In 2011, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) became the first franchise to successfully defend their IPL title. The feat has been emulated only by Mumbai Indians, who won the IPL in 2019 and 2020.
This was the first season to adopt the format of the playoffs, featuring two Qualifiers and an Eliminator before the final. The idea was to reward the top two teams of the league with the buffer of a defeat. Chennai finished second in the regular season table to play table toppers Royal Challengers Bangalore Qualifier 1.
Chennai progressed directly to the final after beating Bangalore by six wickets. Bangalore, in turn, played Mumbai, who had beaten Kolkata Knight Riders by four wickets in the Eliminator.
Bangalore then overcame Mumbai by 43 runs, and were set for a second playoffs match with Chennai in five days.
Chennai had the advantage of playing before their home fans, at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai. And, like the previous year, they also won the toss and chose to bat.
Michael Hussey and M. Vijay put on 159 for the first wicket in less than 15 overs. Hussey hit three sixes in his 63. Vijay then found support from captain M.S. Dhoni, and they added 29 before falling in successive balls. Vijay, who struck six sixes, fell for 95, and Dhoni got 22. There was still time for their side to score 17 more off the last 10 balls and close on 205/5.
It proved beyond RCB especially after they slumped to 70/6. Virat Kohli made 35, while Saurabh Tiwary top-scored with an undefeated 42, but they were never in the hunt. R. Ashwin took 3-16 and Shadab Jakati 2-21 as Bangalore were restricted to just 147/8.
Chennai won by 58 runs. Naming Vijay Player of the Match was perhaps one of the easiest decisions the adjudicators had to make.