11 successful run-chases of CSK that we will never forget 

Chennai Super Kings are the most consistent team in the Indian Premier League. They are known to handle difficult pressure situations adeptly. Over the years CSK have won a number of close matches especially while chasing.

Here, we look at the unforgettable run-chases of CSK where they ended up winning the game.

The list is purely based on opinion. If you feel that it is incomplete please let us know in the comments.

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#1 - DD vs CSK, 8 May 2008, Delhi.

Chennai Super Kings 188 for 6 (Fleming 44, Vidyut 40) beat Delhi Daredevils 187 for 5 (Gambhir 80, Dhawan 59) by four wickets

Delhi Daredevils desperately missed a fifth regular bowler while defending a stiff target. CSK were in a precarious position at 3-98 having lost two wickets in five balls. But Albie Morkel scored 23 runs off Virender Sehwag's 14th over including a hat-trick of sixes.

Later on, CSK lost two more wickets of Yo Mahesh's 19th over which meant they still needed 15 off the last 6 balls to win.

Manpreet Gony hit a six and a four as he along with Subramaniam Badrinath scored the required runs off Shoaib Malik in the final over to take Chennai home.

Earlier, Vidyut (40 from 23) and Flemming (44 from 28) set up the chase for the middle and lower order to finish.

#2 - KXIP vs CSK, 18 April 2010, Dharamsala.

Chennai Super Kings 195 for 4 (Dhoni 54*, Badrinath 53, Raina 46) beat Kings XI Punjab 192 for 3 (Marsh 88*, Irfan 44*) by six wickets

This is a match which will be etched in the memories of every CSK fan forever.

MS Dhoni's last over onslaught against Irfan Pathan at the backdrop of Himalayas is a sight that will always be remembered.

Chennai needed 29 runs in the last two overs to qualify for the semi-finals and they did it with two balls to spare as Dhoni hit three massive sixes off Pathan in the 20th over. It was one of those rare occasions where MS looked pumped-up after a victory.

Contributions from Subramaniam Badrinath (53 from 36) and Suresh Raina (46 from 27) ensured CSK were always in with a chance. But it still needed an innings of absolute class from Mahi to push Super Kings over the line.

The win gave enough confidence to the spirited team and they carried on the momentum all the way to lift the IPL trophy for the first time.

#3 - 1st Qualifier - RCB vs CSK, 24 May 2011, Mumbai

Dhoni playing one of his best knocks

Chennai Super Kings 177 for 4 (Raina 73*) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 175 (Kohli 70*, Bollinger 1-20) by six wickets

Chennai never looked in control of this run chase. CSK lost both their openers cheaply but it was their most consistent batsman Suresh Raina who played a match-winning knock under pressure.

Badrinath (34 from 32) and Raina (73* from 50) steadied the ship after the early blows before Dhoni (29 from 19) and Morkel (28* from 10) launched into hyper-mode. Raina took his time and later shifted gears to seal the game for his team.

CSK were two down for just 7 runs. At one point the equation was 105 to get from 48 balls. It sounds difficult whenever you think about the situation. But CSK got home with two balls to spare and we are all still wondering how they got there!

#4 - CC vs CSK, 28 September 2011, Chennai

Chennai Super Kings 146 for 6 (Bravo 45*, Duminy 4-20) beat Cape Cobras 145 for 7 (Shah 45, Bravo 2-23) by four wickets

It was a Bravo special at Chepauk

This was really a memorable game in the Champions League tournament. Cape Cobras made a really competitive 145 on what was a slow dry turning wicket at Chepauk.

At one stage the total looked very far from CSK's reach as JP Duminy bagged 4 wickets. They were reeling at 5-77 in 11.5 overs needing another 78 runs to win.

But it was an all-around show from Dwayne Bravo which helped Chennai grasp victory from the jaws of defeat. Bravo who earlier in the match had figures of 2-23 with the ball made 46 from just 25 balls with the bat to help CSK's cause.

He and Dhoni (15) stitched together a 43-run sixth wicket stand before the CSK captain was dismissed by Vernon Philander.

DJ Bravo on the other end held his ground and smoked CSK to a win. His 17 run over off Dale Steyn (19th of the innings) is still remembered.

#5 - CSK vs RCB, 12 April 2012, Chennai

Albie Morkel at his best

Chennai Super Kings 208 for 5 (Du Plessis 71, Dhoni 41, Murali 3-21) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 205 for 8 (Gayle 68, Kohli 57, Bollinger 3-24) by five wickets

The last two overs are all that needs to be summarized here even though Faf Du Plessis (71 from 46) and MS Dhoni (41 from 24) set up the run chase really well.

Super Kings needed 43 off 12 balls to win the game. For any other team such as a task is impossible. But for CSK it was another day at the office.

In walked Albie Morkel and he smacked 28 runs in the 19th over bowled by Virat Kohli. This left CSK needing 15 off 6 balls. Vinay Kumar bowled the last over and got the wicket of Morkel with his second delivery.

