Indian Premier League 2022, Match 49: Royal Challengers Bangalore went up against Chennai Super Kings at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, the RCB openers, march out to the middle. Mukesh Choudhary will take the stage first. Mukesh Choudhary bowled a solid first over, but he was a little legside-ish. He discovered a smidgeon of swing. He focused on getting the ball into the batter’s hands. Kohli got off to a good start with a flip to fine leg on the first ball. With a single to fine leg, Du Plessis also got off to a good start. The next couple of balls are defended by Kohli. For a FOUR, he flicks one on the pads to fine leg. After a DOT, Faf flashes at a wide one and edges it to third man for a FOUR in the fourth over.

He then scampers through for three runs after clipping one past midwicket. Kohli then misses a bouncer pull and mistimes his punch, resulting in a cover. He then goes for a SIX with a wide one over the covers. RCB are ramping up the pace now, scoring 18 off the fifth over. CSK’s lines aren’t quite right. For a FOUR, Du Plessis drives one into the middle of the field. He chases a wide one after a DOT and gets an edge to third man for another FOUR. After that, he clips one to the leg side for two and then mistimes his loft over point for two more. The next one comes off the centre, and he lofts a slower one over long on for SIX. Because Moeen struck in his first over and sent back Du Plessis, the eighth over was a successful over for CSK. He sensed a turn coming on and focused on bowling outside off. This over produced 4 runs and a wicket. Kohli knocks a pair of FOURS in the following over, making it an exciting over for both teams. His self-assurance was building. However, they misread a run on the final ball, and Maxwell was run out.

The Jadeja over yielded 10 runs and a wicket. For CSK, it was a huge wicket. CSK has had a great couple of overs. They’ve fought back valiantly here. Moeen has a terrific over. He gets off to a slow start, only scoring three runs on the first three balls. With a magnificent off-spinner, he then takes Kohli’s wicket. Only gives up three runs. After that, Jadeja bowls another disciplined over, giving up five singles. The lCricket AddictorRCB vs CSK Head to Head Records, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s …

As a cricketer, there’s no greater feeling than representing your country at the highest level. Venkatesh Iyer’s dream of making his dream come true appears to have come true after he emerged into the spotlight during the UAE-leg of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL). In October, after concluding the T20 league and getting India’s first call-up for the T20I series against New Zealand, Iyer revealed the conversation he had with ‘idol’ Sourav Ganguly.

In an interview with Sports Tak, the KKR all-rounder said that he got to meet Ganguly after the IPL 2021 final against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Following Iyer’s impressive performances to date, Dada gave him some tips that could boost his career at the highest level. “When I was young, I used to bat right-handed while watching Dada. I wanted to be exactly like him so I became a left-hander. It feels nice when people compare me to him,” Iyer told Sports Tak.

The seam-bowling all-rounder has been selected for the Indian cricket team. It is expected that his role in the Indian team in 2021 will be quite different from what he did for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021. Given the number of players already included in the Indian team as openers, Iyer is likely to be groomed to finish games for the team as well as bowl a few overs.

Hardik Pandya, who has reportedly not been considered for national selection due to form and fitness issues, has been replaced by the 26-year-old ahead of the World Cup!

The Indian Premier League (IPL) cemented its status as cricket’s biggest brand after two new franchises sold for an eye-watering $1.7 billion on Monday, underlining the tournament’s pulling power and heft of India’s all-conquering governing body. Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners paid 56 billion rupees ($745 million) for an Ahmedabad-based team, while the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, which owned the now-defunct Pune franchise for two IPL campaigns, bid 70.9 billion Indian rupees ($945 million).

Even close observers were gobsmacked by the final figures, perhaps underestimating the behemoth of the gaudy IPL, in many ways an Americanization of the staid British bat and ball sport, and the eagerness of the filthy rich to get in on a rising tournament that appears set to globalize and conquer the cricket landscape. The staggering numbers certainly help erode cricket’s unwanted perception in non-traditional playing countries of being a dull, never-ending game played in all-white attire.

The glitz and glamor of the IPL, which only started in 2008, has become a marketing triumph and rocketed a brand estimated to be around $7 billion to make it clearly cricket’s most valuable product – much more so than the sport’s various World Cups. But apart from that, and of course, lining the pockets of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and cricketers worldwide, is this money-spinner actually benefiting and developing cricket worldwide? As underlined by not allowing their players to play in other T20 franchise leagues worldwide and shamefully banning Pakistani players to compete in the IPL since its inaugural edition, the BCCI is warding its product closely.

