IPL 2021 final highlights: Chennai Super Kings wins fourth IPL title

From 91 for no loss in the 11th over, KKR slumped to 125 for 8 in the 17th over in a dramatic batting collapse to lose the final

7:01 PM

IPL 2021 FINAL, CSK vs KKR LIVE TOSS

Eoin Morgan wins the toss and elects to bowl first

6:55 PM

IPL 2021 FINAL LIVE: CSK vs KKR pitch report

Here's what Simon Doull and Mathew Hayden said during the pitch report

Chasing appears to be the best strategy statistically. The chasing team has won the last eight matches at this site. Since the first game, this pitch hasn't been used (19 September). Chennai put 156 on the board, which they successfully defended. It appears to be an absolute belter, and a few runs on the board may be sufficient. The dew is not likely to affect the play during the second innings.

(Photo: Sportzpics for IPL)

6:48 PM

IPL 2021 FINAL: CSK vs KKR playing 11 LIVE updates

Andre Russell is seen having a look of the pitch during the live broadcast. He was also doing warn-up sessions, which has been his normal ordeal ahead of previous two KKR matches. Will he make a comeback, revelations at CSK vs KKR toss in 10 minutes.

6:42 PM

IPL 2021 FINAL: CSK vs KKR LIVE TOSS in 15 minutes

The live toss between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders will take place at 7 pm IST. Stay tuned....

6:31 PM

IPL 2021 FINAL LIVE: RCB's Harshal Patel wins Purple cap

Harshal Patel continues to top the bowlers chart for most wickets with 32 scalps.

POS	PLAYER	Mat	Inns	Ov	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Avg	Econ	SR	4w	5w
1	Harshal Patel	15	15	56.2	459	32	5 for 27	14.34	8.14	10.56	1	1
2	Avesh Khan	16	16	61	450	24	3 for 13	18.75	7.37	15.25	0	0
3	Jasprit Bumrah	14	14	55	410	21	3 for 36	19.52	7.45	15.71	0	0
4	Mohammad Shami	14	14	52.4	395	19	3 for 21	20.78	7.5	16.63	0	0
5	Varun Chakaravarthy	16	16	64	410	18	3 for 13	22.77	6.4	21.33	0	0

6:27 PM

IPL 2021 FINAL LIVE: English commentary team for CSK vs KKR match today

Cricket commentators, Matthew Hayden,Harsha Bhogle,Ian Bishop,Sunil Gavaskar,Simon Doull and Pomme Mbangwa pose for picture during the final of the Vivo Indian Premier League 2021 between the Chennai Super Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders held at the Dubai International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates on the 15th October 2021. Photo: Sportzpics for IPL

6:22 PM

IPL 2021 FINAL, CSK vs KKR LIVE: Ruturaj Gaikwad eyes Orange cap

Ahead of CSK vs KKR, KL Rahul is having the orange cap, Gaikwad needs to score 24 more runs to win the Orange cap today.

POS	PLAYER	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	BF	SR	100	50	4s	6s
1	KL Rahul	13	13	3	626	98*	62.6	451	138.8	0	6	48	30
2	Ruturaj Gaikwad	15	15	2	603	101*	46.38	439	137.35	1	4	61	22
3	Shikhar Dhawan	16	16	1	587	92	39.13	471	124.62	0	3	63	16
4	Faf du Plessis	15	15	2	547	95*	42.07	399	137.09	0	5	53	20
5	Glenn Maxwell	15	14	2	513	78	42.75	356	144.1	0	6	48	21

6:12 PM

CSK to win IPL 2021 final, Jadeja will be Man of the Match: Vaughan

6:10 PM

Shane Watson compares CSK pacer Hazlewood with McGrath

The former Australia all-rounder said Hazlewood has similarities with legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath in the way he controls the ball.

 

The control he (Hazlewood) has of the ball coming out of his fingers, that's along the lines of what Glenn McGrath did. The control he (McGrath) has on how much the ball swings or which way the ball seams, Josh had that even from a young age, so that for me was one of the comparisons," Watson, also a former CSK player, said.

 

"Yes, Glenn McGrath, his accuracy, time and time again his ability to keep doing it again is something that not many fast bowlers ever had, but that's one of similarities for me with Josh Hazelwood."

 

Since making his Australia debut in 2010, Hazlewood has taken 212 wickets from 55 Tests, 93 and 21 scalps in 56 ODIs and 17 T20 Internationals respectively.

(Photo: Sportzpics for IPL)
 

5:49 PM

IPL 2021 FINAL, KKR vs CSK: Kolkata Knight Riders team news

The Knight Riders, on the other hand, also have a captain who has won a World Cup and has been at the heart of England team's transformation as white ball captain.

Many believe that Russell the batter should replace Morgan, who has had an awful IPL with the willow.

Bur it's the leadership that has stood the test of time as he has marshalled his available resources well. He stuck with Shubman Gill as an opener and the youngster has had a decent run.

The faith shown in Venkatesh Iyer will also benefit the Indian white-ball team while Narine the bowler found his mojo under him with constant support after remodelled action.

