A superb innings by Shane Watson saw Chennai crowned as IPL Champions for the third time on Sunday night as the former Australian Test star smashed a superb 117 not out as the Super Kings easily chased down the Sunrisers 178 for 6.
Here are our player ratings for the new champions:
10 – Shane Watson: tied down badly at start of innings by Kumar, didn’t score till 11th ball, but recovered superbly to score a magnificent 117* off just 57 balls
5 – Faf Du Plessis: felt the pressure of Watson being unable to score early and threw away his wicket for 10 with an uncharacteristic shot
8 – Suresh Raina: great catch of Shakib just when he was looking dangerous, and a quick fire 32 off 24 balls with the bat
7 – Amabati Rayudu: Came in with the game nearly won, kept his head and made sure he stayed at the crease till it was won
6 – MS Dhoni: Surprisingly not required with the bat but seem phased at times in the field as Hyderabad set a target of 179
5 – Dwayne Bravo: Expensive with the ball – 46 runs from his four overs – but took the important wicket of the dangerous Al Hasan
6 – Ravindra Jadeja: Bowled Dhawan just when he was starting to hit his stride, a good spell slowed scoring rate at a crucial time
7 – Karn Sharma: Turned the screws with some tight overs before Yusuf got on to him, took the key wicket of Williamson, great throw from the boundary to run out Goswami
7 – Deepak Chahar: Loose opening ball but fought back well to go for just 25 runs off his fours over, with 10 dot balls
8 – Lungi Ngidi: Not at his belligerent best but still sharp, his last over put the brakes on just when it looked like the Sunrisers were getting away
7 – Shardul Thakur: Deceptive changes of pace in last over kept Yusuf and Braithwaite to just ten, and took the wicket of Braithwaite