IPL 2021: Vintage MS Dhoni takes Chennai to 9th final

A CAMEO from the 40-year-old Mahendra Singh Dhoni fired Chennai Super Kings (CSK) into the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 as the three-time champions beat a formidable Delhi Capitals (DC) by four wickets in the first qualifier at Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (10).

Dhoni won the toss and sent Rishabh Pant’s side to bat first and the 2020 runners-up posted a total of 172 for 5 after getting reduced to 80 for 4 at one stage. After opener Prithvi Shaw slammed 60 off 34 balls, DC found themselves in a spot but Pant (51 not out off 35) and Shimron Hetmyer (37 off 24) resurrected the innings to add 83 runs in eight overs. For CSK, Josh Hazlewood took two wickets for 29 runs while Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Dwayne Bravo took a wicket each.

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Chasing 173 to make their ninth final in 12 appearances, CSK lost opener Faf du Plessis early (1 off 2) but in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad (70 off 50) and Robin Uthappa (63 off 44) added 110 runs for the second wicket in less than 13 overs. DC then came back strongly to check the CSK’s run flow and when Gaikwad fell in the first ball of the 19th over, they still needed 24 runs. Dhoni came to his team’s rescue with 18 not out off six balls to drive his team home. Tom Curran took three wickets for 29 runs to cause a mini slump in the CSK innings but Dhoni’s cameo ensured that the CSK broke their losing streak in the tournament. Anrich Nortje and Avesh Khan claimed one wicket each.

For Dhoni, it was the 1oth final as he has also played the 2017 final for Rising Pune Supergiant besides representing CSK in eight finals. CSK have won the tournament three times out of five finals.

On Monday (11), Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in the eliminator at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The losers will crash out of the tournament while the winner will play DC in the second qualifier in Sharjah on Wednesday (13).

The final will be played in Dubai on Friday (15).