In a bid to maximize its gold mine, which of course the BCCI is entitled to do and makes total business sense, the IPL is set on expansion – teams, games, and possibly entering new markets. It has already marked out two months of the calendar – traditionally in April and May – where international cricket essentially grinds to a halt so the world’s top players can make their fortune. Lured by enormous pay packets, up to $2 million for the most coveted, players are increasingly discarding loyalties to their national teams to play in the IPL. Knowing its swaying power, national governing bodies do little to stand in the way.

Must Read: Scotland vs Namibia T20 World Cup 2021 Today Match Prediction

Our main motto is to make cricket more popular throughout the world.

It’s created a major shift where cricket had long been almost an outlier in major team sports worldwide with the prestige and popularity centered at the international level – country vs country. But the IPL has changed the game and created fanatic fandom through domestic franchises much like sports in the U.S. Perhaps a little fatalistic, but it is not too hard to envision one day the IPL dwarfing over cricket much like the NBA does with basketball leaving that sport’s governing body FIBA scrambling for out of the box initiatives such as creating a 3-on-3 pro circuit.

With so much history and residue, international cricket might be able to endure with the IPL’s tentacles not really spreading beyond home shores. Although surely in a bid to continue to globalize, the IPL will start playing matches abroad – the U.S. looms as a logical landing spot. Expanding the IPL leads to an eroding of an already congested cricket calendar, filled with a myriad of franchise T20 competitions worldwide aiming to somehow mimic the giant trendsetter, which means even more jockeying for countries to play India – which is basically the only guaranteed profit in bilateral cricket for many nations.

Almost the entire financial backbone of the sport is dependant on India, which is aided by having the lion’s share of the International Cricket Council’s current cycle surplus from 2015-2023. The BCCI receives $371 million well ahead of next-best England ($127 million), while the Associate members made up of 94 nations receive a relatively paltry $180 million. With its next IPL broadcast rights projected to nudge billion, the BCCI keeps on getting richer and more powerful. Australia and England, the other cricket powers, also have billion-dollar broadcast deals but don’t have India’s gravitas globally.

Chennai Super Kings vanquished Kolkata Knight Riders on the 14th season of the grand tournament at the Dubai International Stadium On Friday by 27 runs. CSK won the IPl trophy for the 4th time in 2021.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ slight mistakes cost them heavily at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday. Dinesh Karthik failed to stump Du plessis when he made just 2 runs, which gave Faf the opportunity to make 87 runs off 59 deliveries. He is yesterday’s face and the player of the match with 7 fours and 3 sixes.

Dhoni showed his “Thala’s Charisma” in the first qualifier against DC. After yesterday’s match, he was snapped with his wife and daughter where Sakshi was seen in tears hugging Dhoni and Ziva. Dhoni is the first cricketer in the world, captaining a team of 300 T20 matches amongst tournaments. As legends can never be washed off, no matter how old they are!

The Super Kings made a target of 192/3 which kept the Knights at a tough pressure, as they knew it would be difficult for them to make easy runs against Shardul and Jadeja. Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer tried their best to keep the match in their hands, but after the dismissals of Shubman and Iyer, KKR’ batting line up fragmented under pressure. After them, Jadeja and Hazelwood kept on sending the KKR army to the pavilion one after the other. Furguson’s gave a very poor performance of 56 runs in just 4 overs. Not to forget about Rituraj Gaikwad, was awarded the Orange Cap for his splendid performance for making 636 in this tournament.

KKR’s strength was always their spin, which didn’t show up on the final day. Had Narine not shown his little shrewdness, KKR would have lost the match with a much higher margin. Dhoni’s captaincy, wisdom and self confidence has again made CSK the IPL trophy winner for 2021! CSK fans and the entire team must be elated with this outstanding win.

Not all misses are costly, especially for Chennai Super Kings. But if such glaring errors are committed in the final of a tournament, there is every possibility of being doomed. Kolkata Knight Riders found that out at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday. Cashing in after Dinesh Karthik failed to stump him when he was only on 2, Faf du Plessis smashed his way to a brilliant 86 to lay the foundation for Chennai Super Kings’ fourth IPL crown, as they thumped the Knight Riders by 27 runs in the summit clash of this edition.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who will now be getting ready for his role as Team India mentor in the upcoming T20 World Cup, couldn’t have asked for a better result in his 300th T20 appearance as captain, being the first to achieve such a feat. Last Sunday, against Delhi Capitals in Qualifier I, the 40-year-old Dhoni played a cameo that was crucial in earning the Super Kings a final berth. And in the all-important final, Du Plessis, 37, delivered what certainly was a title-winning knock for the Super Kings, who proved they are actually an army of legends. And legends can never be written off, no matter how old they are.

