Picture Credit: IPL
Chennai Super Kings are the champions! This would have seemed like a dream exactly one year back when almost the same group of players had a disastrous campaign after they failed to make the playoffs in IPL 2020 for the first time in history of the tournament. At that time, CSK skipper MS Dhoni had promised the Yellow Army that they will bounce back this season. And they did in some style!
After making a few changes in their squad, CSK were ready to challenge the other 7 franchises and they made their intentions were clear from the beginning. The MS Dhoni led side played some fearless cricket in the league stages in India and continued their form when the action shifted to UAE as they became the first team to qualify for playoffs.
It was an MS Dhoni special in the Qualifier 1 which took them through to their 9th ever IPL finale. And this is when the entire CSK army and fans had started to wait for the moment of glory. They were up against an in-form KKR side but CSK were unperturbed with whom they were facing.
Amazing scenes in Dubai
After posting a huge total of 192/3 in first innings, the CSK batters had done a remarkable job to set up the platform. Despite KKR getting a good start, MS Dhoni and Co. kept on working on their plans as they took crucial wickets in the middle phase to stop the Men in Purple in their pursuit of chasing the target.
With the match almost done and dusted, it was Dwayne Bravo who bowled the final over. The CSK duh-out had already started the celebrations when the equation had come down to 29 runs required off last 2 balls. This is when Shivam Mavi was dismissed and there were electric scenes in the stadium as well as in the dug-out.
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However, the job was completed on the next ball when Bravo bowled a yorker which was played by Lockei Ferguson for a single as MS Dhoni finally gave the reaction of glory that fans had been waiting from such a long time.
All the CSK players were indeed delighted with their 4th ever IPL triumph as senior players like Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo also did not shy away from hiding their emotions as all the players stormed into the ground.