Defying the odds, the CSK way: How Chennai Super Kings won the title

It could not have been scripted, it is all part of the larger plan, it is what only cricket can conjure up, it can only happen when MS Dhoni leads a team, it can only happen when Chennai Super Kings saunter out and win the game.

From being banned for two years, to being trolled for their auction picks, the going was never easy for Dhoni-led outfit but when they took the ground right from the first match, they have seldom looked back.

Several players stood up to be counted and then when Ambati Rayudu creamed the final ball for four, Chennai Super Kings were crowned the champions for the third time.

Here in this slider, we take a look how CSK defied the odds to win the title.

#3 Injury concerns

Mitchell Santner, Kedar Jadhav, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, the list kept growing, the team kept working around them, never allowing these external elements to impede their progress in the tournament.

Jadhav sealed the deal in the first match, was out injured, Raina suffered injury and missed two matches, Dhoni was always plagued with a chronic back problem, but CSK never stopped winning.

Different players raised their hands and shared the load to win the match for the side, it was a team which wanted to win, players wanted to prove a point and a point they nailed at the end of the day!

#2 Being mocked at the auctions

Chennai Senior Kings, Dad's army, and several other anecdotes hurled towards the team when they picked up a team which was an 'experienced' one.

You need MS Dhoni to keep everything calm and keep players motivated, to shunt away all external mocking and get the job done on the field.

"With the team we picked, we knew the kind of fielding we will do. But what is more disappointing is that the guys are not aware on the field. Your speed might not be too much but you have to be attentive in the field," Dhoni kept admitting this.

However, with age you get experience and when a 36-year old Watson slammed a match-winning century in the finals, the franchise had the last laugh and the detractors were in a corner gaping on.

#1 Home venue shifted to Pune

Once again, cricket was the soft target as the Cauvery water issue forced IPL to move CSK home games out of Chennai and Pune was the new home venue for the team.

This was a big blow for CSK as they picked up the team according to the dynamics of Chepauk, with spinners galore and with seam bowlers who relied on cutters more than seam up balls.

"The biggest thing for us is to get to know this pitch as this is not Chennai and we picked a side that was going to be Chennai based. So we are learning like anyone else," said Stephen Fleming.

However, once again, the team defied all odds, adapted to the conditions, the bowlers responded, the batsmen were as regular as ever and without complaints got the job done.

Fittingly, they are now the champions.