Shaw has scored his tenth IPL half-century.

DC 74/2 (9). Batting: Shaw 57 (30), Axar 9 (9).

DC continues with its attacking approach but has lost a couple of wickets in the process, as Dhawan and Iyer have departed. Nevertheless, it's DC that finished the Powerplay on top.

OUT! Dhawan c Dhoni b Hazlewood 7 (7), Iyer c Gaikwad b Hazlewood 1 (8). DC 51/2 (6). Batting: Shaw 43 (19), Axar 0 (2).

Attacking start by the DC openers, but the CSK bowlers are not bowling that bad. We could have a wicket soon.

DC 32/0 (3). Batting: Shaw 29 (13), Dhawan 3 (5).

Toss: CSK opts to bowl.

MS Dhoni: We will bowl. Whatever games we have played so far, the guys felt there was a bit of help for the seamers initially, it's a tricky wicket, but it could get better later on. We try to keep it simple, irrespective of any game. We analyse our shortcomings, and it has helped us. We're playing the same eleven.

Rishabh Pant: We are OK with the toss, but we'd have bowled first. Slightly nervous, but it's part and parcel of the game. One change for us - Ripal Patel goes out, and Tom Curran comes in. The confidence level is high when you win games, but we'll not take the match lightly.

Playing XI
DC: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Shreyas Iyer, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Tom Curran, Avesh Khan and Anrich Nortje.
CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Josh Hazlewood.

Hello and welcome to Asianet Newsable's live coverage of Qualifier 1 between Delhi Capitals (DC) and former champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 playoffs at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. The winner would become the first finalist as we present the live updates of this exciting clash.

DC has placed at the tabletop, having ten wins from 14 games, besides losing its previous match to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). CSK, on the other hand, is listed second with nine victories, while it has lost three games consecutively. As per the current form, the pressure would be upon CSK.

LIVE SCORECARD: IPL 2021 playoffs (Qualifier 1) - DC vs CSK

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The two sides have met on 25 occasions, as CSK leads 15-10. In the four meetings in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), DC has an authority of 3-1, while the two conferences in Dubai, DC has had the upper hand. Thus, traditionally, CSK has the advantage, but it's a whole new DC now.

The weather in Dubai is partially overcast and heating, with a heat of 37 degrees and 57% humidity. The track is likely to be slow, as the team winning the toss might opt to bowl first and prefer to chase, with some dew factor lurking. Read the full match preview here....

ALSO READ: IPL 2021 Playoffs, DC vs CSK (Qualifier 1): Here's who astrology indicates as the winner

Probable XI
DC: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ripal Patel, Shimron Hetmyer, Axar Patel/Lalit Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin/Tom Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan and Anrich Nortje.
CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Josh Hazlewood.