Thanks to Du Plessis, the Super Kings posted 192/3, a formidable enough total. And for the Knight Riders to chase it down, they needed something special from their in-form openers. Thanks to dropped catches and a bit of fortune, the in-form Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer tried to make a match of it. But once Shardul Thakur (3/38) dismissed both Iyer and Nitish Rana in a span of three balls in the 11th overs of their run chase, the Knights’ batting simply crumbled under pressure.

As if the middle order’s struggle and captain Eoin Morgan’s wretched form with the bat weren’t enough, Rahul Tripathi’s hamstring injury hamstrung the Knights further as all they could manage in the end was 165/9. Once the Shubman-Iyer pair was separated, the likes of Ravindra Jadeja (2/37) and Josh Hazlewood (2/29) had no problems in adding to their tally of wickets.

Must Read: CSK Vs KKR, A Recall of the 2 Thrilling Finals Played by the Two Sides

Kings finishes off in vintage best

Going back to Du Plessis, he started slowly with Ruturaj Gaikwad doing the bulk of the scoring after the Super Kings were put in to bat. But soon after that let-off, the former South Africa captain ensured he was at his vintage best. The high back-lift being a characteristic of his batting, it certainly helped Du Plessis unleash those aerial strokes, particularly off Lockie Ferguson. New Zealand quick had a torrid time with the ball in the game that mattered most, going for 56 off his four overs.

Besides, on a pitch that was far better for stroke-making, Du Plessis adjusted his game accordingly against the Knight Riders spinners. There were no half measures if the ball was in his arc and strike rotation was a cakewalk for him, which also made acceleration easier for Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali. His rollicking 60-plus stands with Uthappa and Moeen were certainly crucial elements of the decider.

Du Plessis’ fluency and dominance almost led him to take the Orange Cap (reserved for the tournament’s highest run-getter) away from teammate Ruturaj, who had overtaken KL Rahul earlier in the game. This quality knock might as well make the Proteas realize the mistake they made by not picking him for their T20 Cup squad.

Spin was KKR’s strength. But barring Sunil Narine (2/26), Varun Chakravarthy and Shakib-al Hasan struggled in finding the right length. It seemed as if they were mentally still at Sharjah, where sluggishness of pitches made strokeplay tougher. Of course, one can argue Shakib’s figures could have been better if not for the reprieve Du Plessis got, but even then he offered the opposition batters the room they were looking for. The same goes for Chakravarthy. Had it not been for a little bit of guile that was on offer from Narine, the margin of defeat would surely have been bigger for the Knights.

CSK vs KKR Preview

On Friday, October 15 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Chennai Super Kings will face Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2021 Indian Premier League Final. Seven years after the 2014 edition, the Knight Riders, led by Eoin Morgan, have qualified for an IPL final. At the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, the Men in Gold and Purple defeated the Delhi Capitals by three wickets. KKR just needed 11 runs in the final three overs to win, but the DC bowlers came back spectacularly.

From two balls, the Capitals’ bowlers increased the goal to six runs. In the end, KKR won thanks to Rahul Tripathi’s six off Ravi Ashwin. KKR must be cautious heading into the final after losing both of their league meetings against the Super Kings. CSK qualified for the final after defeating the Capitals by four wickets on Sunday in Dubai, led by MS Dhoni.

Match Details

Match – Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Final

Venue – Dubai International Cricket Stadium

Time – 7:30 PM IST, 02:00 PM GMT

Where to watch live – Star Sports Network, Hotstar

Pitch Report

In Dubai, the batting surface has been outstanding. However, the track has recently shown indications of slowing down. The pursuing teams have won nine of the eleven matches in the current IPL. Chasing should be the preferred strategy for teams.

Avg first innings score: 152 (11 matches in the IPL 2021 at Dubai)

Record of chasing teams: Won – 9, Lost – 2, Tied – 0

Weather Report

Fans and players should expect a clear sky and pleasant weather in Dubai for this exciting match. The temperature should be approximately 33 degrees Celsius on average.

