MS Dhoni and his men captured the glittering IPL trophy for second year in a row in 2011 as they outclassed the Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chepauk. After putting up a formidable 205 for five riding on a smashing 95 from Murali Vijay, the champions restricted their opponents to a meagre 147 for eight thereby winning an incredible eighth match on trot at the Chepauk. It was an icing on the cake for CSK skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni after the historic World Cup triumph.
Chennai Super Kings beat Mumbai Indians by 22 runs to be crowned the champions of the third edition of the Indian Premier League.It had taken three long years, but the Dhoni-led side finally became IPL champs after featuring in all the previous semifinals of the tournament. The night was full of heroes for the Chennai side but none bigger than Suresh Raina whose unbeaten 57 turned the tide for Chennai and pulled them to a healthy total of 168 runs. And when the Mumbai Indians came on to chase, their bowlers bowled superbly to create tremendous pressure, which ultimately had the home team crashing to a defeat.
Adam Gilchrist and his never-say-die Deccan Chargers teammates pipped Royal Challengers Bangalore by six runs in a humdinger to be crowned the second Indian Premier League champions. Chasing a modest 144 for win, Bangalore rode on cameos from Roelof van der Merwe (32) and Ross Taylor (27) to come near the mark but eventually halted at 137 for nine in the final match. Put into bat, the Chargers had earlier found their nemesis in Anil Kumble (4/16) and it took Herschelle Gibbs' unbeaten 48-ball 53 and Andrew Symonds' brisk 33 to reach 143 for six.
After 44 days of mind-boggling action and a no-holds-barred feud among eight fierce franchisees, Rajasthan Royals pipped Chennai Super Kings by three wickets in the thrilling grand finale to lift the inaugural Indian Premier League. Chasing Super Kings' modest total of 163 for five, the Royals rode on a brilliant all-round display by Yusuf Pathan, who took three wickets and top-scored with a 39-ball 56 to overhaul the score off the last ball after needing eight from the last over.
Sohail Tanvir (9 not out) hit the winning run, a pull off the expensive L Balaji, in the company of his inspiring captain Shane Warne, who was not out on 9 in a final score of 164 for seven. The winners received the top prize of USD 1.2 million and a glittering gem-laden trophy while the runners-up won USD 600,000.
The Baroda right-hander then stepped in when his team was struggling at 42 for three to play a punishing knock of 56, using his bat like a sledgehammer while hitting four sixes and three fours to put Rajasthan Royals on the path to a thrilling victory in front of 55,000 spectators.
Pathan, who was particularly harsh on Balaji and world's highest Test wicket-taking Muttiah Muralitharan, and Shane Watson (28 in 19 balls) added 65 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the innings and give it the impetus to finish in glory.
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