Chennai Super Kings, keen to erase the ghosts of their forgettable 2020 campaign, locked horns in the high-stakes IPL 2021 final with a resurgent Kolkata Knight Riders, who had engineered a dramatic turnaround in the UAE leg of the tournament. What ensued was a finale for the ages, a masterclass from MS Dhoni’s men that reaffirmed their status as IPL royalty.

Led by Eoin Morgan, KKR had scripted an incredible comeback, storming into the final after languishing in the bottom half during the India leg. But CSK had a mission, to reclaim their legacy. Having missed the playoffs for the first time in 2020, Dhoni’s team returned with balance, hunger, and a winning blueprint.