All You Need to Know about Chennai Super Kings

By, Ravi Pandey

317

Fantasy

Let’s Get Started with the basics –
Team Name: Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Captain: MS Dhoni
Head Coach: Stephen Fleming
Stadium: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Championships: 5 (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023)
Franchise Owners: Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd (a subsidiary of India Cements)

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is a prominent franchise cricket team representing Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Established in 2008, the team’s home ground is the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Unfortunately, their involvement hit a snag when, on July 14, 2015, the RM Lodha committee, appointed by the Supreme Court, suspended them from the IPL for two years following allegations of their owners’ involvement in the 2013 Indian Premier League betting case. Before this suspension, Mahendra Singh Dhoni led the team as captain while Stephen Fleming served as the coach. They boast a massive fan base with around 12.9 million followers on Instagram.

Despite the suspension, CSK has had remarkable successes in the IPL, clinching the title four times in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023. Additionally, they secured victory in the Champions League Twenty20 in 2010 and 2014. Suresh Raina holds the record for the most runs scored for the team, while Ravichandran Ashwin has taken the most wickets.

CSK has a strong presence in the IPL playoffs, having appeared in 12 of them, and finals, reaching the grand stage 10 times. They are renowned for their fervent fan base, which is one of the strongest in India. Currently, they hold the title of defending champions.

Franchise History of CSK(Chennai Super King)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) was introduced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in September 2007, with plans for its inaugural season in 2008. In January 2008, the BCCI revealed the proprietors of eight franchises based in different cities. Among these, the Chennai franchise was purchased by India Cements for $91 million, ranking it as the fourth highest-priced team in the league, following Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. India Cements secured the franchise rights for a duration of 10 years.

“FOR THE IPL, CHENNAI IS MY HOME GROUND, THE SECOND HOME. I’M THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT MY TEAM, CSK HAS ACHIEVED. I HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OF PLAYING FOR ANY OTHER FRANCHISE.”
MS Dhoni (The Former Indian Skipper With The Coolest Temper)

Experience the remarkable journey of one of India’s most formidable cricket teams, the Chennai Super Kings. As one of the founding franchises of the Indian Premier League in 2008, they have etched their legacy in the annals of cricket history. Through a rollercoaster of seasons, the Chennai Super Kings have showcased resilience and delivered stellar performances, captivating fans with thrilling moments filled with passion, excitement, and action-packed cricket. Their enduring presence has garnered a massive fan following nationwide.

Delve Deeper Into The Journey of The Dhoni Brigade

Originating from the picturesque city of Chennai, the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium serves as the home turf for these players, under the ownership of Indian Cements, who made a significant investment of $91 million. Leading the pack is MSD, entrusted with the role of captaincy for the Chennai Super Kings, supported by Stephen Fleming as the chief mentor, and with Hussey and Balaji overseeing the batting and bowling departments respectively.

To immerse ourselves in the IPL journey of these cricket stalwarts, let’s examine their performances across different seasons and reminisce about some of the most captivating cricket moments, starting with the upcoming IPL 2024 season.

CSK IPL 2024 Schedule: Chennai Super Kings Full List of Matches, Fixtures, Dates, Venues, Timings

The upcoming 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season is scheduled to begin on March 22, with the opening match taking place at Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, the home ground of the current champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The initial phase of matches, including the first 21 games, was unveiled on Thursday, exactly one month ahead of the tournament’s start. Further fixtures will be announced in the coming days. CSK will kick off their campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on March 22.

Below is the IPL 2024 timetable for CSK:

Against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22 in Chennai at 7:30 PM IST.
Against Gujarat Titans on March 26 in Chennai at 7:30 PM IST.
Against Delhi Capitals on March 31 in Visakhapatnam at 7:30 PM IST.
Against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 5 in Hyderabad at 7:30 PM IST.

CSK Team History

2008–2009: First seasons

Chennai Super Kings made a strong debut in the premier cricket league’s first season by securing top players like Dhoni, Muttiah Muralitharan, Flemming, and Matthew Hayden. Under Dhoni’s leadership and with Kepler Wessels as head coach, they began with a notable victory against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali, setting a tournament record for the highest total.