With 14 to get off 4 balls, Kumar bowled a no-ball which went for a boundary. A six from Bravo and a last ball 4 from Jadeja secured CSK's highest successful run chase.

RCB fans are still in shell-shock.

#6 - KKR vs CSK, 14 May 2012, Kolkata

Chennai Super Kings 160 for 5 (Hussey 56, Narine 2-14) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 158 for 6 (Gambhir 62, Jakati 2-26) by five wickets

Chennai were actually cruising to an easy win here unlike all other matches in this list.

CSK were at 97 for no loss in 10.1 overs courtesy Mike Hussey (56 from 39) and M Vijay (36 from 25) while chasing 159. But some mystery spin from Sunil Narine (4-0-14-2) and some cautious batting from the away team made sure that the game went right down to the wire at Eden gardens.

MS Dhoni (28 from 21) made up for his slow start and the men in yellow now requiring only 9 runs from the last over were again favourites. MS had just hit Marchant de Lange for three boundaries in the 19th. But he was bowled by Rajat Bhatia in the second ball of the final over.

Three balls later Chennai still needed 5 runs off the last ball to keep their season going. Unfortunately for KKR, Bhatia bowled a full-toss. Dwayne Bravo went over long-on and cleared the boundary just enough to take CSK over the line.

#7 - CSK vs RCB, 13 April 2013, Chennai

Dhoni winning the game for his team

Chennai Super Kings 166 for 6 (Jadeja 38*, Rampaul 3-31) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 165 for 6 (De Villiers 64, Kohli 58) by four wickets

"When you give Sir Ravindra Jadeja one ball to get 2 runs he will win it with one ball to spare !!", tweeted Mahi after the game.

With CSK still needing 2 runs off the last ball to win Jaddu was caught at third man and RCB started celebrating. But there was a twist as umpire Anil Choudary signalled a no-ball. Replays showed that the bowler, RP Singh, had overstepped by a huge margin.

#8 - MI vs CSK, 7 April 2018, Mumbai

Chennai Super Kings 169 for 9 (Bravo 68, Jadhav 24*, Markande 3-23, Hardik 3-24) beat Mumbai Indians 165 for 4 (Suryakumar 43, Krunal 41*, Watson 2-29) by one wicket

CSK were returning after a two-year ban and the scene was grim. They were at 51 for 4 chasing 166 for victory. Later Chennai needed 43 off 21 balls with two wickets remaining and the game looked dead.

But Bravo, who had conceded just 11 of his last three overs, rediscovered his lost touch with the bat and stunned MI fans with a 30-ball 68.

An injured Kedhar Jadhav finished the game in the last over after Bravo got out. CSK's comeback game could not have been more dramatic.

#9 - CSK vs KKR, 10 April 2018, Chennai

Chennai Super Kings 205 for 5 (Billings 56, Watson 42) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 202 for 6 (Russell 88*) by five wickets

Chennai Super Kings playing at home after a gap of two years paced the chase to perfection.

Watson (42 off 19) and Rayudu (39 off 26) gave them the perfect start before Sam Billings showed everyone what he can do with a brilliant 23-ball 56.

It was (once again) Jadeja who finished the game with a six off (once again), Vinay Kumar, as CSK scored 17 in the final over much to the delight of a faithful Chennai crowd.

The game would later end up becoming the only game CSK played at home in three years which makes it all the more special.

#10 - RCB vs CSK, 25 April 2018, Bengaluru

Chennai Super Kings 207 for 5 (Rayudu 82, MS Dhoni 70*) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 205 for 8 (De Villiers 68, De Kock 53, Bravo 2-33) by five wickets

One conclusion from this list is that Super Kings love chasing against RCB. A vintage MS Dhoni rolled back the clock to take CSK home thanks to the inexperienced bowling lineup of RCB. Ambati Rayudu and MS made 78 required from 28 balls look easy with some breath-taking shots.

Corey Anderson had a forgettable night with the ball and gave away 17 off just 4 balls in the last over. He finished with figures of 3.4-0-58-0 and Dhoni finished with a six (..surprise!).

#11 - 1st Qualifier - SRH vs CSK, 22 May 2018, Mumbai

Chennai Super Kings (du Plessis 67*, Raina 22, Rashid 2-11) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (Brathwaite 43*, Bravo 2-25) by two wickets

Super Kings were at 62 for 6. The game looked all over. But this list shows you why no team can ever relax defending a total against the men in yellow till the last ball is bowled. Their hero that night was Faf du Plessis.

Faf had a quiet IPL season up until that game. But he had saved his best for the Qualifier and almost single-handedly pulled off an astonishing heist.

He hit two boundaries and a six off Carlos Braithwaite in the 18th over and Shradul Takur edged two fours in the 19th to reduce the equation to 15 needed from 10. Du Plessis completed the formalities and ended the game with a six.

It is safe to say that MS has built a team that can chase any target from any situation.

The men in yellow always find a way to bring out loud whistles.