IPL 2021 | Qualifier-1 | What Experts said as Dhoni-Uthappa turn the clock back to take Super Kings to final

It was vintage MS Dhoni and Robin Uthappa at the display as they turned the clock back and won Chennai Super Kings a game that looked surreal in all aspects and aesthetics. The match had all the things needed for someone like Dhoni to come and finish it in style. 

There was drama in the middle, an early breakthrough, a hero of yesteryears showing his class and finally the finish that everyone craved for, that moment when all could say in unison, ‘Dhoni finishes it in style’. People waited for this entire IPL, but as he has been unpredictable yet very elegant with his surprise, Mahi pulled out his best in the match that mattered the most. 

As Super Kings chased down 173 with two balls to spare, they also made it to their record ninth final in 14 editions of the tournament, out of which they were absent for two seasons. 

Captains' Viewpoints 

MS Dhoni, the winning skipper looked very relieved after his efforts which finally bore fruit after many attempts. Describing his knock, the 40-year-old in the post-match presentation said, “It was a crucial innings, Delhi has a very good bowling attack and with big boundaries to contend with, they bowled really well. I've not done a lot this season so today I was just trying to watch the ball and hit it.”

When the skipper walked in to bat ahead of in form Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo, his team needed 23 off 11 balls and when he walked out, having scored unbeaten 18 off just six balls, two balls still remained in the innings. While his intervention turned out to be great and satisfying, sending Shardul Thakur at number four looked very absurd. 

Explaining that, Dhoni said, “We haven't really experimented with our batting order. The thinking behind Thakur's promotion was if he clicks, he'll make it easier for us. [But it]Didn't happen that way.”

Robin Uthappa was yet another batter who looked in his vintage form. When he played in place of Suresh Raina in the last two games, it was thought that as a temporary measure to give Raina some time off before the big game. But when he was named in the playing XI even for this game, many loyal Super Kings questioned the decision. 

However, the 35-year-old proved everybody wrong and scored a brilliant 63 off 44 balls, attacking Delhi bowlers and giving Ruturaj Gaikwad time to construct his innings. Talking about sending Uthappa up the order, Dhoni said, “Robbie likes to bat up the order, we leave it to God to decide who goes at 3. If the openers bat well, it's Moeen [Ali], if not, it's Robin.”

Chennai were ruled out of the last year’s tournament sat at number seven, their lowest ever position in an IPL season. Now that they have reached the final, their Jharkhand born leader thanked everyone involved in the team’s journey from there to here.  

“Emotions were quite high after we didn't qualify last season, credit goes to the support staff and the individuals' character,” Dhoni said. 

Rishabh Pant, the losing captain in this game couldn’t believe his luck and said that the only way out from this loss was to get better and make the final in the second qualifier. 

"Obviously it's very disappointing, don't have enough words to describe how we are feeling right now. The only thing we can do is rectify our mistakes and move on to the next one,” Pant said in the post-match interview. 

It was a matter of concern and heavy debate as to why Tom Curran was given the 20th over instead of Kagiso Rabada who had bowled well too. Answering that, the 24-year-old said, “I thought that Tom bowled beautifully throughout the match, last over unfortunately went for runs. I thought the bowler who is having a great day, it's better to use him for the last over.” 

Tom was indeed having a great day until the last over as he had given away only 16 runs in his previous three overs and taken three wickets too. 

Talking about where his team lost the plot, Pant said, “I thought the score was decent but they got off to a flier in the powerplay and we didn't get enough wickets and that was the main difference.”

Expert Opinion

While captains had very different notions on the happenings of the game, Experts were also cast their verdict on key moments.

Boria Majumdar, a veteran cricket journalist asked the same question to Pant as to why he did not bowl Kagiso Rabad on to the best death bowlers in the death itself. 

Hasha Bhogle, a renowned commentator on the other hand was awed by the witty charm and honestness of Dhoni who admitted to the shortcomings he has had this season. 

Aakash Chopra, the former India player turned commentator and cricket pundit reiterated how Chennai have been the team to beat for several years now, as far as Playoffs and playing in final is concerned. 

Former India player Wasim Jaffer was at his witty best as always and compared Uthappa to bring out the Batman analogy into play. 

Senior journalist Ayaz Memon was infuriated by the way Chennai Super Kings lost their three wickets in the span of six runs and complicated the chase which was going pretty smooth by then. 

Winning this match, the CSK would now remain in Dubai and wait for the finalists. Delhi Capitals would now have to go to Sharjah to face the winner of the Eliminator between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.