For the second year in a row the final of the IPL 2021 was staged in Dubai, although, unlike in 2020, that was not the original intention. The tournament began in India only to be halted at the beginning of May, following numerous bursts of the bio-secure COVID-19 bubbles surrounding the teams.
When the league picked up again in September, the Delhi Capitals (DC) topped the points table, followed by Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who just edged out Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on net run rate. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pipped Mumbai Indians to the one remaining playoffs spot.
Chennai beat Delhi in a tense first Qualifier in Dubai, beating them by four wickets with two balls to spare. There was a similar close finish in the Eliminator, where Kolkata squeezed past Bangalore, again by four wickets. And the theme of tight results in games continued in the second Qualifier, with Kolkata overcoming Delhi off the penultimate ball of the match in Sharjah.
The final itself between CSK and KKR on 15 October, though, had a more decisive outcome.
Kolkata won the toss and chose to field, only to see Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad share an opening stand of 61. After Gaikwad fell for 32, du Plessis found support in the shape of Robin Uthappa. They added 63 for the second wicket before Uthappa fell for 31
Du Plessis and Moeen Ali then added 68 in the last five and a half overs. Du Plessis was out for 86 off the last ball of the innings, having hit three sixes, and seven fours. Moeen, who had also hit three sixes, was unbeaten on 37. The final Chennai total of 192/3 looked a tough one to chase.
Kolkata started very well, with Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer putting on 91 for the first wicket. However, the dismissal of Iyer, for 50, caused the innings to stumble, and Chennai went from 91/1 to 125/8 as the run rate was severely squeezed. Lockie Ferguson and Shivam Mavi provided late hope with a stand of 39 for the ninth wicket, but, in truth, the game was up for Kolkata by this point. The best they could manage was 165/9.
Chennai won by 27 runs. Shardul Thakur was the best of the Chennai bowlers, with 3-38, but du Plessis picked up the Player of the Match honours.