CSK vs KKR Playing 11

CSK Predicted Playing 11

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul Thakur, Faf du Plessis, Robin Uthappa, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Josh Hazlewood, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu

KKR Predicted Playing 11

Venkatesh Iyer, Shubman Gill, Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan, Dinesh Karthik, Shivam Mavi, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy, Eoin Morgan (c), Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana

Head-to-Head

Overall

Played – 27 | Chennai Super Kings– 17 | Kolkata Knight Riders– 9 | N/R – 0

In the UAE

Played – 3 | Chennai Super Kings– 2 | Kolkata Knight Riders– 1 | N/R – 0

CSK vs KKR Key players

Venkatesh Iyer— Kolkata Knight Riders

In the IPL 2021 season, Venkatesh Iyer has been a fascinating prospect for the Knights. With 320 runs scored at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 125, he formed an unbeatable foundation. With three half-centuries under his belt, the southpaw must be feeling pretty good about himself. Iyer struck a stunning fifty in Qualifier 2 to help KKR over the finish line.

Varun Chakravarthy – Kolkata Knight Riders

The off-incentive is presently the leading gate-taker for the Knights, having taken 18 lattices at a frugality rate of6.40. The tweaker has been tough to get down on the slow and low lattices in the UAE. In the former game, he picked up two lattices and looked in great meter.

Team News

Chennai Super Kings

• Chennai Super Kings beat Delhi Capitals by four wickets in a nail-biting finish to book their place in the finals. This is their 9th IPL final, the most by any team in the tournament’s history.
• Every single person has made a significant contribution to Chennai’s victory in this season. Ruturaj Gaikwad is a contender for the Emerging Player of the Year title, and he demonstrated his value in Qualifier 1 by hitting a crucial 70 runs in the winning cause. he is just 24 runs away from becoming the IPL’s highest run-scorer this year. He had a fantastic run in the IPL 2021, scoring 603 runs at an average of 46.38 in 15 matches.
• Sir Ravindra Jadeja, in addition to him, has been in excellent form this season. He can bowl 3-4 overs for his captain in fast succession without allowing the batters any time to react. So far in the IPL, he has 11 wickets at an economy rate of 6.86 and 227 runs at an average of 75.66 with the bat.

Kolkata Knight Riders

• Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, kept their cool against Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 2 and won by three wickets in the final over, securing their final position. They have a perfect record in the IPL finals, and they are hoping to win the trophy for the third time. The IPL’s second leg has been incredible for them, as they have fully evolved into a formidable team.
• Varun Chakravarthy will undoubtedly earn a spot in the final eleven of the T20 World Cup if he continues to perform like this in the IPL. In this round of the IPL, he had 18 wickets at an economy rate of 6.4 in 16 matches.

CSK vs KKR Match Tips

This season, Dhoni and the team have appeared to be the calmer side, and they are likely to be a touch too good for KKR in the final. CSK appears to be in fine form, with a relaxed demeanor. They appear to have started moving in the correct direction at the appropriate moment. Dhoni looked terrific the other night, and he’s done a wonderful job leading his squad. Their batters are looking fantastic, but we believe KKR will face a stronger team in the final. We think this time csk will add another cup to their collection.

Today’s match prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders to win the match.

Eyeing a maiden IPL title, the fancied Delhi Capitals will face another litmus test in the form of a KKR unit brimming with optimism when the two sides lock horns in the second qualifier on Wednesday. Delhi Capitals failed in their first big test when they lost to Chennai Super Kings in the first qualifier and another defeat will mean there will be no more examination for the strong squad, led by India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. Two-time winners KKR will take confidence from their victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Monday’s eliminator.

After being put in to bat first, Delhi Capitals batters could only post a below-par 135 for 5 in stipulated 20 overs. KKR bowlers kept things tight for Delhi batters from the start of the innings and prevented their batting-heavy side from posting a decent total on a sluggish Sharjah surface. Delhi Capitals – who lost the Qualifier 1 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – were once again off to a slow start in the all-important knock-out game. No batter could provide Delhi with the impetus the team needed all through the innings and as a result coach Ricky Ponting’s boys could only post 135 on the board.

Openers Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan started the innings for Delhi at a slow pace as KKR bowled in the right areas. Shaw was trapped in front by in-form Varun Chakravarthy for 18 in the fifth over. Delhi, thus, lost their opener in the powerplay and the middle-order kept struggling against a quality spin bowling attack from Kolkata. The trio of Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Shakib Al Hasan kept things tight for the opposition batsmen- who couldn’t accelerate their innings.

