He didn’t just take wickets—he tore through Kolkata’s dreams. One spell, three strikes, and a title sealed in gold
Finals often carry their own heartbeat. Under the shimmering lights of Dubai on October 15, 2021, it was pulsating. Kolkata Knight Riders had scripted a fairytale run in the second leg of IPL 2021, rising from mid-table mediocrity to a date with destiny. On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings were on a path to redemption, brushing off the ghosts of a forgettable 2020 season.
What unfolded was no ordinary final. It was a tale of two halves. The first is CSK's calm, calculated batting assault. The second—a sudden twist, triggered by a man with a golden arm and a knack for drama.
Credit: ESPN
The Super Kings batted first, as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis quickly amassed runs. The Powerplay yielded 50 runs without losing any wickets.
Gaikwad (32 off 27) provided a stable start, followed by Robin Uthappa, whose 31 off 15 balls energised the innings. However, Faf's elegant 86 off 59 balls was crucial, as he anchored the innings while Moeen Ali contributed with an unbeaten 37 off 20. Chennai posted a strong total of 192 for 3, with partnerships of 61, 63, and an unbeaten 68.
KKR's bowlers struggled, with Lockie Ferguson conceding 56 runs. Varun Chakravarthy and Shakib Al Hasan were handled effectively, while only Sunil Narine (2 for 26) had an impact.
Credit: ESPN
However, 192 isn't always a safe score in the final. As KKR's openers charged, CSK needed a breakthrough.
Kolkata's response was swift and stylish. Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer brought out the big shots and showed no signs of nerves. They zipped past 50 in 5.4 overs. The duo stitched together 91 for the opening wicket, with Iyer blasting a 50 off 31 balls and Gill following suit with a composed half-century.
At 91 without loss in the 11th over, KKR was on course. Momentum was theirs, and CSK was under pressure. And then came Thakur.
Credit: ESPN
Cometh the hour, cometh the Thakur.
With the Knight Riders cruising, MS Dhoni tossed the ball to Shardul Thakur. He didn't just halt the party—he threw everyone out.
On his fourth delivery of the 11th over, he got Venkatesh Iyer to mistime one straight to Jadeja. Just two balls later, Nitish Rana fell without troubling the scorers. The scoreboard, which had once been a dream, began to show signs of a nightmare.
Thakur's figures? 4 overs, 3 wickets for 38 runs. Not the most economical, but he struck gold just when CSK needed someone to turn the game around. He returned to dismiss Rahul Tripathi, ensuring KKR's chase completely derailed.
In the blink of an eye, KKR tumbled from 91 for 0 to 125 for 8 by the 17th over. The chase had turned into a crawl.
Credit: ESPN
Josh Hazlewood's nagging line earned him 2 wickets for just 29 runs. Jadeja spun his magic too, taking 2 for 37. Bravo contributed with one wicket. And suddenly, CSK had the game wrapped up.
KKR limped to 165 for 9 in their 20 overs. Thakur sparked the slide, and CSK's bowlers didn't let the pressure drop. Not once.
In the end, it was a 27-run victory. It was not a nail-biter or a runaway win. It was just a solid, clinical performance that ticked every box. Chennai lifted their fifth IPL title, matching Mumbai's tally and reasserting their dominance in the league.
Credit: ESPN
.webp)
