IPL 2021 started in India but was discontinued about halfway through because of a fierce second wave of the COVID pandemic. When it was resumed the tournament continued in the UAE. After a tortuous two-part tournament held in two countries, IPL 2021 finally has a winner. It was Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings in the final: check out the meme highlights.
The country has been rooting for their own team – either because they’re supporting individual players or because they have an affinity for a particular region. Now everyone is back to supporting the Indian team; especially with the T20 World Cup beginning soon.
Dhoni led his team for the 300th time as skipper in the T20 format. This could well be the final time he did so; having retired from other forms of cricket. Having led his team to victory thrice before, fans of CSK hoped he would do again, especially if it was going to be his last time.
They put Chennai in to bat first. CSK put up a formidable total to chase when they made 192 for 3.
He made 86 off 59 while the opening partner Ruturaj Gaikwad made 32 off 27. Robin Uthappa made 31 off 15 and Moeen Ali made 37 off 20.
Both CSK openers were contenders for the Orange Cap, but Gaikwad got it in the end.
Some of the other players who lost out.
Openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer both made half-centuries to give their team a great start. After that, however, Nitish Rana (0), Sunil Narine (2off), skipper Eoin Morgan (4 off8), Dinesh Karthik (9 off7) Shakib Al Hasan (0) and Rahul Tripathi (2) went cheaply causing a batting collapse.
Shardul Thakur was CSK's most successful bowler; picking up three wickets.
Josh Hazelwood and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each to seal the fate of KKR.
In the end, Chennai won quite convincingly; by 27 runs. Faf du Plessis was declared man of the match.
And his team.
…Were like this.
Harshal Patel of the RCB won the purple cap for taking 32 wickets; becoming the leading wicket-taker in this edition of the IPL. He also becomes the first Most Valuable Player with no international experience in IPL history.
Shimron Hetmeyer got the Super Striker award for having the highest strike rate of the season and Rajasthan Royals received the Fairplay award.
The commentators looked very nice – good enough to attend a wedding, pointed out the tweeple. Indian cricket fans may be disappointed that IPL 2021 is over, but CSK fans are delighted. And with much more cricket coming up, the disappointed fans won’t be sad for too long.
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