Must Read: Qualifier 2, DC vs KKR IPL 2021 Today Match Prediction

KKR lost many wickets, made easy match look tough

Senior opener Dhawan top-scored for the side with 36 off 39 deliveries but failed to convert the start into a big knock. The southpaw, who took seven deliveries to get off the mark, was dismissed for 36 off 39 deliveries. Captain Pant had another terrible outing with the bat as he was dismissed for six. Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis – who was included in the playing eleven against KKR with an aim to strengthen batting- faced 23 deliveries but could only muster 18 runs in his innings after being sent in to bat at number three.

Later, Shimron Hetmyer and Shreyas Iyer (17 off 10) and Shreyas Iyer (30* off 27 balls) played some shots to take Delhi past the 130-run mark. At the toss, Delhi Capitals’ captain Pant spoke about the inclusion of Stoinis and the decision for dropping England all-rounder Tom Curran. “We needed an extra batsman in these kinds of tracks, so Marcus Stoinis comes in. Tom Curran is out,” Pant said. The decision to include Stoinis looked like a tactical move from coach Ponting and after Delhi batters once again failed to score a decent total on the board meme fest was triggered on social media.

Rahul Tripathi is KKR’s hero. He was watching wickets tumble and all the madness from the other end. But he holds his nerve and hits it out of the park. Heartbreak for R Ashwin. Heartbreak for Delhi Capitals. Joy for Kolkata Knight Riders who reach their 3rd final. Eoin Morgan must be more relieved than happy.

Needing 136 runs to win from 120 balls, Venkatesh Iyer and Shubman Gill got their side off to a blistering start. They stitched an unbeaten half-century opening stand to take KKR to 51/0 by the end of the Powerplay. The duo continued in the same vein, taking KKR to 76/0 in 10 overs. Venkatesh Iyer went on to register his third IPL 50 before being dismissed on 55 by Kagiso Rabada. Varun would have had his third had it not been for a no-ball saving Shimron Hetmyer. Shubman Gill took a brilliant diving catch but it was in vain. Eventually, a late blitz from Shreyas Iyer en route to his unbeaten 30 off 27 balls, took Delhi to 135/5 in 20 overs.

DC vs KKR Preview

In IPL 2021 Qualifier 2, the Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face off. On October 13, 2021, the DC versus KKR match will be held at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium in Sharjah (Wednesday). Both teams will be vying for a spot in the IPL finals in 2021.

Both the Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders have high aspirations of capturing the IPL 2021 title and will play Chennai Super Kings in the finals. DC was defeated by the three-time champions in the opening round of the playoffs and will look to advance to the championship game in search of their first title. Meanwhile, KKR won the eliminator against RCB and come into the game in excellent condition as they continue their quest for their first IPL title since 2014.

Match Details

Match – Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Qualifier 2

Venue – Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Time – 7:30 PM IST, 02:00 PM GMT

Where to watch live – Star Sports Network, Hotstar

Pitch Report

It hasn’t been tough to bat on the Sharjah surface, especially as the ball gets aged. As a result, putting up a big total in the first six overs will be important. The spinners are expected to have a significant impact. Chasing should continue to be the best choice for both teams.

Avg first innings score: 137 (9 matches in the IPL 2021 at Sharjah)

Record of chasing teams: Won – 6, Lost – 3, Tied – 0

Weather Report

The spectators will be excited by the weather in Sharjah on October 13, 2021 (Wednesday) for the KKR versus DC match. The temperature will begin in the lower 30s Celsius and will gradually drop as the game progresses. There is no risk of rain, therefore the game should be played without interruption.

Head-to-Head

Overall

Played – 28 | Delhi Capitals– 12 | Kolkata Knight Riders– 15  | N/R – 1

In the UAE

Played – 4 | Delhi Capitals–  2 | Kolkata Knight Riders– 2 |N/R – 0

DC vs KKR Playing 11

DC Predicted Playing 11

Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel, Shimron Hetmyer, Tom Curran, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (C & WK)

KKR Predicted Playing 11

Venkatesh Iyer, Shubman Gill, Eoin Morgan (c), Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan, Dinesh Karthik, Shivam Mavi, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana

DC vs KKR Key players

Shubman Gill– Kolkata Knight Riders

Shubman Gill has performed admirably for the Knight Riders in the IPL 2021 season. The right-hander has 381 runs at an average of 25.40 with a strike rate of 121.72 in 15 games. He got the Knights off to a fast start in their last game against RCB. Gill, who was born in Fazilka, will be hoping to play a solid knock in the next game.