Despite this promising start, they fell short in the finals against Rajasthan Royals, losing by three wickets in a thrilling match. A significant moment of the season was Flemming’s retirement from international cricket, after which he transitioned to become the team’s new mentor, succeeding Kepler.

In the 2009 season, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff joined the squad, while Hussey took a break for The Ashes. Despite the additions, the team’s performance was below par, finishing fourth in the tables. However, Australian batsman Hayden stood out by winning the orange cap for the season, scoring five half-centuries in 12 innings.

2010: IPL and CLT20 double wins

The 2010 Indian Premier League season commenced on a challenging note for CSK, managing only two wins out of seven matches initially. However, they progressively improved, displaying exceptional cricketing skills. Raina and Murali Vijay showcased remarkable performances, while Dhoni’s form was exemplary. Their perseverance culminated in a triumphant victory over Mumbai Indians in the finals, clinching their maiden IPL title.

This remarkable achievement propelled CSK into the 2010 Champions League Twenty20 tournament in South Africa. The team, led by a motivated Dhoni, clinched the CLT20 title, becoming the inaugural IPL team to accomplish this feat. Murali Vijay and Ashwin garnered praise for their stellar contributions during the tournament.

CSK in 2011

Entering the 2011 IPL season with high spirits, CSK retained key players like MSD, Raina, and Murali Vijay. Despite a sluggish start in some initial league matches, the team swiftly gained momentum, dominating opponents with finesse. In a thrilling final showdown, they emerged victorious against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, with Vijay’s stellar 95-run contribution securing the win. CSK thus became the first IPL team to clinch the trophy for two consecutive years. However, their performance in the Champions League that season was lackluster, culminating in a bottom-of-the-table finish.

Seasons 2012 and Journey of CKS

In 2012, the franchise made a significant acquisition by signing Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for $2 million during the players’ auction. Despite a sluggish start in the regular season, where they managed to win only five out of their first 12 games, their playoff prospects seemed uncertain. However, a turnaround came as they won three of their last four matches, securing a playoff spot with a superior net run rate compared to the Royal Challengers, who also had the same number of points.

During the Eliminator round, they secured a 38-run win against the Mumbai Indians and followed it up with an impressive 86-run victory over the top-ranked Delhi Daredevils in the Qualifying final. Murali Vijay’s exceptional display, which included his second IPL century (113 runs off 58 balls), earned him the Man of the Match accolade.

Despite their strong journey to the final, the Super Kings were unable to secure a hat-trick of titles in the IPL as they were defeated by the Kolkata Knight Riders by 5 wickets. The Knight Riders successfully chased down the target of 191 with two balls to spare. Additionally, at the Champions League, the Super Kings faced disappointment once again as they failed to progress past the group stage, registering two wins and two defeats.

2013: Chennai Super Kings Year

In 2013, the Super Kings enhanced their bowling squad by adding five overseas and five Indian bowlers. They had a commanding presence throughout the IPL season, topping the points table with 11 wins out of 16 matches, earning them a spot in the Playoffs and the 2013 CLT20. This achievement marked their first time leading the IPL league table in six seasons. Notably, they equaled Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 2011 record for consecutive wins in the IPL by securing seven victories in a row during the season.

In a crucial Qualifier match against Mumbai Indians in Delhi, the Super Kings showcased their batting prowess, posting 192/1 in 20 overs, courtesy of unbeaten half-centuries from Hussey (86* off 58 balls) and Raina (82* off 42 balls), before restricting their opponents to 144 runs. This victory propelled them to the IPL final for the fourth consecutive time, where they faced the same opponents, Mumbai Indians, in Kolkata.

Despite a strong effort from skipper Dhoni, who scored an unbeaten half-century, the Super Kings fell short in their chase, ending with 39/6 at one point. Mumbai Indians clinched their first IPL title by a margin of 23 runs. Michael Hussey, the Super Kings’ opening batsman, secured the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs in the season (733 runs at an average of 52), while all-rounder Dwayne Bravo bagged the Purple Cap for claiming the most wickets (32).

Additionally, the Super Kings secured direct entry into the 2013 CLT20 held in India, where they competed in Group B against Brisbane Heat, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Titans, and Trinidad & Tobago. Despite winning their first three matches, they stumbled in the final group game against Trinidad & Tobago. With 12 points from four matches, they advanced to the semifinals but faced a 14-run defeat against the Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.

