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The IPL 2021 final is here, as Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders lock horns in Dubai on Friday. AS CSK aims to avenge the 2012 final defeat, we present the live updates.
CSK wins IPL 2021 in an emphatic fashion. KKR openers did give a fight, but once they were gone, it became one-way traffic. Morgan's poor form, accompanied by middle-order limited exposure in the tournament led to its downfall. CSK, on the other hand, exploited KKR's weaknesses all the way. Congrats to the Men in Yellow, CSK deserves the title. Read the full match report here....
OUT! Mavi c Chahar b Bravo 20 (13). KKR 120/6 (20). Batting: Ferguson 4 (4), Chakravarthy 0 (0).
KKR is eight down, with Tripathi and Morgan having departed. It's all over for KKR now, while it would be playing for pride by avoiding getting all-out. 48 needed off 12.
OUT! Tripathi c Moeen b Thakur 2 (3), Morgan c Chahar b Hazlewood 4 (8). KKR 120/6 (18). Batting: Ferguson 4 (4), Mavi 18 (7).
Three more wickets are down too, as Gill has been trapped leg-before by Chahar right after scoring his tenth IPL 50, followed by Karthik and Hasan off Jadeja. New batters keep coming in, and CSK has its one hand in the trophy already. 73 needed off 30.
OUT! Gill lbw b Chahar 51 (43), Karthik c Rayudu b Jadeja 9 (7), Hasan lbw b Jadeja 0 (1). KKR 120/6 (15). Batting: Morgan 3 (4), Hasan 0 (1).
All of a sudden, KKR finds itself three down, with Iyer and Rana having departed, while Gill was handed a lifeline earlier after his catch by Rayudu was ruled out for the ball hitting the spidey cam cables. KKR is in serious trouble out of nowhere and CSK is the firm favourite here. 94 needed off 48.
OUT! Iyer c Jadeja b Thakur 50 (32), Rana c du Plessis b Thakur 0 (1), Narine c Jadeja b Hazlewood 2 (2). KKR 99/3 (12). Batting: Gill 42 (35), Morgan 1 (2).
Still no harm done to the KKR openers. This is great batting so far from KKR, but the required rate might just be climbing up. 121 needed off 66.
KKR 72/0 (9). Batting: Gill 27 (25), Iyer 43 (29).
The KKR openers are still going good, while there seems to be slight luck in its favour. KKR in control at the end of the PP. What's the next plan for the CSK bowlers? 138 needed off 84.
KKR 24/0 (6). Batting: Gill 22 (18), Iyer 31 (18).
Steady start by the KKR openers as well, but they need to be watchful with the required rate here. Meanwhile, Dhoni has already dropped Iyer. Yes, you read that right.
KKR 24/0 (3). Batting: Gill 8 (9), Iyer 15 (8).
Du Plessis misses out on his maiden IPL century but has allowed CSK to put on a top total. KKR will have to display the same mentality as 2012 to chase this down.
OUT! du Plessis c Iyer b Mavi 86 (59). CSK 192/3 (20). Batting: Moeen 37 (20).
Du Plessis and Moeen keep going, as KKR bowlers are bowling tight, but not getting regular breakthroughs. Seems like the pitch might just be slowing down. Is 180-plus on the cards?
CSK 172/2 (18). Batting: du Plessis 80 (54), Moeen 23 (13).
Narine provides the second breakthrough as Uthappa has been trapped leg-before. While Narine has bowled himself out, it's time for the other KKR bowlers to step up.
OUT! Uthappa lbw b Narine 31(15). CSK 131/2 (15). Batting: du Plessis 61 (45), Moeen 2 (4).
No further harm done to CSK, while du Plessis looks in a destructive mood, bringing up his 22nd IPL half-century. KKR needs to dig deep for something special here.
CSK 104/1 (12). Batting: du Plessis 55 (37), Uthappa 14 (9).
The first breakthrough is here, as mystery spinner Narine gets rid of Gaikwad. KKR still has a monumental task at hand against a strong-looking CSK.
OUT! Gaikwad c Mavi b Narine 32 (27). CSK 65/1 (9). Batting: u Plessis 29 (26), Uthappa 2 (2).
CSK openers keep going steady, as they finish the Powerplay on top. Can the KKR bowlers capitalise in the post-PP session?
CSK 50/0 (6). Batting: Gaikwad 26 (19), du Plessis 22 (18).
Steady start by the CSK openers so far, while a stumping chance for du Plessis has gone pegging. How much will it cost KKR?
CSK 22/0 (3). Batting: Gaikwad 18 (12), du Plessis 3 (6).
Toss: KKR opts to chase.
Eoin Morgan: We are going to have a bowl. The wicket looks good, and there's some dew around. We are going to give it everything tonight. We are going with the same team.
MS Dhoni: 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 matches in international cricket. We are playing with the same squad. Often what dictates terms is the result, and I feel our international players are equipped to deal with whatever the situation maybe.
Playing XI
CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Josh Hazlewood.
KKR: Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik(w), Eoin Morgan(c), Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shivam Mavi and Varun Chakravarthy.
Hello and welcome to Asianet Newsable's live coverage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 final between former champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday. CSK would be aiming to retaliate for its defeat to KKR in 2012 final, during which KKR won its maiden title. Meanwhile, we present all the live updates from this impressive and breathtaking clash.
LIVE SCORECARD: IPL 2021 Final - CSK vs KKR
Current form
CSK turned out to be the winner in Qualifier 1 against Delhi Capitals (DC), although it did lose three straight matches. On the other hand, KKR is on a four-game winning streak, while it won against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and DC in Eliminator and Qualifier 2, respectively. Judging by the form, momentum could be marginally in favour of KKR.
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Head-to-head
Both have faced each other on 27 occasions, with CSK leading 17-9, while in 25 IPL affairs, CSK drives 16-8. CSK advances 2-1 in the three encounters that have taken place between the two in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while CSK was victorious in their only clash in Dubai.
Catch all IPL 2021 updates here
Weather and pitch report
The Dubai weather would be smouldering, with a temperature of 36 degrees and 53% humidity. The pitch would remain slower than initially during the season, while chasing would be the absolute option upon winning the toss, as dew could play a part. Read the full match preview here....
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Probable XI
CSK: Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Josh Hazlewood.
KKR: Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (c), Andre Russell/Shakib Al Hasan, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Mavi.