Varun Chakravarthy– Kolkata Knight Riders

Varun Chakravarthy has been fantastic for the Knight Riders in the IPL 2021 second leg. The tweaker has Sixteen wickets from 14 games in the season, with an incredible economy rate of 6.50. In the previous encounter between KKR and RCB, Chakravarthy was named Man of the Match after capturing three wickets and surrendering only 13 runs.

Team News

Delhi Capitals

• So far in IPL 2021, Rishabh Pant’s Delhi has dominated the competition. Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw got the squad off to a great start, with Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Hetmyer contributing in when needed. With Avesh Khan, Rabada, Nortje, Axar, and Ashwin, bowlers have made a big contribution to Delhi’s success.
• Rishabh Pant must pass the litmus test to keep his hopes of winning his first title alive in a do-or-die encounter. Similarly, Kolkata boasts a strong batting lineup and a bowling attack that can shock any opponent.
• Their bowlers were instrumental in leading the squad to a much-needed win over Bangalore in a critical match. A win here will put the Men in Purple and Gold on the verge of claiming their third championship.

Kolkata Knight Riders

• The Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders are eyeing their third maiden championship after a victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the eliminator. After losing to CSK in Qualifier 1, the Delhi Capitals will try all out to avoid a repeat performance and stay one step ahead of the glory. Delhi couldn’t get the classic Dhoni, who took on Tom Curran to finish the formalities, despite defending 12 runs in the final over. On Monday, Kolkata Knight Riders put on a fantastic performance to beat Bangalore in a must-win game and keep their playoff chances alive.
• The KKR bowlers were successful in limiting the batting-heavy RCB to a meager 138 runs. Sunil Narine took four key wickets, including Kohli, Maxwell, de Villiers, and Bharat, who were all in good form.
• Daniel Christian was hammered for three sixes by Narine, which relieved Kolkata’s strain. In the last over, Shakib and Eion Morgan sealed an emphatic victory. Virat Kohli’s goal of winning his first IPL title was destroyed before he stepped down as captain.

DC vs KKR Match Tips

Tomorrow in Sharjah, the Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders will play Qualifier 2 of the ongoing 14th season of the Indian Premier League. While the Capitals are coming off a four-wicket loss to the Chennai Super Kings, the Knight Riders won the IPL 2021 Eliminator against Royal Challengers Bangalore by four wickets.

It’s worth noting that these two sides have met twice at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, with each team winning one match. DC has won three of their previous five meetings with KKR, while KKR has won two. Overall, Delhi has a strong record in Sharjah, having won five and lost two of their seven games there. In contrast, Kolkata has won three and lost three of their six games at this site.

Today’s match prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders to win the match.

IPL 2021 is coming to a close, and it has been a tough season for a few sides, individuals and fans. While Cricket has been good, many star players haven’t done as they would have liked, and there are certain things that we will or could be seeing for the last time.

• David Warner’s Dream Run

As a captain and player, David Warner has done a lot for the Orange Army. He is Hyderabad’s adopted son, and his name is synonymous with the franchise. He has won the Orange cap three times with the Sunrisers, and has helped them get to the playoffs five times in a row. He is the most consistent overseas batter, and has done a lot as a leader as well with the franchise. David Warner was crucial in Sunrisers title win in 2016. He scored over 800 runs in the season. The Sunrisers are normally known for their strong bowling, and have always had issues with the bat.

With such issues, David Warner stood up and took up immense responsibility with the bat. He constantly helps his side get good scores, but this season he couldn’t repeat his past performances. Poor form and a groin injury has hampered Warner’s batting in IPL 2021. His strike-rate is slower than normal, and he was dropped mid-way through IPL 2021. There are a lot of indications that this could be his last season in Hyderabad, with the mega-auction taking place next year. A poor season has changed his fortunes drastically, and is likely to bring an end to a dream period for both David Warner and the Orange Army.