Morgan is as quiet and as unexpressive as Dhoni even in testing times and it would be a contest of two ticking brains trying to gauge the next move in what promises to be a mouth-watering three-hour battle.

 

5:37 PM

Eoin Morgan hails KKR's top-order

Eoin Morgan said it was the team management especially coach Brendon McCullum's idea to elevate Iyer to opener's role in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 and the Madhya Pradesh allrounder has impressed everyone with a flurry of half-centuries that has got the Indian team management to pick him to be part of its nets during the T20 World Cup.

 

"Venky Iyer idea [his elevation] came from the coach, my God, he's a terrific player. Made the chase easy, looks like he was batting on a different wicket," Morgan said of Iyer who scored a brilliant half-century in KKR's chase of 136.

 

However, Morgan felt that his team should have won the game in a more convincing manner, going by the start provided by his openers. He also said that the team will dissect the meltdown with the bat in the last four overs.

 

"Should've been a lot easier after the start we got, Venky (Iyer) and Gill set us the platform. Dew came in and all, but we're in the final and we're delighted to get over the line," said Morgan in the post-match presentation ceremony.

 

"Would've loved to win convincingly but Capitals are a very good side. Six off two, the odds were probably in favour of the bowling side, but Rahul Tripathi has done superbly well for us. It's a nice insight into our team culture - the young guys coming in feel free to express themselves," added Morgan.

(Photo: Sportzpics for IPL)
 

5:27 PM

Morgan credits backroom staff for inputs in KKR's turnaround

Kolkata Knight Riders' skipper Eoin Morgan has credited the backroom staff for creating an atmosphere that allows youngsters to express themselves and for giving inputs that have helped the team make a grand comeback in IPL 2021 and reach the final against Chennai Super Kings.

 

Despite starting their IPL 2021 campaign with a win, Kolkata were struggling at the end of the Indian leg with five defeats and two wins and were placed at the 7th spot. They made a remarkable turnaround in UAE, winning five matches and losing only two, which helped them make the playoffs on the basis of a superior Net Run Rate after a tie on points with Mumbai Indians. One of the key factors that made the turnaround possible was the good starts they got from openers, Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer.

 

On Wednesday, after young openers Gill and Iyer gave the team another terrific start, KKR lost six wickets for seven runs at one stage but prevailed over Delhi Capitals by three wickets and one ball to spare to book their spot in the final on Friday against Chennai Super Kings. Rahul Tripathi, another youngster helped them get past the line despite the hiccups.

 

"It's a nice insight into our team culture - the young guys coming in feel free to express themselves. The backroom staff have created an environment for them to do this. With the squad we have, there's expectation. Hopefully, we can implement all that we've strategised," said Morgan after the match on Wednesday night.

(Photo: Sportzpics for IPL)
 

5:17 PM

Captain Dhoni eyes 4th IPL title for CSK today

Dhoni's captaincy mantra is simple -- rely on experience as IPL is not a finishing school or place to groom youngsters however talented they may be.

 

He groomed Ruturaj Gaikwad when the pressure of qualification was off his back in 2020 and the Pune lad has played freely.

 

He has scored three half centuries and with his rise, Dhoni laid the groundwork for not just next year but many more to come fr his franchise.

 

It shouldn't surprise anyone if Gaikwad becomes the next CSK captain once Dhoni calls time on IPL, which could be next year or the year after that.

 

No one knows the drifts and patterns of IPL more than India's most revered white-ball captain.

 

He understands that for IPL consistency, one needs experienced players primarily along with one or two talented youngsters.

(Photo: Sportzpics for IPL)

5:10 PM

Josh Hazlewood needs to come good in the final vs KKR

Australia and Chennai Super Kings pacer Josh Hazlewood has not taken too many wickets in this IPL with just nine scalps from eight matches but compatriot Shane Watson feels that he is a hard bowler to face because of his "control over the ball".

 

The 30-year-old Hazlewood was the pick of the CSK bowlers in their four-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in the IPL Qualifier 1 on Sunday though he is exactly not on fire in the tournament with an average of 29.44 and economy of 8.51.

 

"Just his control over the ball coming out of his hand, that's why when there's a little bit dew in the wicket or with the brand new ball, he's incredibly good with just being able to get something out of the wicket," Watson said in Star Sports' 'Select Dugout' show.

 

"Just with enough variation or enough little something out of the wicket or something in the air, which means he's very hard to play in these conditions too, he said ahead of IPL final on Friday between CSK and Kolkata Knight Riders.

(Photo: Sportzpics for IPL)
 

4:52 PM

Will CSK overcome Kolkata's spinners today?

CSK's chances of winning a fourth title will depend on how well they handle the 12 overs from KKR's spin trio of Varun Chakravarthy (economy rate 6.40), Shakib Al Hasan (ER:6.64) and Sunil Narine (ER:6.44), who have been outstanding in this tournament.

 

In fact, Shakib's all-round abilities have provided more balance to KKR during the business end once Andre Russell sustained a hamstring injury.

 

However, the final match comes with its own set of pressures and how these three perform when put under the pump will be the key against a team of battle-hardened "been there done that" professionals.

(Photo: Sportzpics for IPL)