IPL 2021, DC vs CSK: Player Ratings as MS Dhoni leads Men in Yellow to yet another final

A concerted batting effort from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) helped them enter the final of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) with a four-wicket win over the Delhi Capitals (DC) in Dubai on Sunday, October 10.

After winning the toss, CSK captain MS Dhoni elected to chase. The decision didn't bear immediate fruit as Prithvi Shaw scored a blazing fifty before Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer strung together a game-changing partnership. However, calm innings from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Robin Uthappa helped CSK get close to the 173-run target before a late blitz from Dhoni took them over the line.

Here are the player ratings from IPL 2021's Qualifier 1 between CSK and DC.

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IPL 2021: CSK player ratings vs DC as Gaikwad spearheads magical chase

Ruturaj Gaikwad: 8.5/10

After taking a superb catch to dismiss Shreyas Iyer, Gaikwad anchored the CSK innings with a brilliant 70. He crossed the 600-run mark in IPL 2021 and played a series of typically classy shots to take CSK within touching distance of the DC target. The opener could've done better to put away the full toss he holed out to.

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Faf du Plessis: 3/10

Du Plessis took a good catch of his own to send Prithvi Shaw back to the hut, but an Anrich Nortje thunderbolt ensured that it was his only contribution of the game. The South African was beaten by pace and inward movement, leaving Gaikwad and CSK's No. 3 with a tough task.

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Moeen Ali: 8/10

Ali came in as low as No. 6 in this game and played a crucial 12-run cameo. In the first innings, he bowled an incredible four-over spell in which he conceded only one boundary and picked up one wicket.

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Ambati Rayudu: 2/10

A run-out brought Rayudu's stay at the crease to an end after just three balls. He was lackluster in the field as well.

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Robin Uthappa: 8.5/10

Batting at No. 3, Uthappa made the most of the powerplay with a sparkling fifty. He ended up with 63 off 44 and injected momentum into CSK's innings, striking seven fours and two sixes.

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MS Dhoni: 9/10

Dhoni had a near-perfect game in Qualifier 1. After containing the DC charge with a series of smart tactical moves, he smashed 18 runs off six balls to take CSK home in a vintage MS Dhoni finish. A couple of tough catches eluded him, but Dhoni was in his element in Dubai.

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Ravindra Jadeja: 7.5/10

Jadeja's three overs went for only 23 runs and he scalped the crucial wicket of Prithvi Shaw. Although he wasn't required with the bat, his electric fielding and restrictive bowling played crucial roles in CSK's win.

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Dwayne Bravo: 5/10

It wasn't one of Bravo's best death-bowling displays as he conceded 31 runs in three overs, although he picked up the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer. He was careless in the field.

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Deepak Chahar: 3/10

Chahar's influence has waned in the UAE leg with not much swing to exploit early on. He bowled three toothless overs for 26 runs against DC.

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Shardul Thakur: 4/10

Thakur had one of his worst games in recent memory as he conceded 36 runs in three overs and recorded a first-ball duck after bagging a promotion to No. 4, but his final over to Rishabh Pant was excellent. CSK will hope that he regains his wicket-taking touch in the final.

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Josh Hazlewood: 8/10

Hazlewood's early wickets of Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer were immense for CSK. He bowled three in the powerplay and came back to finish his spell at the death, ending up with figures of 2/29.

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IPL 2021: DC player ratings vs CSK as Shaw, Pant fifties go in vain

Prithvi Shaw: 8/10

The start of Shaw's innings was streaky, but he quickly recovered to score a dazzling fifty. His dismissal came at the exact wrong time, but the young opener added another feather to his cap of clutch performances.

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Shikhar Dhawan: 2/10

Dhawan threatened to get in on the action with a four, but Hazlewood outsmarted the opener with one that kissed the outside edge. He couldn't make an impact against one of his favorite oppositions and his early wicket put DC on the backfoot early on.

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Shreyas Iyer: 5/10

Iyer had a miserable outing at the crease as he ate up eight balls before holing out on the edge of the circle, but he redeemed himself with a superb fielding performance. The former DC captain plucked an excellent catch on the boundary, took another simple chance and ran out Rayudu with a bullet throw - all in the space of two overs.

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Rishabh Pant: 7.5/10

Pant will inevitably come under severe criticism for his decision to bowl Tom Curran and Avesh Khan ahead of Kagiso Rabada in the final three overs, but the young skipper needs to be cut some slack. The move could've gone either way and was sound in its planning. Moreover, it was his fifty that helped DC reach a fighting total.

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Shimron Hetmyer: 7.5/10

Hetmyer played another crucial knock for DC, striking three fours and a six in an innings-defining partnership with his captain. The West Indian holed out to his countryman Dwayne Bravo before he could truly unleash himself, but he has become a real addition to this DC side.

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Tom Curran: 6/10

Curran's first three overs were almost perfect as he scalped two wickets for 16 runs with an assortment of slower balls and cutters. Entrusted with the final over, the Englishman bowled a series of drag-downs and looseners to undo all the good work he had done.

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Axar Patel: 6/10

Axar's promotion to No. 4 didn't work as he scored 10 before holing out in the deep, and he almost made amends with two tight overs. But Gaikwad took a toll on the left-arm spinner's third and final over to ruin his figures. Axar's fielding was hot and cold as he failed to go for a clear chance before sending Gaikwad on his way with a well-taken diving catch.

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Ravichandran Ashwin: 3/10

Mind games against Gaikwad aside, Ashwin had a disappointing outing. He conceded 19 runs in his two overs as Uthappa struck two boundaries and had no other role to play in the game.

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Kagiso Rabada: 6.5/10

Rabada conceded a four and a six in his first over, but he recovered well to send down two more economical overs. The South African speedster wasn't entrusted with another over at the death, and he took a good catch to dismiss Moeen Ali.

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Anrich Nortje: 7.5/10

Nortje was the pick of the DC bowlers once again as he dismissed Du Plessis early with a snorter. He conceded 31 runs in his four overs and was DC's strike bowler.

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Avesh Khan: 3/10

Days after conceding a last-ball six against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Avesh turned in another disappointing display. Uthappa took a liking to him in the last over of the powerplay as he conceded five fours and three sixes in his four-over spell, which yielded 47 runs. The young pacer bowled two overs at the death as Pant placed his trust in him, but the move didn't work apart from the wicket of Gaikwad.