5 records held by the Chennai Super Kings in IPL history

IPL will be incomplete if we don't mention about the most consistent side in Chennai Super Kings. Such is the kind of image they have set up for themselves in the history of the league.

They are the only team in the history of IPL to qualify for playoffs in every IPL edition they have featured. Not only this, they won the coveted trophy in 2010 and 2011 before they returned with a bang in 2018 to once again emerge out victorious for a record third time in IPL history.

The last win was something special for the CSK fans and the team as they made an appearance after a ban of two years. Dhoni has been an integral part of CSK and has led them to seven IPL finals. The only time they missed to qualify for the finals was in 2009 and 2014.

Suresh Raina has been the batting maestro for the men in yellow with a rare record of breaching the 400-run mark almost every IPL season. In all these glorious years at IPL, the Chennai-based franchise has broken and set several records in IPL history.

Here's a look at 5 such records:

---

#1 Best winning percentage:

CSK is known for qualifying for the playoffs in all the seasons they have played so far. So this record shouldn't come as a surprise as the team must win a minimum of seven games in a season to give them a chance to qualify for the playoffs.

There were quite a few seasons when they finished at the top of the table. As a result, they easily walk away with the record of the best winning percentage in IPL history.

Out of the 148 games played by Dhoni's men, they have won 90 matches which indeed puts them at top of the league in terms of best winning percentage with 61.66%. Their arch-rivals Mumbai Indians take the second spot with 57.01%.

With another exciting season in prospect, it is highly likely that CSK might retain the top spot for the best winning percentage in IPL if they once again manage to reach the last four in IPL 2019.

#2 Most matches as captain

Dhoni has been Chennai's captain supreme

Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has led CSK for a record 145 matches. No other captain has led as many matches in IPL history. He has played 145 matches for CSK and has done the tough job of leading them in all the games.

He brings immense experience to the team in allowing the young players to flourish at the league level. One of the main reasons for CSK's success in IPL is MSD's captaincy.

Dhoni is just eleven wins away from registering 100 wins as captain for Chennai. If he does that in the upcoming season, Dhoni will become the first captain to register this special feat.

He has missed only three matches for CSK in his entire tenure as Suresh Raina led the team in those matches. Dhoni is the second captain to win three IPL trophies after Rohit Sharma who has captained Mumbai Indians to three trophies in 2013, 2015 and 2017.

If CSK manage to win the upcoming season MS will become the first captain to win IPL trophy for the fourth time.

#3 Most wickets in an IPL season

Dwayne Bravo won the purple cap in the 2013 IPL season

Dwayne Bravo has been a brilliant performer for CSK over the years. He has bailed out CSK on many occasions - both with the ball and bat.

He took 32 wickets in 18 matches during the 2013 IPL season, which is most by any bowler in an IPL season. He also took 26 wickets in 17 matches during 2015 season and won the purple cap on that occasion too.

His feet helped CSK reach finals in both seasons. He took only one four-wicket haul in both seasons combined, which shows that he had performed consistently by picking wickets in almost all the matches he played.

The West Indian all-rounder has taken 93 wickets for CSK so far and is just seven wickets away to become the first CSK bowler to take 100 wickets in IPL history.

#4 Most times playing an IPL final

CSK after winning 2011 IPL

The Chennai-based franchise has managed to build a habit of playing IPL finals in almost all the seasons that they have featured in.

Seven finals in nine season easily means they hold the record for playing most IPL finals in the tournament's history. However, they have lost in four of those finals and it is a record that they would like to amend upon.

They missed out only in 2009 and 2014 seasons, despite making the top 4. If they win IPL 2019, the yellow army would become the first team to win the IPL four times in the tournament's history.

They managed to defend the title in the 2011 season and would like to repeat the same feat again in the upcoming season. Even during the auctions, they kept the core team which means people won't be surprised if they reach the finals again.

#5 First IPL team to score 100 runs in a power play

Suresh Raina

In 2014, Punjab batted first and posted a mountain of 226 runs batting first in Qualifier 1. Chasing a huge target, Chennai lost Faf Du Plessis early.

Then came Suresh Raina and smashed the KXIP bowlers all around the park. Thanks to Raina's quickfire innings of 87 runs in just 25 balls, the Dhoni-led team to become the first team to breach 100 runs in a power play.

The memorable innings came to an end with an unfortunate run out which led to their downfall, as CSK eventually failed to chase down the score. In 2017, KKR broke this record by scoring 105 runs against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Only these two times team have crossed 100 runs in a power play. With T20 becoming more batsmen-centric, it is no brainer that we might expect more teams crossing the 100-run mark within the first six overs of a power play.