2014: Chennai Super King and Their Struggle

Despite acquiring notable cricketers such as Ashish Nehra, Dwayne Smith, Mohit Sharma, and Brendon McCullum, CSK struggled to progress beyond the playoffs during the 2014 Indian Premier League season. The disruption caused by the general elections held in UAE affected the season, leading to a loss for the Dhoni-led team against Kings XI Punjab in one of the playoffs. However, they bounced back in the following season, delivering an impressive performance but ultimately falling short in the finals against MI.

2015: One Last Chance?

In 2015, Chennai Super Kings let go of Ben Hilfenhaus, John Hastings, Vijay Shankar, and David Hussey before the players’ auction. During the auction, they brought back Michael Hussey for Rs. 1.5 crores and additionally signed Kyle Abbott, Irfan Pathan, Andrew Tye, Eklavya Dwivedi, Ankush Bains, Pratyush Singh, and Rahul Sharma. Despite their endeavours, they were ultimately defeated by Mumbai in the final match.

2016-2017: Suspension Years

The years 2016 and 2017 marked a period of significant disappointment for the Chennai Super Kings as the entire team faced suspension. This action stemmed from the arrest of a relative of the team owner in connection with a match-fixing scandal.

In Seasons 2018 & 2019 – The Secret Sauce For CSK’s Revival

In the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) experienced a remarkable revival after enduring a challenging period of suspension. The team’s return to the tournament was met with enthusiasm from fans, who eagerly flocked to their home ground to witness practice sessions, with over 10,000 attendees at times. CSK kickstarted their winning streak by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their opening match and culminated the season with a triumphant victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the finals, reclaiming the IPL title.

While the 2019 season was largely successful for Chennai Super Kings, they narrowly missed out on the title to Mumbai Indians (MI) by a mere one run in a closely contested final. Notably, Imran Tahir from CSK clinched the prestigious purple cap for the season, emerging as the leading wicket-taker in the championship.

Records CSK Has Earned In IPL Till Date

During the 2018 and 2019 IPL seasons, SK emerged as one of the most formidable teams, boasting numerous records. Here’s a glimpse of a few noteworthy achievements:

Suresh Raina, the batting maestro for CSK, holds the record for the highest number of runs scored in IPL history, tallying 4540 runs.
The team holds the unique distinction of defending the lowest score in IPL history, achieved against Kings XI Punjab.
CSK has twice set the record for the highest total score, once against Kings XI Punjab and again against Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, these scores have since been surpassed by other teams.
Chennai Super Kings boasts the highest winning percentage in IPL history at 61.66%.
MS Dhoni holds the record for the most matches played in IPL history.
Dwyane Bravo, representing CSK, secured the most wickets in the 2015 IPL season.
The team also holds the record for the most appearances in IPL finals.
CSK is notably the only team in the Indian Premier League to achieve a century of runs in a power play.

The Finest CSK Cricketers In IPL History

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise in the IPL has been home to some outstanding cricketers, among whom a few stand out for their remarkable contributions to the team’s success. Let’s delve into these standout players:

1- Legendary Captain: MS Dhoni

CSK’s success story is incomplete without mentioning the iconic MS Dhoni. His trademark helicopter shots and unwavering leadership have endeared him to fans worldwide. Dhoni’s presence has been pivotal for CSK since its inception, guiding the team through every challenge.

2- Run-Machine: Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina, renowned as one of the finest T20 cricketers, has been a consistent performer for CSK, amassing runs and setting records. Although currently sidelined due to injury, fans eagerly await his return in the upcoming IPL season, anticipating more stellar performances.

3- Overseas Asset: Shane Watson

Shane Watson, the versatile Australian all-rounder, has been a valuable addition to the CSK squad. Known for his adept batting and bowling skills, Watson’s contributions have often turned the tide in favor of the team, making him a dependable overseas player for CSK.

4- Batting Maestro: Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu emerged as a batting sensation during the IPL 2018 season, finishing as the top run-scorer for CSK with an impressive tally of 602 runs in 16 innings. Rayudu’s stellar performance elevated him to a key position in the team, and fans eagerly anticipate his continued success in the upcoming IPL tournament.

