# 2011 Indian Premier League final
The 2011 [Indian Premier League](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-premier-league) final was a Twenty20 cricket match played on 28 May 2011 at the [M. A. Chidambaram Stadium](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-a-chidambaram-stadium) in Chennai, in which the [Chennai Super Kings](https://www.edgepedia.org/chennai-super-kings) defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore by 58 runs to win their second consecutive IPL title[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681). Chennai Super Kings became the first side to win back-to-back IPL titles[2](https://www.ipltracker.com/teams/csk/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | 28 May 2011, 8:00 PM local, M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681) |
| Result | Chennai Super Kings 205/5 (20 overs) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 147/8 (20 overs) by 58 runs[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681) |
| Player of the Match | Murali Vijay (CSK), 95 runs off 52 balls[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681) |
| Opening partnership | Michael Hussey (63) and Murali Vijay added 159 runs for the first wicket[3](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket-fest-2011/story/chennai-vs-bangalore-ipl-final-match-report-134597-2011-05-27) |
| Toss | Chennai Super Kings won the toss and chose to bat[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681) |
| Significance | Chennai Super Kings' second successive title, the first successful title defense in IPL history[2](https://www.ipltracker.com/teams/csk/) • [4](https://nkc.ac.in/AQAR-22-23/AQAR_2022-23_BMS_Sports_Management_P_39.pdf) |
| Match officials | Umpires Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and Simon Taufel (Australia), Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka, TV); referee Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka)[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681) |
## Road to the final
The 2011 season, the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League, ran from 8 April to 28 May 2011 and expanded from eight to ten teams with the additions of the [Pune Warriors India](https://www.edgepedia.org/pune-warriors-india) and the [Kochi Tuskers Kerala](https://www.edgepedia.org/kochi-tuskers-kerala)[4](https://nkc.ac.in/AQAR-22-23/AQAR_2022-23_BMS_Sports_Management_P_39.pdf). Each team contested 14 league games, after which the leading four competed in a Page playoff setup: Qualifier 1 pitted the two highest-placed sides against each other, with its victor advancing directly to the final; the third- and fourth-ranked teams met in an Eliminator; and Qualifier 2 gave the Eliminator's victor a match against the team beaten in Qualifier 1 for the remaining spot in the final.[5](https://crickettaken.in/indian-premier-league/season/2011) This playoff format was introduced in 2011 and has outlived almost every other rule the IPL has tried[5](https://crickettaken.in/indian-premier-league/season/2011).
**Chennai's path.** Chennai Super Kings finished the league stage with 9 wins and 5 losses from 14 matches[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681). In Qualifier 1 at the [Wankhede Stadium](https://www.edgepedia.org/wankhede-stadium) on 24 May 2011, they beat [Royal Challengers Bangalore](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-challengers-bangalore) by 6 wickets with 2 balls remaining, scoring 177/4 in reply to Bangalore's 175/4[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681).
**Bangalore's path.** Royal Challengers Bangalore topped the league table with 9 wins, 4 losses and 1 no-result from 14 matches[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681). After losing Qualifier 1, they beat the [Mumbai Indians](https://www.edgepedia.org/mumbai-indians) by 43 runs in Qualifier 2 on 27 May 2011, making 185/4 and restricting Mumbai to 142/8[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681). They therefore played the final less than a day after their Qualifier 2 win[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681).
## The final
Chennai Super Kings won the toss and chose to bat[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681). Openers [Michael Hussey](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-hussey) and [Murali Vijay](https://www.edgepedia.org/murali-vijay) put on 159 runs for the first wicket, setting up Chennai's total of 205/5 in 20 overs[3](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket-fest-2011/story/chennai-vs-bangalore-ipl-final-match-report-134597-2011-05-27). Vijay made 95 off 52 balls and was named Player of the Match[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681).
Royal Challengers Bangalore's chase never gathered pace, and they finished on 147/8 in their 20 overs, losing by 58 runs[1](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681). India Today described the margin as a massive win that retained Chennai's title[3](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket-fest-2011/story/chennai-vs-bangalore-ipl-final-match-report-134597-2011-05-27).
## Context and aftermath
The defeat was Royal Challengers Bangalore's second loss in an IPL final; they had previously lost the 2009 final to the [Deccan Chargers](https://www.edgepedia.org/deccan-chargers)[6](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/sports/watch-ipl-final-2025-live-stream-punjab-kings-v-royal-challengers-bengaluru-online). Bangalore's [Chris Gayle](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-gayle), who joined during the season, won the highest runscorer trophy despite his side's defeat in the final[7](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/may/30/ipl-2011-chris-gayle).
The win gave Chennai Super Kings their second title, following their 2010 championship, and made them the first franchise to defend the trophy[2](https://www.ipltracker.com/teams/csk/) • [4](https://nkc.ac.in/AQAR-22-23/AQAR_2022-23_BMS_Sports_Management_P_39.pdf). Chennai, [Bangalore](https://www.edgepedia.org/bangalore) and Mumbai went on to represent India in the 2011 [Champions League Twenty20](https://www.edgepedia.org/champions-league-twenty20) tournament in September[4](https://nkc.ac.in/AQAR-22-23/AQAR_2022-23_BMS_Sports_Management_P_39.pdf). Elsewhere in the season, Mumbai Indians' Lasith Malinga set a new record for most wickets in an IPL season with 28, though Mumbai finished third after losing to Bangalore in the second qualifier[4](https://nkc.ac.in/AQAR-22-23/AQAR_2022-23_BMS_Sports_Management_P_39.pdf).
## References
1. [Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Final, Indian Premier League 2011, IPL.com](https://www.ipl.com/matches/indian-premier-league-112654/chennai-super-kings-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-40681)
2. [Chennai Super Kings, IPLTracker](https://www.ipltracker.com/teams/csk/)
3. [IPL: Chennai retain title with massive win over Bangalore, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket-fest-2011/story/chennai-vs-bangalore-ipl-final-match-report-134597-2011-05-27)
4. [BMS Sports Management course material on IPL 2011 season, nkc.ac.in](https://nkc.ac.in/AQAR-22-23/AQAR_2022-23_BMS_Sports_Management_P_39.pdf)
5. [IPL 2011, Winner, Final and Full Results, CricketTaken](https://crickettaken.in/indian-premier-league/season/2011)
6. [How to watch IPL final 2025, Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/sports/watch-ipl-final-2025-live-stream-punjab-kings-v-royal-challengers-bengaluru-online)
7. [Five things we learned from the IPL, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/may/30/ipl-2011-chris-gayle)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Cricket › Cricket competitions and records › Seasons and editions › Indian Premier League seasons › IPL finals and knockout results › 2011 IPL final*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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