• Suresh Raina’s CSK career

The Chennai Super Kings are in the finals after a strong comeback from the previous season. They’ve put in some good performances, but a player who has been the backbone of the team for many years could be on his way out of the Chennai side. Over the years, Suresh Raina has been as, and maybe more crucial than Dhoni when it comes to Chennai’s success. This season he was seen as a key member to help Chennai fight back after a dismal season. He started IPL 2021 with a wonderful half-century that had Suresh Raina written all over it. The inside-outs and slog-sweeps were back, but they didn’t last long.

After a half-century to start, Suresh Raina struggled to get runs in IPL 2021. He couldn’t go past single digits on a number of fixtures, and dropped down the batting order. He has made 160 runs in 12 matches of IPL 2021. IPL 2021 has been the worst season for Suresh Raina, who has some mindblowing records in the IPL. With the mega-auction coming up, it is unlikely for CSK to retain Raina. He could be brought back in the mega-auction, but there is also a possibility of him retiring from IPL as well.

• KL Rahul’s prolific stint with Punjab Kings

KL Rahul came to the Punjab Kings in 2018, and has gone on to become their leading run scorer. In his four years with the side, he made a mammoth 2548 runs. From 2018, KL Rahul also ensured he went past the five-hundred run mark in each season. With a weak middle-order, KL Rahul took it upon himself to bat through, and accelerate. He took up the role of an opener, accumulator and finisher in the same innings, and also went on to keep wickets for the side. Rahul started his stint as a player for the Punjab Kings, but went on to lead them.

While Rahul is on another plane with the bat, the sides performance has been underwhelming. In each of the four seasons, they came within touching distance of the playoffs, but failed to cross the final hurdle. Punjab consistently finished mid-table, which is why the franchise may look at other options.

There are statements of Rahul being approached by other franchises. In case such rumours are true, we could see Rahul in a new franchise, ending his run with the Punjab Kings. He has been their best batter, but lack of support from the middle-order hasn’t allowed him to carry the side further.

• Virat Kohli’s ten-year career has a captain.

Virat Kohli took over as full-time captain of RCB in 2013, but has captained the side a few times in 2011 and 2012. With Dan Vettori injured, Kohli got the chance to lead early in his career, and that helped him settle into the role with ease. While Virat Kohli failed to win an IPL trophy with the franchise, the duration and his performance as a player are surely points to be applauded. As a captain he lead the franchise to the playoffs four times, and made the finals once. He played a crucial role in the development of stars like Yuzvendra Chahal, and went on to become one of the IPLs most prolific player.

As a batter, Virat Kohli is currently the leading run-scorer in the IPL, and has most records to his name. He took a handful of them from Suresh Raina, to become the face of the IPL, and also enjoyed a friendly competition for the leading run-scorer title a few years ago. His best season so far has been the 2016 one, where he finished with 973 runs.

While Virat Kohli’s captaincy stint comes to an end after IPL 2021, it is safe to say that an era is coming to an end. His contribution in shaping the franchise has been crucial, and the attitude of the side resembles Virat Kohli. He will still continue as a player, but going by IPL 2021, his form may be a concern, which could bring an end to another dominating period as a batter.

Throughout IPL 2021, Virat Kohli looked a bit off touch, and one can hope that extra freedom will help him bat better. Time will tell how his performances as a player go. He is slowly entering the next phase of his career and there are some interesting times coming up for Virat Kohli as a player.

Chennai Super Kings defeated Delhi Capitals by 4 wickets in the IPL Match today to reach the Indian Premier League 2021 final. MS Dhoni finished the game off with an unbeaten six-ball 18.

Had it not been for Dhoni’s splendid strokes in the final over where the Super Kings required 13 for victory, there was every possibility of the excellent half-centuries of Ruturaj Gaikwad (70) and Robin Uthappa (63) going in vain after the Capitals made a total of 172/5.  Dhoni smashed a match-winning unbeaten 18 off just 6 balls to take the Chennai Super Kings to the final of IPL 2021 with a four-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in Qualifier I at the Dubai International Stadium.

There was enormous pressure on the Super Kings skipper, but he strikes with his own style, smashing Avesh Khan for a maximum which itself was a warning sign for the Capitals. Rishabh Pant should have handed the ball over to Kagiso Rabada, who too was considerable, for the last over. Prithvi Shaw’s magnificent 60, followed by an 83-run stand between Pant (51 not out) and Shimron Hetmyer (37) helped the Capitals’ go past 170.

Given the fact that Dhoni had not scored many runs going into the game, the situation was all the more difficult for him when he came out to bat. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the finisher, beat away his critics in his unparalleled style on Sunday as he proved us the legend he is.