DUBAI: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli hailed "greatest finisher" MS Dhoni after the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain helped his side move into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 final here at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
CSK defeated Delhi Capitals by four wickets in Qualifier 1 as Dhoni returned to form with a much needed 18 off six balls.
The India skipper said Dhoni's innings against Delhi Capitals made him "jump out of his seat" in excitement.
"Anddddd the king is back the greatest finisher ever in the game. Made me jump Outta my seat once again tonight. @msdhoni," Kohli tweeted.
In the last two overs, CSK needed 24 runs but Avesh Khan dismissed set batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad on the first ball. Dhoni whacked a six and match came down to 12 needed off the last six balls.
1/10:Ninth IPL final for CSK
<p>Ruturaj Gaikwad's 70 and an unbeaten cameo from skipper MS Dhoni helped Chennai Super Kings reach a ninth Indian Premier League final with a four-wicket win over Delhi Capitals on Sunday. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
2/10:Century partnership
<p>Chasing 173 for victory, Chennai rode on a 110-run second-wicket partnership between Gaikwad and Robin Uthappa (63) but were in trouble after the two departed. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
3/10:Prihvi and Pant
<p>Delhi posted 172/5 with attacking knocks from Prihvi Shaw (60) and skipper Rishabh Pant (51*). (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
4/10:CSK's pace-spin combo
<p>Josh Hazlewood took two wickets while Moeen Ali returned figures of 1/27 with his off-spin. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
5/10:Rare Faf failure
<p>Chennai lost Faf du Plessis for one, bowled by Anrich Nortje in the first over, before Gaikwad and Uthappa set up the chase. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
6/10:Remarkable Ruturaj
<p>Tom Curran hit back with two wickets in one over including Uthappa's scalp, but Gaikwad took the attack to the opposition and got past 600 runs this season. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
7/10:Iyer impresses
<p>Shreyas Iyer took smart catches to dismiss Uthappa and Shardul Thakur, and then ran out Ambati Rayudu with a brilliant throw from the deep at the non-striker's end. (BCCI/IPL Photo)</p>
8/10:Crucial Curran strike
<p>Curran needed to defend 13 off the final over and got Moeen out for 16 on the first ball. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
9/10:Vintage Dhoni
<p>But Dhoni (18*) kept his calm to smash three boundaries and take the team home with two balls to spare. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>
10/10:Another shot for DC
<p>Delhi will have another shot at securing a berth in the final when they play the second qualifier on Wednesday. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)</p>In the final over, Tom Curran removed Moeen Ali but Dhoni held the nerves and smashed three fours to seal the CSK's spot in the summit clash.
Earlier, Prithvi Shaw's stylish fifty and skipper Rishabh Pant late half-century helped Delhi Capitals post 172/5 against CSK.
Delhi Capitals were 80/4 in the 11th before Pant and Shimron Hetmyer stitched an 83-run stand for the fifth wicket to revive the innings. In the last three overs, Delhi Capitals scored 31 runs to get over the 170-run mark.
