Chennai Super Kings closed the gap on arch-rivals Mumbai Indians in the list of Indian Premier League title wins after they defeated Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2021 final on Friday in Dubai.
It was CSK’s ninth final in the history of the tournament, an incredible record already, and they won their fourth title.
List of IPL winners and runners-up
| Season | Winners | Final | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings | DY Patil Stadium |
| 2009 | Deccan Chargers | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Wanderers Stadium |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians | DY Patil Stadium |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | Royal Challengers Bangalore | MA Chidambaram Stadium |
| 2012 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Chennai Super Kings | MA Chidambaram Stadium |
| 2013 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | Eden Gardens |
| 2014 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Kings XI Punjab | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 2015 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | Eden Gardens |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Royal Challengers Bangalore | M Chinnaswamy Stadium |
| 2017 | Mumbai Indians | Rising Pune Supergiant | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Wankhede Stadium |
| 2019 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians | Delhi Capitals | Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
| 2021 | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders | Dubai International Cricket Stadium |
Coming into the IPL 2021 season, Mumbai Indians had won back-to-back titles and had extended their lead at the top of the winners roster to five. Now their arch rivals have made the gap just one, ahead of a mega auction that is bound to rejig the teams’ compositions. KKR remain third behind the two serial winners, as they suffered their first IPL final defeat in three matches.
IPL 2021 Final, CSK vs KKR as it unfolded
Most IPL titles
| Team | Title(s) | Editions won |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | 5 | 2013 2015 2017 2019 2020 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 4 | 2010 2011 2018 2021 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 | 2012 2014 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 | 2016 |
| Deccan Chargers† | 1 | 2009 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 1 | 2008 |
Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural edition while Sunrisers Hyderabad and now defunct Deccan Chargers are the other title winners as the 14th season of the tournament came to a close.
SRH was the last first-time champion in 2016, with the last five titles being shared between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.
On the night, MS Dhoni also became the first player to lead a team for 300 matches in the shortest format.
On Friday in Dubai, Chennai Super Kings on Friday clinched their fourth Indian Premier League title after beating Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the summit clash here on Friday.
The in-form Faf du Plessis hit a magnificent 86 off 59 balls, laced with seven fours and three sixes, to help CSK post 192 for 3 after they were invited to bat.
Chasing an imposing target of 193, KKR could manage 165 for 9 in their 20 overs with Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer hitting 51 and 50 respectively.
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.
For CSK, Shardul Thakur took three wickets while Ravindra Jadeja and Josh Hazlewood got two each.
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