Chennai Super Kings avenged their 2009’s semi-final loss and defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2011 final by 58 runs to win their second successive trophy.
CSK won IPL 2011 final by 58 runs to clinch second trophy in 4th edition. (Courtesy by BCCI)
With no live cricket action possible due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, we keep taking you back every day, offering glimpses of history.
Today’s date, i.e. May 28, holds a special place in the hearts of all Chennai Super Kings fans as it was on this day 9 years ago that CSK scripted their name in the IPL trophy for the second time in four editions.
MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings had broken the jinx of winning the title in 2010 and were getting into the 2011 tournament as one of the favourites. The Royal Challengers Bangalore, captained by Daniel Vettori, had topped the group stage table with 19 points in 14 matches, whereas the Super Kings, led by MS Dhoni, stood at the second position with just one point less than RCB.
RCB had qualified for the final for the second time in their Indian Premier League history whereas for CSK, it was their third big finale. Which Bangalore had lost to Deccan Chargers in IPL 2009, Chennai had won last year against Mumbai Indians after losing to Rajasthan Royals in maiden edition.
Dhoni won the toss and chose to bat wary of the slowness of the pitch that will come into play as the game progresses. “We don’t come out with set target in the minds,” said Dhoni at the toss, almost prescient about what is to come.
In the 2011 final, CSK had set an imposing 206-run target against a Chris Gayle-fuelled RCB batting line-up. CSK were given a solid 159-run opening stand before Mike Hussey got out for 63 off 45 balls. However, other CSK opener Murali Vijay went onto score a superb 95 helping his team set a daunting target.
In reply, Royal Challengers failed to build a good pressure opening partnership when their opener Chris Gayle got out for a duck in the third ball of their innings.
RCB’s innings came to an end at 147 with loss of eight wickets with a rookie Saurabh Tiwary being the top scorer for the Royal Challengers. Super Kings bowler Ravichandran Ashwin took three wickets for 16 runs. Murali Vijay was awarded the man of the match for his knock of 95.
