- The truncated 14th edition of the T20 Indian Premier League Cricket tournament, which was organized in two stretches owing to the pandemic, has concluded with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) winning the finale against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) quite comfortably. The team led by their talismanic legendary leader Mahendra Singh Dhoni belied all apprehensions, questioning, and aspersions cast on the team by experts by going the distance with great aplomb. Note that the CSK was termed rather ignominiously as the Daddy’s Army for not only believing in retaining the old warhorses in the team but also backing them fully despite a few of them not performing on expected lines. The moniker was rebuffed resoundingly by the win is stating the obvious.
PC: VIMAL KUMAR
- For the uninitiated, this edition of the IPL was played in India before the pandemic halted the tournament in its stride in the first week of May. The leftover matches were conducted in the UAE when the virus situation was brought under considerable control. And what a roller-skater rides this edition of the IPL has turned out to be with several heart-stopping and nail-biting performances witnessed during the period. The level of competition amongst the eight teams was absolutely fascinating and top-class as the keenly contested encounters showcase a few matches literally going to the wire. The resultant outcome saw more fancied teams like the five-time champions Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings failing to even make it to the play-offs.
- Similarly, teams like Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad were disappointing making up the bottom of the points table. Royals Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals came out with improved performances during the tournament but could not capitalize on the momentum when it mattered most. What makes a team like Chennai Super Kings come out with spectacular comebacks when everything appears down in the dumps? Cricket enthusiasts will recollect that CSK miserably failed to make it to the playoffs last season copping a huge amount of criticism from several quarters. The turnaround this time around deserves special accolades for the way the Dhoni led team utilized its resources with such panache. Few positives are as under.
PC: Rippu Rao
- The consistent performances of its openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and seasoned Faf Du Plessis have been outstanding right through the IPL. Seasoned CSK performers like Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, and Deepak Chahar have performed consistently during the league. Even though Dhoni had a quiet tournament, except for one typical finish he is famous for, the way he led the team speaks volumes about his extraordinary understanding of the game’s nuances developed over the years of grind. To come out on top despite facing tricky and challenging situations is no mean feat. No wonder, the Daddy’s Army could not be subdued by other teams for the wily old fox Dhoni had answers to everything that was thrown at CSK. Well done Chennai, you deservedly are crowned champions yet again.
