IPL 2021: CSK beat KKR to clinch 4th IPL title

Faf du Plessis smashed an attacking half-century to help Chennai Super Kings thrash Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs and clinch their fourth Indian Premier League title. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Du Plessis' 86 off 59 balls guided CSK to 192-3, a total their bowlers defended by restricting KKR to 165-9 in the final in Dubai. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Opener Venkatesh Iyer hit a 32-ball 50 but the knock was not enough to stop CSK's MS Dhoni from a landmark win in his 300th match as T20 skipper. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

"We had match winners coming game after game and doing really well. "Every final is special, if you look at the stats, we may say we're the most consistent team to lose the final too. I feel it's important to come back strong, especially in the knockouts," said Dhoni. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

CSK, winners in 2010, 2011 and 2018, remain one of the most successful IPL franchises after five-time champions Mumbai Indians who failed to defend their title this season. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Shardul Thakur took three wickets including twin strikes in one over to hurt two-time champions KKR who came into the final on the back of four successive wins. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Spinner Ravindra Jadeja and pace bowler Josh Hazlewood took two wickets each. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Eoin Morgan's KKR won the toss and elected to field but their bowlers failed to get a wicket until the ninth over and took a hammering in Dubai. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Ruturaj Gaikwad fell for 32 off spinner Sunil Narine but Du Plessis kept up the charge to raise his fifty with a six amid raucous support for CSK at a nearly packed stadium. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

The South African veteran smashed seven fours and three sixes and put on key partnerships with Robin Uthappa, who made 31, and Moeen Ali, who hit an unbeaten 37 off 20 balls. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

"That was a great day. It was also my 100th game in the IPL. I have loved my time here. I have done almost ten years here - two seasons were a bit of a break. Number four in the trophy cabinet is really good," said Man of the Match Du Plessis who scored 600 runs this season. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

Du Plessis was out on the final ball off pace bowler Shivam Mavi. Narine was Kolkata's best bowler with figures of 2-26. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

KKR started strongly with Iyer and Shubman Gill, who made 51, putting on a quickfire opening stand of 91. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

But CSK hit back with Thakur's twin strikes in one over including Iyer's key wicket as wheels came off the Kolkata chase. (BCCI/IPL Photo)

"We are extremely proud of the fight we have shown. The character and fight is trademark," KKR captain Morgan said. (BCCI/IPL Photo)