5- Spin Wizard: Imran Tahir

Imran Tahir, the seasoned South African leg-spinner, brings a wealth of experience and skill to the CSK bowling lineup. Tahir’s ability to consistently take crucial wickets has made him an indispensable asset for the team, solidifying his reputation as a key player in CSK’s quest for victory.

Controversies

In May 2013, Gurunath Meiyappan, the son-in-law of Srinivasan, was arrested by Mumbai Police on allegations of involvement in betting on IPL matches. Meiyappan, serving as the Team Principal of the Super Kings at the time, was summoned by Mumbai Police. During interrogation, it emerged that Meiyappan had been in communication with bookies via actor Vindu Dara Singh. Consequently, on 2 June 2013, Srinivasan opted to temporarily step aside as BCCI President until the investigation into the betting allegations concluded. Subsequently, in February 2014, a three-member panel appointed by the Supreme Court of India conducted an inquiry into the matter and found Meiyappan guilty of engaging in illegal betting during the 2013 IPL season.

On March 25, 2014, India’s Supreme Court delivered a decisive message to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), urging Srinivasan to resign as President or face removal from office. Subsequently, on July 14, 2015, the Supreme Court mandated the suspension of Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings’ owners from participating in the Indian Premier League for a two-year term, through the appointment of the RM Lodha committee. Later, on February 24, 2016, the Supreme Court of India entertained a petition seeking the revocation of the ban imposed on the Chennai Super Kings.

Awards and Achievements of CSK

2008 Indian Premier League

Runners-up of 2008 Indian Premier League
Fair Play Award Winner
Highest total of the tournament (240/5)
Centuries: (Michael Hussey 116)
Hat-tricks: (Lakshmipathy Balaji and Makhaya Ntini)

2009 Indian Premier League

Semi-finalists of 2009
Indian Premier League Winner of Orange Cap (Matthew Hayden)
Player of the Tournament (Matthew Hayden)

2010 Indian Premier League

Champions of the 2010 Indian Premier League
Fair Play Award Winner
Highest team total of the tournament (246/5)
Best bowling figures of the tournament (Doug Bollinger )
Highest score in the tournament (Murali Vijay 127)
Centuries (Murali Vijay 127)
IPL Awards: Best Fielder (Suresh Raina)
IPL Awards: Most Economical Bowler (Ravichandran Ashwin)

2011 Indian Premier League

Champions of the 2011 Indian Premier League
Fair Play Award Winner
Won all home matches

2012 Indian Premier League

Runners-up of 2012 Indian Premier League
Highest team total of the tournament (222/5)
Best bowling figure of the tournament (Ravindra Jadeja 5/16)
Centuries: (Murali Vijay 113)
Suresh Raina became the inaugural player to reach the milestone of scoring 2000 runs in the IPL.

2013 Indian Premier League

Runners-up of 2013 Indian Premier League
1st team to register 50 wins in IPL
Fair Play Award Winner
Centuries: (Suresh Raina 100)
Winner of Orange Cap (Michael Hussey)
Winner of Purple Cap (Dwayne Bravo)

2014 Indian Premier League

Semi-Finalists
Fair Play Award Winner
First Team to play 100 games in IPL
Suresh Raina achieves the milestone of being the inaugural player to participate in 100 matches and amass 3000 runs in the IPL.
Winner of Purple Cap (Mohit Sharma)

2015 Indian Premier league

Runners Up of the 2015 Indian Premier League
Fair Play Award Winner
Centuries: (Brendon McCullum 100*)
Best Bowling Figures: (Ashish Nehra) 4/10 (4 Overs)
Winner of Purple Cap: (Dwayne Bravo) 26 wickets
Best catch of the season: (Dwayne Bravo)

Author: Ravi Pandey

Ravi Pandey is a seasoned gaming industry expert, have been active in real money and online games since last decade. With a profound understanding of games through his writing, Ravi brings the essence of gaming to life, captivating audiences with vivid narratives and insightful analysis. With an unwavering dedication to gaming, he continues to redefine the boundaries of virtual entertainment.